Arthur Roston Bourke Explained

Arthur Roston Bourke was an association football referee in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was vice-president of the London Football Association until October 1900,^[1] and principal of Holloway College in London.^[2] He was involved in the founding of the first Referees' Association and was appointed as the organisation's first honorary secretary in 1893.^[3]

As well as officiating football games Bourke ran his own team, known as A. Roston Bourke's XI. Roston Bourke's XI were the first team to face Reading on their new Elm Park ground in 1896.^[4] He was initially suspended by the Football Association for playing this match as his team was not FA-registered, but the suspension was later overturned.^[5]

Arthur was the son of William Roston Bourke who was a member of the London School Board, representing Finsbury from 1882^[6] to 1897,^[7] and headmaster of Holloway College.

Notes and References

1. News: The Referees' Friend . Reading Observer . 20 October 1900 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 24 July 2019.
2. News: A Gymnastic Mistress's Claim . Islington Gazette . 14 February 1908 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 24 July 2019.
3. Book: Elite Soccer Referees: Officiating in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A . Webb . Tom . Routledge . Abingdon . 2017 . 978-1-138-10161-6 . 21.
4. Web site: The Home Grounds of Reading FC . 2003 . 1871 – The Ultimate Reading FC Website . dead. https://archive.today/20121015213037/http://www.btinternet.com/~rfc1871/madejskistadium/elmpark.htm . 15 October 2012.
5. News: The Suspension of Mr. Roston Bourke . Surrey Advertiser . 4 November 1896 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 26 July 2019.
6. News: The London School Board Election. The Daily News. 28 November 1882.
7. News: The Daily News. 24 November 1894. The London School Board Election. Result of the Poll.