Clive Thomas Referee

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Some posters will know that Clive and I were good mates at one time so, during my self-isolation, I have just re-read his autobiography entitled "By the Book", a signed copy of which he gave to me. Of course, when he refereed there were no cards, just a notebook and pencil of which he made liberal use, hence his nickname, Clive the Book. I think that at one time there must have been a shortage of carbon in the UK, an indication of how much Clive used his pencil!! But he is best known for one incident that he describes in the opening words of his book: Chapter One - WHY DID IT ALL HAPPEN TO ME?

Zico, arguably one of the finest footballers in the world, was in mid-air. Brazil and Sweden were sharing two goals in the Argentinian seaside city of Mar del Plata. A corner-kick had been taken. And Olive Thomas, for so I was described on an official World Cup list of referees for 1978, turned to point to the centre of the field and blew the whistle for full-time. Behind my back - I saw later on television - Zico met the ball accurately with his head, leaving the Swedish goalkeeper with no chance of a save. Zico was too late. Possibly only four-tenths of a second too late, but too late nevertheless. I had blown for the end of the game, the goal did not stand, and the name of Clive Thomas became known around the world.

I didn't do it deliberately, of course I didn't. I was not to know that Brazil would 'score' when that corner-kick was taken. My watch told me that time was completed. To have blown before the corner was taken would have been dishonest: to have waited until the ball went dead would have been dishonest.


And therein lies the irony of the situation because, whatever Clive was or wasn't, he was above all else, HONEST. And this honesty cost him the honour of refereeing the World Cup Final because his action enraged the President of FIFA, a man called Joao Havelange who held the post from 1974 to1998 and who happened to be Brazilian!! Clive had been the hot favourite to take the Final before this game but a vengeful Havelange made sure he had no chance.

I discussed this with Clive many, many times and took the view, along with, it seems, thousands of other people, that to avoid controversy, he should either have blown time before the corner was taken or allowed the consequence of the corner to happen before he blew. He would have none of it! Time is time, he said, and it wasn't for him to alter it in any way. His honesty cost him the greatest honour in football, which is a whole lot more than can ever be said about Havelange! Unsavoury facts about football's top administrators came to a head with investigations into Blatter, Platini and Warner amongst MANY others. Seems the toxic seeds of corruption had been planted long before their time though.

As for Clive, it seems that he upsets and pleases in equal measure. Personally I found him to be a warm individual always generous with his time. I attended a number of games as his guest and well remember a First Division Game at Notts County when they hosted Liverpool. After the game I mingled with players of both teams in hospitality and Bobby Robson the England manager was there as well. Then there was the time I went to Ninian Park with him as his guest when Brian Clough brought his Forest team to play in a game for the Boys Club of Wales, which was a charity close to Clive's heart. And I particularly remember chatting to Cloughie whilst stuffing mini sausage rolls and other buffet food down my neck. What a character and what a font of knowledge about the game that man was. For some reason we hit it off and chatted about football and tactics etc for what seemed like ages.

Anyway, I've now finished the book, again, and it brought back many memories because I often was with him in his office when he was doing research etc for the book. Lynne, his secretary would keep us supplied with coffee and I listened in to many a conversation that Clive had with Cloughie, John Bond (ex Swans manager), Jimmy Hill, Lawrie Mcmenemy and Bob Paisley etc. Happy and warm memories indeed but I've lost touch with Clive over the years. I just hope that he's keeping well along with his lovely family. Thanks, Clive, it was an absolute pleasure.
 
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