Ray Tinkler


Raymond Tinkler, who comes from Boston, Lincolnshire, is an English former football referee who served on the Football League list from 1961 to 1976. Outside football he was a company secretary.

Career

During a game between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road on 17 April 1971, Tinkler allowed play to continue after a linesman had flagged for offside. The Leeds players stopped when they saw the flag and West Brom went on to score. The decision to play on caused outrage at the time. He was surrounded by Leeds players, and several Leeds fans who invaded the pitch were escorted off by police. Leeds pulled a goal back but lost the game 1-2.
Tinkler's final match was a game between Oldham and West Bromwich Albion at Boundary Park on 24 April 1976 where the away team won 1-0 to clinch promotion to Division 1. He later became Chairman of the Football Association Referees’ Committee and The Referees' Association.
In 2005, Tinkler became chairman of Lincolnshire FA. He retired from this role in the summer of 2010.