Sandy Griffiths

Benjamin Mervyn "Sandy" Griffiths ( born January 17, 1909 in Abertillery, Manmouthshire, Wales, † January 21, 1974 in Wales) was a Welsh football referee. Professionally, he worked as a teacher.

Career

First, he was a teacher in Devon, but soon moved to Newport. From 1934, he whistled in local football leagues. A few years later, he succeeded in recording on the list of the first English League linesman, but the Second World War prevented there first inserts. On November 16, 1949 Griffiths headed the classic England against Scotland. In 1953, he refereed the FA Cup final, in which Blackpool, after a hat-trick from Stan Mortensen, against Bolton Wanderers 4-3 to secure the trophy. 1950, 1954 and 1958 represented Griffiths Wales at the World Cup finals. He was allowed to conduct the semi-final between Hungary and Uruguay in 1954 and was in the final between Germany and Hungary linesman by William Ling particular importance he attained in the 86th minute when he declared a rogue by Ferenc Puskas goal by an offside position invalid. The television pictures can not prove whether he was right.

Sandy Griffiths was the first Welshman who whistled an FA Cup final. He is also currently the only Welsh, who participated actively in a World Cup final.