Referee Sammy Spillane left a rich legacy for generations to follow

On the 13th anniversary of his passing later this month, the much respected former local and international referee Sammy Spillane will always be fondly remembered as a trailblazer who paved the way for all the legions of great Cork referees who followed in his footsteps.

Born on Evergreen Street into a large family of seven boys and four girls, Sammy played hurling and football for the South Monastery, winning his first trophy on the U14 hurling team. 

His introduction to soccer came his way when he played as a right-back at schoolboy level with Nicholas Rovers before graduating on to join future Irish international and Middlesborough star Peter Desmond at Beaumont United. He finished playing with Anglesea United and Morton.

His introduction to refereeing was not totally of his own design as in order for his employer to enter a team into the Inter-House League, they had to be willing to nominate someone to referee any outstanding matches which may have popped up. 

And so, the honour fell to Sammy who had a baptism of fire in his first match, sending off four players in a fiery encounter.

His affiliation to the Munster Referee’s Society led to a promotion to the League of Ireland panel where his exceptional fitness and no nonsense man management was catching the eye within the ranks of the FAI. 

He was ideally placed to be the association’s stand out nominee when it came to appointing an Irish official to take charge of the association’s blue ribbon trophy, the 1961 FAI Cup Final between St. Patrick’s Athletic and Drumcondra at Dalymount Park on Sunday, April 23rd.

Beforehand, it had been the policy to invite leading English officials to referee cup finals but now the mantal fell to the talented up and coming Corkonian. 

After the cup final his next major appointment was a university international between Ireland and England at the Mardyke followed by a representative match between the League of Ireland and The Irish League in 1962. 

With his reputation growing he received his FIFA Badge in 1962 which enabled him assist Dublin referee Jack ‘Pip’ Meighan in an Inter-Cities Fairs Cup tie between Everton and Dunfermline at Goodison Park.

Sammy became the first referee to officiate at three domestic cup finals when he was chosen along with assistants Slyvie Groger and Owen McCarthy to oversee the 1962 decider between Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne and with McCarthy and Paddy Graham as assistants for the 1965 showdown between the Hoops and Limerick, both matches won by Rovers.

His career continued on an upward trajectory with more European club appointments and the prestigious Nations Cup qualifier between Wales and Hungary at Ninian Park on Wednesday, March 19th 1963. 

The London correspondent Desmond Buckle wrote : - ‘The control exercised by the Irish referee Sammy Spillane impressed the Hungarians.’ ‘ I trust Mr. Spillane and his assistants will be given more opportunities to display their skill on the football fields of Europe.’ ‘Is is, indeed, time for the rest of Europe to sit up and take notice of Irish football.’ 

By the end of the sixties, Sammy had been involved in a record breaking six FAI Cup Finals, three as referee and three as an assistant and had refereed in European competitions in six countries.

However, his love for local schoolboy football is what fuelled his love of the game stretching to over fifty-two years till his retirement in 1994. 

A former colleague and later a lead assessor Frank Casey said of him. ‘Once the night got long, Sammy, come hell or high water, would always make his way out to Togher on Sunday nights and referee matches till late.’ 

Sammy never fully turned his back on his other great passion in life, singing ! In the early days when they Cork contingent of referees travelled the length and breath of the country, he always proved a smash hit when called upon to sing. In 1989 he reached a notable high by winning the Over 60’s talent competition at the Cork Opera House. 

He recited ‘Love Thee Dearest, Love Thee’ in his own inimitable way, receiving high accolades from an appreciative audience.

He would have never have imagined his influence would have inspired the greats of Cork soccer in the decades which followed. 

Names like, Derry Barrett, Pat and Alan Kelly, Eddie Mullins, John Spillane, Kevin O’Sullivan, Willie Long, Christy Byrne, Aidan O’Regan, Eddie Foley and Anthony Buttimer, who created history by becoming the first to referee on the League of Ireland panel into his fifties, took huge inspiration from Sammy’s achievements at home and across the some of the biggest stadiums in Europe.