Football referee with over 2,000 games under his belt breaks longest career record
75-year-old Phil Crossley has broken the record for the longest career for a football (soccer) referee (male) with an astounding 58 years officiating across many levels of the English football pyramid.
Phil's refereeing career began at age 17, one year after England won the 1966 World Cup, and his inspiration came from a deep love of the game nurtured by childhood visits to Craven Cottage with his father to watch Fulham FC.
“I realised I’d never play top-class football, so I thought I’d try refereeing and see how far I could climb… which eventually led me to officiating in the Football League and at Wembley Stadium!”, he told GWR.
His first official match took place on 24 September 1967 in the West London Sunday Football League Division 4 at Old Deer Park, where he took charge of Venlo vs Calderon Reserves (Venlo won 3:1).
One of his most memorable early experiences came during an FA match at Woking in front of a large crowd. He initially awarded a controversial penalty for the away side, but after consulting his assistant, he reversed the call - an early lesson in humility and the importance of collaborating with your match officials.
Phil Crossley (center) with his fellow referees
Throughout his career, Phil has championed grassroots football. “The best part of refereeing at grassroots level is allowing two teams to enjoy the game with a qualified person in charge,” he says. He encourages aspiring referees to treat players with the respect you expect from them, be open to post-match discussions, and join local referee societies for ongoing support and learning.
Despite the physical demands of officiating, Phil stays fit through regular running and dog walking. In 2022 he underwent open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve, yet managed to return to refereeing just a few months later!
In the build up to each match he prepares thoroughly: researching teams, reviewing match reports, and even driving to unfamiliar grounds in advance. He typically arrives an hour before kick-off to inspect the pitch and settle in.
Phil acknowledges that mistakes are part of the game, citing ongoing issues since the introduction of modern tools like VAR at the top level, and believes in accountability and learning from them. “If I realise I’ve made a mistake [like failing to play a good advantage] I’m prepared to apologise and move on,” he says. “You can’t afford to dwell on errors.”
Photo taken before the 1974/75 Sportsmans Senior Sunday FL cup final
Having seen the game evolve dramatically over six decades, Phil has always been able to adapt. His proudest career moment was receiving a letter in 1984 confirming his promotion to the elite Football League list of officials.
On achieving this Guinness World Records title, he commented: “It is something I never contemplated 58 years ago. It is a great honour and achievement for me and the certificate will complement my many trophies. It is also a great honour for The FA, The LFA, and The Fulham and District Referees Society.”
Phil’s story is not only one of longevity, but of passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to the beautiful game. He has no plans to hang up his boots (or whistle) any time soon and hopes to continue refereeing into the 2025/26 season and beyond.