Legendary Shropshire referee Jack Taylor dies

Shropshire's Jack Taylor OBE, the first Englishman ever to referee a World Cup final, has died at his home in the county at the age of 82.

Mr Taylor died at his home in Lower Upton, Shifnal, yesterday after suffering from pneumonia. His wife, Susan, paid tribute, saying he was a passionate man.

Mr Taylor, born in Wolverhampton, officiated the 1974 final between West Germany and Holland and became the first to award a penalty in a World Cup final.

Mrs Taylor said: "He was much the same as he was in football, a very determined man who liked things done his way, that's probably what made him a good referee.

"Football was his over-riding passion, right up until the last few weeks going round football clubs and assessing referees."

Mrs Taylor said her husband had been having treatment at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital and came home on Thursday. She added: "I'd like to thank the staff at the hospital, who speedily had a bed and oxygen delivered so he could be at home."

Mr Taylor, a former butcher, magistrate and Wolves' first commercial manager, played for Wolverhampton Town as a boy.

His family had run a butchers for two generations before he took over. He was a referee for 33 years, in charge of more than 1,000 games and more than 100 international fixtures in 60 countries.

He was awarded an OBE in 1975 and has four children, Jayne, Penny, Steven and David, and 11 grandchildren.

The referee who had the respect of all - Chief Sports Writer Martin Swain pays tribute to Jack Taylor in today's Shropshire Star

See also:

• Jack Taylor on the 1974 World Cup final - VIDEO