The master referee!
By DOUG THOMSON
FRED LINDOP July 20, 1938 -January 23, 2023
FRED LINDOP knew Wembley almost as well as his home city of Wakefield and he reached the highest possible level of refereeing when he took charge of the 1970 World Cup final.
It was one of 22 Tests for which Lindop, who has died aged 84, was in the middle, and as far as he was concerned, it lived up to its name.
For the November showdown in Leeds between Great Britain and Australia, when the hosts and pre-match favourites (the Lions had retained the Ashes on their summer tour Down Under) were beaten 12-7, became known as 'The Battle of Headingley' due to its sheer brutality.
The final was described by one observer as "an extended punch-up", and Lindop's patience finally broke in the 79th minute, when he sent off Great Britain centre Syd Hynes and Australia scrum-half Billy Smith.