Iconic Moments in Football No.55
This week’s ‘Iconic Moment’ could have featured in the ‘On This Day’ article but I decided that this was definitely an iconic moment!
Arsenal and Liverpool were playing in a league match at Highbury on 16th September 1972 in front of the Big Match cameras. The game was the feature match for the highlights show on ITV the following day and the show’s pundit Jimmy Hill was in the crowd to get some extra research in.
Midway through the first half, linesman Dennis Drewitt tore his knee ligaments, ending his involvement in the game. Panic set in as it quickly became apparent that there was no one who could take over from Drewitt.
With no fourth officials back in those days, the Highbury announcer called out on the tannoy asking if there was a qualified referee in the crowd who could step in and help. A few minutes desperate passed and with concerns that the game might be abandoned, in stepped Jimmy Hill to offer his services!
Referee Pat Partridge gladly accepted Hill’s offer of help and off the former Coventry City chairman jogged off up the tunnel to get changed.
A few minutes later, Hill returned in a sky blue tracksuit and took his place on the far touchline. It’s quite ironic that the tracksuit was sky blue as he had changed Coventry’s kit to that colour during his time at the club!
Hill managed to keep himself out of the limelight and the game ended 0-0. He did have a change of kit at half time though, coming out for the second half dressed all in black, so that probably helped detract the attention away from him!
The 47,597 in the crowd that afternoon were all able to proudly be able to say “I was there when Jimmy Hill ran the line!”.
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