Tony has got a real footballing tale to tell
Local cricketers will know Tony Waldeis as one of the umpires who officiates on a regular basis in the first and second divisions of the Nicholas Insurance Pembroke County Club League and in cup matches during midweek - but what sports lovers won't know is the fact that in his younger days he was a football referee in the top echelons of English League football, the old equivalent of the current Premier League!
He reffed at all the major venues like Old Trafford, Maine Road, Elland Road, Stamford Bridge and Highbury - and one of his claims to fame was that he booked George Best in a match for Manchester United against Aston Villa.
Anfield was a great highlight!
And although he wasn't able to officiate games involving Liverpool because he was a staunch Reds' supporter, he was honoured to be invited to referee Roger Hunt's testimonial match where his Select XI played the 1966 World Cup-Winning team in front of 56,000 supporters!
"It was a rare treat to walk out at Anfield in front of the players, Bill Shankley, Bob Paisley and Sir Alf Ramsey who had brought his full squad, although it was six years on from 1966,” Tony told us
"After the match there was a celebration dinner and Roger Hunt presented me and my two assistants with a cut-glass engraved memento - and a ten pound note stuck in the top as a token match fee," he added, with a chuckle!
Now settled for the quiet climes of Pembs Cricket
It was a memorable match amongst many but no
w Tony enjoys his involvement in our local cricket as he officiates almost every weekend in the summer months, including the Ormond Youth Cup Final on one occasion.
He qualified to wear the white coat during his time spent on National Service in the Royal Artillery from 1956-8, as well as spending a couple of seasons umpiring in the South-West Lancashire League before he stopped because of family commitments and travelling.
But then he met his wife Kate, who is a very keen golfer, now playing off 22 at Rosemarket Golf Club after 25 years at Haverfordwest Golf Club and previously at the Glamorgan GC in Penarth.
"We decided to settle in Pembrokeshire in 2002 when we married and within two years I had joined the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Umpires & Scorers.
"Restarting my umpiring involvement was a great decision," Tony admitted, "because in general the game is played as it should be and I've met so many other spo
rts lovers through it, as well as creating lasting friendships amongst the other umpires."
A long way from ‘The Cavern’!
It all seems a long way away from his youth as a real 'Scouser', born in Sefton Park, and loving his regular visits to Anfield to support the red side of his city.
"We spent a lot of time in the Cavern Club where the pop groups like 'The Beatles' , 'Gerry & the Pacemakers', plus 'The Merseybeats' were thrilling everyone - and Cilla Black took our coats on loads of occasions.
"I met Paul McCartney in 'The Cavern', although I preferred the singing of his brother, Mike McGear," Tony told us with another laugh!
Rugby disaster in the Royal Artillery
Tony played football for the school team and the old boys’ team later on but all that changed when he joined the Royal Artillery and he was stationed in Germany.
"The commanding officer, battery sergeant major and PT instructor were all Welsh so no football was played, only rugby.
"I was only 5' 8" tall and weighed 12 stone so they took one look at me and decided I would make a hooker - but when we played the Welsh Regiment I only lasted 15 minutes before I had to go off with a sore back from the torture in the scrums, and so ended what might have been a promising rugby career!"
Parks football and taking up the whistle
“Then came news that the Football Association in England was short of referees and the Army asked for volunteers to be trained – and I took the course and was soon refereeing forces matches across Germany.
“On demob I played local parks football in Liverpool as a goalkeeper after refereeing the previous day and finished off as a left back before I retired at 42 – but by then I was already climbing through the grades as a referee which included the old Central League and then acting as a linesman in the Football League from 1965.
“I was linesman (called assistant referees these days) to Jack Taylor, who officiated in a World Cup Final, Clive Thomas, John Gow, Pat Partridge, Peter Willis, Bob Mathewson and Gordon Hill before in 1970 I joined the group who could officiate in the Football League; where only 250 refs out of 35,000 which were allowed to take charge.
Good news from a tough time
That honour came soon after he had refereed the semi-final of the National Dock Labour Board Cup between Liverpool Dockers and Millwall Dockers – where he had been chatting to his linesmen beforehand and both told him they were two of ten officials who had turned down the chance before he agreed to be in charge.
“I soon saw why because in 120 minutes of mayhem in front of over 2,000 spectators there were four red cards, eight yellow cards, three brawls and two pitch invasions before Liverpool won 5-4 after extra time – and although I questioned my ability to take charge I soon had the letter telling me of my promotion so I couldn’t have done too badly after all!
Dennis was a top man – and so was ‘Cally’!
Ask Tony who were the players that he enjoyed refereeing and he is quick to answer.
“Dennis Law wasn’t only a great player and genuine character but a real gentleman who just loved playing football. Ian Callaghan was another whom I got to know and when we went out for an evening a few times with families he didn’t want to talk about football – just to enjoy an evening away from it!”
Tony refereed until he was 59 and if he had a regret it is the fact that he didn’t take it up sooner because he was working full time throughout his refereeing days.
“Nowadays top referees are full time professionals, some of them paid about £35,000 and match fees and expenses on top of that – we were paid £20 for being in charge of a top match, £10 as linesman and £2 for taking charge in the local league, which I did once a month.
“It was a wonderful time and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
But now Tony is happy as an umpire in the summer months and also enjoys going to the gym (spinning) three times a week, playing golf, travelling with Kate and being a member of Haverfordwest Rotary Club.
His story is a remarkable one, related by a modesty and unassuming gentleman of sport – and long may he continue to being involved in these activities for many years to come!