Full name Gareth S Willard 1994-2000 Premier League Years League | Years League Name Gary Willard 1990-1994 Football League Role Referee | |
Born 3 September 1959 (age 64)
Worthing, Sussex, England ( 1959-09-03 ) | ||
Other occupation Inland Revenue officer | ||
Gary willard ruined our game
Gareth S. Willard (born 3 September 1959) is an English former football referee. He officiated in the Football League and the Premier League, and for FIFA. He comes from Worthing in Sussex. He has continued to maintain an involvement in top-class football since retiring in 2000. His other occupation was as an officer for the Inland Revenue.
Contents
- Gary willard ruined our game
- Gary willard the characters aka nasty habits that s the way it goes
- Career
- References
Gary willard the characters aka nasty habits that s the way it goes
Career
Willard became a referee for the Football League in 1990, and was promoted to the Premier League list of referees in 1994. He became a FIFA referee in 1996.
On 27 January 1998, he was referee for the Football League Cup semi-final first leg between Liverpool and Middlesbrough, which was a 2-1 home win. He also controlled the semi-final second leg the following year in the same competition, when Spurs won 1-0 at Wimbledon on 16 February 1999, for an aggregate win by that score.
On 28 March 1998, Willard was involved in "astonishing scenes" at Oakwell Stadium after the end of the Barnsley versus Liverpool match in the Premier League, which finished 2-3. He sent off three players from the home side - Darren Barnard, Chris Morgan and Darren Sheridan - in the second half, causing play to be suspended for five minutes after Willard, having been chased by an interloper, sought refuge in the dressing room toilets. He had to be given a "police safety escort" off the pitch after the game.
His final Premiership game was West Ham's 4-0 win over Middlesbrough at Upton Park on 16 May 1999, but he continued to referee for FIFA. The English referees' chief at the time, Philip Don, stated that Willard had not taken any Premier League appointments due to "personal reasons".