Wendy Toms
Encyclopedia
Wendy Toms is an English
football
referee from Broadstone, Poole, Dorset
, who has officiated in the Football League
and then the Premier League, both as assistant referee. She was the first female ever to fulfil such roles at those levels. She also served for FIFA
on the women's international list. Her other occupation is as a parcel post
manager
.
in 1991 for the Bournemouth
versus Reading
match in the old Third Division
, which was then unique for a female. She was the first woman to be included on the list of Football League assistant referees when she was chosen for the 1994-95 season
, and became a referee in the Football Conference
two seasons later, creating another precedent when she took charge of the game between Kidderminster
and Nuneaton Borough
her first Conference match as referee. Almost a year after that, she operated as an assistant referee in the Premier League, again, the first female ever to do so.
Two years after her debut in that league, and having 'run the line' for referee Steve Dunn
during Leeds United
's 4-3 Premiership away win at Coventry City
on 11 September 1999, she was roundly criticised by the then Coventry manager, Gordon Strachan
, who said in an interview with The Independent
newspaper: "We are getting PC
decisions about promoting ladies. It does not matter if they are ladies, men or Alsatian dogs. If they are not good enough to run the line they should not get the job. Saturday's was the worst assistant refereeing decision I have seen this season by far and I've said that in my report. The fourth Leeds goal was offside by at least four yards and there were numerous other bad decisions in the game. My message is don't be politically correct and promote people just for the sake of it." However, the president of the Referees' Association at the time, Peter Willis
, replied: "She's a very good official...I think the situation is very sad. As a manager of a football club, Strachan is responsible for his players and he is entitled to his opinion on the performance of the officials, but to talk about the sex of the official is irrelevant."
Toms' highest domestic honour was being appointed as an assistant for the Football League Cup
Final between Leicester City
and Tranmere
at Wembley on 27 February 2000, when the referee was Alan Wilkie
. Leicester won this 2-1, with Toms indicating offside at one point to cause the Tranmere (and former Leicester) player David Kelly
's "equalising goal" to be disallowed. She was also an assistant referee in two matches at the 2000 Olympic Games, having been selected by FIFA
to operate on their women's international list.
She took charge of the UEFA Women's Cup quarter-final first leg on 30 October 2003 between Brøndby IF
of Denmark
and Gomrukçu Baku
of Azerbaijan
, with the Danish side running out 9-0 winners.
Toms refereed one match at the 2005 UEFA Women's Championship
in England. This was the Group B match at Deepdale in Preston on 6 June 2005, between France
and Italy
, which finished 3-1 to the French.
Although no longer officiating at the highest level, Toms still referees in the Football Conference.
Wendy Toms was also mentioned during the Richard Keys and Andy Gray rant regarding women officiating elite football matches in late 2010:
Keys: 'This is not the first time is it? Didn't we have one before?'
Gray: 'Yeah.'
Keys: 'Wendy Toms?'
Gray: 'Wendy Toms or something like that, yeah. She was f*cking hopeless as well.'
Keys: 'Urghhh.'
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
referee from Broadstone, Poole, Dorset
Broadstone, Dorset
Broadstone is a town and suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. It is located from Hamworthy railway station and from Bournemouth International Airport. The town has a population of 10,256 according to the 2001 Census....
, who has officiated in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and then the Premier League, both as assistant referee. She was the first female ever to fulfil such roles at those levels. She also served for FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
on the women's international list. Her other occupation is as a parcel post
Package delivery
Package delivery or parcel delivery is the shipping of packages or high value mail as single shipments. While the service is provided by most postal systems, private package delivery services have also existed in competition with and in place of public postal services.-Package delivery in the...
manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
.
Career
Toms took up refereeing in the late 1980s, and progressed to become a reserve (now "fourth") official in the Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1991 for the Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
versus Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
match in the old Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, which was then unique for a female. She was the first woman to be included on the list of Football League assistant referees when she was chosen for the 1994-95 season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
, and became a referee in the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
two seasons later, creating another precedent when she took charge of the game between Kidderminster
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
and Nuneaton Borough
Nuneaton Borough A.F.C.
Nuneaton Town Football Club is an English football club from the town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The team compete in the Conference North. This is the 2nd level of Non League Football. In the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference North division, but due to a liquidation they were demoted...
her first Conference match as referee. Almost a year after that, she operated as an assistant referee in the Premier League, again, the first female ever to do so.
