In the late 1800's and early 1900's, it is difficult to imagine what satisfaction the pioneer referees acquired from their craft. I suppose part of their reward would have been the same as the modern day referee, pleasure in helping the game develop, personal exercise in the open and of the psychological feeling of being in control. Their task would have been more difficult, as there were no Referees' Associations or local Societies to provide guidance, encouragement and education. Financial rewards were meagre, the refund of minimum travelling expenses plus a few shillings, at a rate per hour very much less than any Trade Union would tolerate. Considering that the referee was - even then - an essential factor in any match (and in view of the hardships they had to endure), they did not grumble about it - instead, rather like today, they continued to enjoy it.
Following the introduction of the first thirteen 'Rules of Association Football,' handwritten in the Freemasons' Tavern in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, by the newly formed Football Association (The FA) on 26th October 1863, referees for the first time had a standard set of Laws to apply. But it was 30 years later in 1893, before The FA formed the very first local Referees' Association at Anderton’s Hotel in London. There were 79 in attendance, with CW Alcock (Secretary of The FA) nominated as President, FJ Wall (later Secretary of The FA 1895-1934) assuming the role of Chairman and Arthur Roston Bourke the Honorary Secretary. The London Society’s prime purpose was to examine the qualification of referees by oral methods and to appoint them to matches. Two years later, Vice President William Pickford was instrumental in getting the Society to produce “The Referees’ Chart”, 1895-96. This contained 17 Laws (or rules) and was far more substantial than those drafted in the1863.
