Post by jonw on Apr 2, 2020 21:42:29 GMT
This article first appeared in the 2018-19 programme v Sutton United
Nowadays the thought of a small Essex football club inviting the president of F.I.F.A. to open their floodlights seems unlikely. In 1967 it very nearly happened here. Sir Stanley Rous was born near Lowestoft in 1895. He played in goal for both Kirkley and Lowestoft Town but retired after breaking a wrist. He then took up refereeing, reaching the Football League list in 1927 and officiating a match between Belgium and the Netherlands in the same year. In 1934 he was the man in the middle for the F.A. Cup Final between Manchester City and Portsmouth. Having reached the top of his profession he retired the next day, at the age of 39. He immediately became secretary of the Football Association and in 1938 made a major contribution to the game by rewriting the Laws of the Game, making them simpler to understand. He was knighted in 1949.
He continued at the F.A. until 1962, having become the sixth president of F.I.F.A. the previous year. Throughout his time as a Football Administrator he had frequently helped the smaller clubs with requests to open new grounds, stands and floodlights.
As soon as the date for Iron’s 1967 floodlight opening fixture with West Ham United was known, club secretary Ron Webb wrote to Sir Stanley to enquire if he would be available to perform the switch on duties. He replied immediately:
“Thank you for letter of 6th October.
I much regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation to be present at the official opening of your floodlighting installation on Tuesday, November 14th as I shall be either in New York or in Zurich on that day.
I should much like to have been able to be present but regret that it is impossible”.
Yours sincerely
Stanley Rous
The local M.P., Brian Harrison, stepped in and performed the honours at the night, with Iron beaten 3-1 by a West Ham side including Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard and Trevor Brooking.
Rous continued as F.I.F.A. president until 1974 when he lost an election to João Havelange.
Nowadays the thought of a small Essex football club inviting the president of F.I.F.A. to open their floodlights seems unlikely. In 1967 it very nearly happened here. Sir Stanley Rous was born near Lowestoft in 1895. He played in goal for both Kirkley and Lowestoft Town but retired after breaking a wrist. He then took up refereeing, reaching the Football League list in 1927 and officiating a match between Belgium and the Netherlands in the same year. In 1934 he was the man in the middle for the F.A. Cup Final between Manchester City and Portsmouth. Having reached the top of his profession he retired the next day, at the age of 39. He immediately became secretary of the Football Association and in 1938 made a major contribution to the game by rewriting the Laws of the Game, making them simpler to understand. He was knighted in 1949.
He continued at the F.A. until 1962, having become the sixth president of F.I.F.A. the previous year. Throughout his time as a Football Administrator he had frequently helped the smaller clubs with requests to open new grounds, stands and floodlights.
As soon as the date for Iron’s 1967 floodlight opening fixture with West Ham United was known, club secretary Ron Webb wrote to Sir Stanley to enquire if he would be available to perform the switch on duties. He replied immediately:
“Thank you for letter of 6th October.
I much regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation to be present at the official opening of your floodlighting installation on Tuesday, November 14th as I shall be either in New York or in Zurich on that day.
I should much like to have been able to be present but regret that it is impossible”.
Yours sincerely
Stanley Rous
The local M.P., Brian Harrison, stepped in and performed the honours at the night, with Iron beaten 3-1 by a West Ham side including Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard and Trevor Brooking.
Rous continued as F.I.F.A. president until 1974 when he lost an election to João Havelange.