Two years after her debut in that league, and having 'run the line' for referee Steve Dunn
Steve Dunn (referee)
Stephen W. Dunn is an English former FA Premier League football referee. He was born on 24 October 1957, and hails from Gloucestershire, England.-Career:...
during Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
's 4-3 Premiership away win at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 11 September 1999, she was roundly criticised by the then Coventry manager, Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
, who said in an interview with The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper: "We are getting PC
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
decisions about promoting ladies. It does not matter if they are ladies, men or Alsatian dogs. If they are not good enough to run the line they should not get the job. Saturday's was the worst assistant refereeing decision I have seen this season by far and I've said that in my report. The fourth Leeds goal was offside by at least four yards and there were numerous other bad decisions in the game. My message is don't be politically correct and promote people just for the sake of it." However, the president of the Referees' Association at the time, Peter Willis
Peter Willis
Peter N. Willis is an English former association football referee, who operated in the Football League. He originates from Newfield, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, but now lives in Meadowfield. His other occupation was as a police officer.-Early life:He was educated at Spennymoor Grammar...
, replied: "She's a very good official...I think the situation is very sad. As a manager of a football club, Strachan is responsible for his players and he is entitled to his opinion on the performance of the officials, but to talk about the sex of the official is irrelevant."
Toms' highest domestic honour was being appointed as an assistant for the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Final between Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and Tranmere
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
at Wembley on 27 February 2000, when the referee was Alan Wilkie
Alan Wilkie
Alan B. Wilkie is an English former football referee, who officiated in the Football League and the Premier League, and for UEFA. He was born in Denton Burn, Newcastle upon Tyne, but now lives in Chester-le-Street, County Durham...
. Leicester won this 2-1, with Toms indicating offside at one point to cause the Tranmere (and former Leicester) player David Kelly
David Kelly (footballer)
David Thomas Kelly is a retired footballer and former assistant manager of Nottingham Forest. As a child, Kelly suffered from Perthes Disease, but recovered to forge a long and successful career in professional football.-Playing career:Kelly turned out for Walsall, West Ham United, Leicester City,...
's "equalising goal" to be disallowed. She was also an assistant referee in two matches at the 2000 Olympic Games, having been selected by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
to operate on their women's international list.
She took charge of the UEFA Women's Cup quarter-final first leg on 30 October 2003 between Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF (women)
Brøndby IF is a women's football club from Brøndby, Denmark. It is the female team of Brøndby IF.The team is one of Denmark's best women's teams, having won six championships and 5 cups in the 2000s...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Gomrukçu Baku
Standard Baku
FK Standard Sumgayit was an Azerbaijani football club based in Sumgayit. They play in the AFFA Supreme League, the top division in Azerbaijani football...
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, with the Danish side running out 9-0 winners.
Toms refereed one match at the 2005 UEFA Women's Championship
UEFA Women's Championship
The UEFA European Women's Championship, also called the UEFA Women's Euro and unofficially the "European Cup", held every fourth year, is the main competition in women's association football between national teams of the UEFA Confederation...
in England. This was the Group B match at Deepdale in Preston on 6 June 2005, between France
France women's national football team
The French women's national football team represents France in international women's football. The team is directed by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer...
and Italy
Italy women's national football team
The Italy women's national football team represents Italy in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Italian Football Federation .- Performances in the World Cup :...
, which finished 3-1 to the French.
Although no longer officiating at the highest level, Toms still referees in the Football Conference.
Wendy Toms was also mentioned during the Richard Keys and Andy Gray rant regarding women officiating elite football matches in late 2010:
Keys: 'This is not the first time is it? Didn't we have one before?'
Gray: 'Yeah.'
Keys: 'Wendy Toms?'
Gray: 'Wendy Toms or something like that, yeah. She was f*cking hopeless as well.'
Keys: 'Urghhh.'
See also
- Sian MasseySian MasseySian Louise Massey is an English football and women's football referee who officiates generally in the role of assistant referee – primarily in the Football League – but she has also had appointments to Premier League, Football League Trophy, UEFA Women's Champions League and FIFA Women's World...
- Amy RaynerAmy RaynerAmy Fearn is an English football referee from Loughborough, Leicestershire, who in 2010 became the first woman to referee in The Football League...
- List of football referees
- Women's association football