George Tweedlie isn’t sure whether refereeing soccer keeps him fit or if he has to keep fit to ref soccer.
Either way, the Richmond resident has been doing it for around 40 years and, at the age of 82, is still loving every minute of it.
As recently as just a few weeks ago, Tweedlie was in charge of a youth BC Premier League game and regularly refs teenage boys games, tournaments and metro women’s games.
Such is his dedication to the game and the high regard in which he is held, Tweedlie has just been given the honour of a life membership in the Vancouver Area Soccer Referees Association.
And all for a man who, by his own admission, never really played the game at any discernable level.
“I was never a player. I’ve kicked a ball around at a works team, but that was it,” Tweedlie told the Richmond News.
“But if you know the game, you know where to be…You know where the ball is likely going to go.
“The honour was a total surprise to be honest, I never knew a thing about it.”
Out there in all weathers
Tweedlie, who emigrated from Scotland in 1975, said he’s scaled back his refereeing commitments a little over the last few years, but is still out there in all weathers keeping the games going and passing on his many decades of wisdom to younger officials.
“I still feel comfortable getting around the field at high levels. I’m not sure what comes first, keeping fit by refereeing or reffing to keep fit.
“I think I do a lot of cycling so I can referee.”
Asked about memorable games he officiated in over those 40 years, Tweedlie recalled a Nations Cup final between Scotland and China, which went to 20 penalty kicks to decide the winner, after the teams tied at full-time.
But the game which gave him the most pleasure was one that involved young players with all kinds of physical and mental challenges.
“It wasn’t so much the game, but who I was refereeing,” added Tweedlie.
“These kids had various challenges, from being blind to autistic. I got the biggest kick out of that. To see the joy on their faces.”
Asked if there’s a secret to putting up being the man in the middle for so many years and dealing with all the sideline “advice” that comes with it, Tweedlie simply said “honesty.”
“Being honest with yourself. We make mistakes all the time.
“Knowing that you’ve made a mistake and admitting it to yourself.
“I also talk to players during the game as much as I can.
“And you’d be amazed at the number of players who don’t know the rules. So I find myself letting them know, as nicely as possible.
“I look forward to it every day.”
