Thomas Gee Delahunty (28 July 1935 – 14 October 2018)[2] was a British-born New Zealand association football (soccer) referee, who was a FIFA referee from 1968–1984.

Tom Delahunty
Full name Thomas Gee Delahunty[1]
Born (1935-07-28)28 July 1935
Withington, Manchester, England
Died 14 October 2018(2018-10-14) (aged 83)
Waikanae, New Zealand
Domestic
Years League Role
1970–1984 New Zealand National Soccer League Referee
International
Years League Role
1968–1984 FIFA listed Referee

Early life edit

Delahunty was born on 28 July 1935 in Withington, Manchester, England.[2][3][4] He initially played football (soccer) as a goalkeeper, but stopped after dislocating his fingers aged 14.[2] At the age of 20, Delahunty moved to New Zealand,[2] and he became a naturalised New Zealand citizen in 1981.[4]

Career edit

Delahunty decided to take up refereeing aged 18. He worked for two years in Manchester, and continued after moving to New Zealand.[2] From 1968 until 1984, Delahunty was a FIFA international referee.[2] In total, he refereed 19 international matches, including a number of New Zealand home internationals during the 1970s.[2][5] From 1970, Delahunty worked as a referee for the newly formed New Zealand National Soccer League, and also refereed two Chatham Cup finals.[2][6] Delahunty retired from refereeing in 1984.[2]

In 1999, Delahunty was inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Hall of Fame.[7]

Death edit

Delahunty died in a nursing home in Waikanae on 14 October 2018.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Thomas Delahunty". The Dominion Post. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018 – via Legacy.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NZF Life Member Tom Delahunty passes away". New Zealand Football. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Death search: registration number 2018/28523". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b "New Zealand, naturalisations, 1843–1981". Ancestry.com Operations. 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. ^ "New Zealand International Matches – Details 1970–1979". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Football Community". Capital Football. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Tom Delahunty - 1999". Ultimate NZ Soccer. Retrieved 19 October 2018.