vince Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Hopefully the mods will indulge me a little as although this is not Saints related, it is Hampshire football related. My father, Ian Baldwin, passed away yesterday morning. If you played senior football in Southampton or along the Waterside from the 70's onwards (or against Fawley Falcons from around 79-84 when he ref'd a lot of my youth games as a nipper), you will almost certainly have been refereed by him at some point as he was a class 1 referee in the Hampshire league from the time he moved the family down from Surrey in the late 60's until the turn of the century, when he began assessing referees (he assessed Lee Probert on his rise to the premier league). He gave nearly 45 years to Hampshire football, and adding in his time with Surrey FA, over 50 years in total. He took me to my first game at the Dell in '79 against Leeds in the League Cup semi final (mainly because one of his school friends was running the line in that game) and I was hooked. He will be up there now, standing in the middle, telling the captains to have a good game and play fair.
Gemmel Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Vince I played for Fawley Falcons in 79 - 82. I can't remember the refs, but a belated thank you to your late Dad if he was a part of it all. RIP
DaveyR Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Condolences to you mate as he probably reffed a few of my games as I played for fawley falcons from about 1982 -1986 (approximately!!)
The Kraken Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Sorry for your loss Vince, and full credit to your Dad for such great service to the game.
Give it to Ron Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Oh dear I knew Ian very well and worked with him at Mullards/Phillips. A true gent was Ian and he was ref in many games I played in. My deepest condolensces to you, your sister and family
Minty Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Deepest condolences Vince... I played for Hythe Strikers and Dibden Metros against Fawley Falcons many times when I was younger although that was from about 84 to 88. I fear we may no longer see people like your Dad contributing to local football given the way some refs are treated these days, but I hope for his sake, there are more coming through who will make such a contribution.
ToreSF Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Never played football in Hampshire, but still sorry for your loss mate.
Leicestersaint Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Condolences to you Vince - may your father rest in peace. Clearly his memory lives on.
dronskisaint Posted 30 July, 2012 Posted 30 July, 2012 Sad to read but what a brilliant footballing upbringing to set you on your way, ...condolences
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