Premiership referee's homage to teacher

by GRAHAM TUTTHILL
 

PITCHING IN: David Elleray

in action during the annual

match between the

Old Pharosians and

Dover Boys' Grammar School's

1st XI Ref: pd 678378

NO-ONE argued with the referee during a football match between the Old Boys of Dover Grammar School and the school's present 1st XI.

For the man with the whistle was none other than former FIFA and Premiership referee David Elleray, who started his refereeing career when he was a pupil at the school.

Mr Elleray was elected President of the Old Pharosians - the school's old boys' association - on Saturday, taking over from accountant Ian Pascall. So he was the obvious choice to take control of the annual fixture between the old and the new, which ended in a 4-3 victory for the school's 1st XI.

It was an exciting match, with a couple of good-natured arguments and a bit of banter from the touchline. But Mr Elleray did not have to add any more names to the list of those he has dismissed from the pitch during his distinguished career.

In the evening, at the annual dinner, he paid tribute to former deputy head teacher Ken Ruffell who, he said, had had a huge impact on his life. Mr Ruffell, who was linked with the school for more than 60 years, died last year aged 89.

"He started me off on my refereeing career," said Mr Elleray. "I had a vision of playing for the county, possibly for England, but he said I wasn't up to it, so I trained as a referee instead."

Then, aged just 13, he refereed house matches and recalled that one of the first people he sent off during a match was Nick "Topper" Headon, who became the drummer with The Clash.

Mr Elleray, a housemaster at Harrow School, was chairman of the Independent Schools' Football Association at the same time that another former pupil, Phil Harding - now a teacher at the Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone - was chairman of the English Schools' Football Association.

"This meant that all schoolboy football in this country at that time was overseen by Mr Ruffell's former pupils. We were both hugely influenced by him. He was a remarkable man."

Mr Elleray told other former pupils: "I hope each of us will do all we can to repay the great debt of gratitude for what this school gave us."

Senior assistant head teacher Gary Potter thanked the old boys for the help and support they had shown to the school over the years. He said the school was changing in many positive ways and was an exciting place to be.

With a new head teacher, Sally Lees, and other new senior staff the school, which celebrates its centenary next year, is launching a bid for business and enterprise status.

Another former pupil, Paul Skelton, is producing a book about the school's history to mark the anniversary.

TEEN IDOL: Old boy David Elleray signs autographs for, left to right, Ben Kemp, George Revell and Jake Robinson Ref: pd 678388

NEW ROLE: David Elleray, left, takes over the presidency of the Old Pharosians' Association from Ian Pascall Ref: pd 678395


VICTORS: The Boys' Grammar School's 1st XI, with former pupil and Premiership referee David Elleray Ref: pd 678380