| Full name | John Walter Carpenter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
(1936-08-22)22 August 1936 Donnycarney, Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Died |
30 May 2021(2021-05-30) (aged 84) Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Other occupation | Butcher | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1964–1984 | League of Ireland | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1969–1984 | FIFA listed | Referee | |
John Walter Carpenter (22 August 1936 – 30 May 2021) was an Irish professional football referee who officiated primarily in the League of Ireland from 1964 to 1984, as well as for FIFA as a FIFA international referee from 1969 to 1984.
Career
Carpenter took up refereeing in the early 1960s when his playing career with St Patrick's Athletic was cut short by a broken leg. He progressed through the Dublin & District Schoolboys' League, the Leinster Junior League and the Athletic Union League before joining the League of Ireland panel in 1964.
Carpenter also had a distinguished career in European club competitions, refereeing 37 matches and culminating in the 1982 UEFA Cup Final. He also refereed 15 full international matches between 1970 and 1983; however, he failed to make the referee panel for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, instead being selected as a reserve referee. When the North American Soccer League was launched, Carpenter was one of a small number of European referees who were invited to officiate.
Personal life
Carpenter was born in Donnycarney, Dublin and originally worked as a butcher with Olhausen's in Talbot Street. He died at his Clontarf home on 30 May 2021, aged 84.
References
- Sweeney, Errol (17 November 2013). "Our referees are not good enough". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- "John Carpenter RIP". Club Zap website. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- Ryan, Seán (13 June 2021). "John Carpenter obituary: Flamboyant Irish referee who earned the universal admiration of his peers". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2021.