Billy Thompson - former top rugby league referee dies

Legendary former rugby league referee Billy Thompson has died, aged 87.
By Peter Smith
Published 16th Feb 2021, 14:15 BST
Updated 16th Feb 2021, 15:17 BST
Biully Thompson, right, pictured in 2011 with then-Super League referee Richard Silverwood. Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com.Biully Thompson, right, pictured in 2011 with then-Super League referee Richard Silverwood. Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com.
Biully Thompson, right, pictured in 2011 with then-Super League referee Richard Silverwood. Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com.

LEGENDARY FORMER referee Billy Thompson - best remembered by Leeds fans for his part in one of Wembley’s most controversial incidents - has died, aged 87.

Thompson, from Huddersfield, was the first referee to send off a player in a Challenge Cup final, dismissing Syd Hynes following a clash with Alex Murphy during Leeds’ shock defeat to Leigh in 1971.

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Murphy was stretchered from the field, but returned soon afterwards as Leigh stunned the hot favourites 24-7.

Referee Billy Thompson keeps a close watch as Leeds' Bob Haigh and Alex Murphy, of Leigh, tangle at Wembley in 1971. Picture by YPN.Referee Billy Thompson keeps a close watch as Leeds' Bob Haigh and Alex Murphy, of Leigh, tangle at Wembley in 1971. Picture by YPN.
Referee Billy Thompson keeps a close watch as Leeds' Bob Haigh and Alex Murphy, of Leigh, tangle at Wembley in 1971. Picture by YPN.

Thompson was also in charge of Leeds’ 1978 Wembley win over St Helens and the 1984 Cup final, which was his last game before enforced retirement, aged 50.

Along with Fred Lindop, Thompson was the sport’s dominant match official in the 1970s and early 80s, taking charge of finals in all major competitions.

He was referee of the year three times and the first to officiate an Australian State of Origin match.

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Famously, his willingness to let the players get stuck into each other set the tone for all future encounters.

Made a Grade One official in the 1967-68 season, he refereed 17 Test matches, including the 1977 World Cup final in Sydney.

His other appointments included two Championship finals - one of them being Leeds’ stormy defeat of Castleford in 1969 - the Floodlit Trophy three times, five JP Trophy finals, 11 in the Lancashire Cup and one Yorkshire Cup decider.

Super League referee Ben Thaler, from Normanton, paid tribute to Thompson as among the finest officials in the sport’s history.

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He said: “He will go down as one of the best referees there has ever been - and rightly so.

“He deserves his place alongside the likes of Eric Clay, Ron Gelder and Fred Lindop as the best of all-time.

"He had a way with the players, probably like no other.”

Thompson was an engineer at David Brown Tractors and became a hugely popular public speaker after hanging up his whistle.

Thaler added: “He was a brilliant bloke, a proper Yorkshireman.

"He was a great character and somebody who’d help you whenever he could.”

Related topics:LeedsSt HelensWembleyLeigh

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