by Barrie Jones
Merthyr Tydfil and District has produced its fair share of prominent football referees: Leo Callaghan (1924-1987), Iorwerth Price Jones (b.1927), and Howard King (b. 1946) come to mind, men who managed the ‘middle’ and ran the ‘line’ in English League and international football matches. To reach that status they had to ‘cut their teeth’ as members of referees’ associations, where over the decades men and now women have given up their free time to officiate at local league and tournament matches.
One such referee was my Grand-uncle Glyndwr Jones (1913-1960), a keen footballer in his youth, who also played for Hills Plymouth Cricket Club well into middle age. ‘Uncle’ Glyn’s reward for his services to refereeing was to be selected to officiate at an international schoolboy U15/16 match between Scotland and Northern Ireland at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Born in Troedyrhiw, Glyn followed his four older brothers working underground and at the time of his selection for the international match he was working as a colliery official at Merthyr Vale Colliery.
Shortly before his trip to Glasgow, Glyn attended an evening at Merthyr Vale and Aberfan Social Democratic Club, there club members, officials of the NCB Colliery Merthyr Vale, and other friends gathered to present him with a travelling bag and a sum of money. The presentation was made by Mr W. J. Williams JP, headmaster of Pantglas Secondary School and vice-president of the Welsh Schools Football Association. Mr Williams said that:
“Mr Jones has served Welsh schools’ football freely for many years as a referee to Pantglas School, Merthyr Schools League and the Welsh Schools Football Association, and he had long been recognised as a first-class referee who was particularly qualified to take charge of schoolboy football, he had always given his services without any remuneration or reward.”
Receiving the gifts Uncle Glyn said he “would endeavour to live up to Merthyr Vale and Aberfan’s fine record of sportsmanship.” Reporting on his selection and the evening’s presentation, the press commented that it was a “rare honour.”
The match took place on Saturday, 23rd of May 1953, the match programme titled it as the ‘Schools Coronation International’ and Scotland won four goals to none. The following season Uncle Glyn was further rewarded when he officiated at the Welsh Schools Cup Final.
Sadly, Glyn died at an early age in May 1960, aged forty-six, several referees’ representing the Merthyr Referees’ Society, including Leo Callaghan, attended his funeral.
