On behalf of Scunthorpe Referees Association.
Our most sincere condolences to all John’s family. It is with sadness we acknowledge the passing of one of our esteemed former Chairmen.
Sid (as we knew him) welcomed me to my very first referees meeting upstairs in the Britannia Hotel in Scunthorpe, during the late nineteen seventies. I was a very young aspiring referee, only sixteen at the time. I recall Sid being a strong personality, chairing the meetings with a firm authority when debates grew lively. He had a distinct passion for all things football, encouraging sporting behaviour in the local game through his refereeing. Not only that, he was a champion for all Scunthorpe referees, as well as Scunthorpe United. I can say a great many referees benefited from Sid’s leadership and guidance, something that helped me personally in my quest to reach the professional game fifteen years later. It’s been a very long time since Sid graced the refereeing world, but there are some of us who will always remember him fondly.
David Babski (President – Scunthorpe Referees Association)
David Babski
16/09/2025
