Former International Umpire Trevor Jones Passes Away

England Hockey were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Trevor Jones, a former international umpire and GB Board Hon Sec who also fulfilled a number of important roles in an incredible life in the sport.

Having first played hockey in the Midlands as a goalkeeper, he took up umpiring and soon showed his qualities, being appointed to his first international match in 1974. With games of course being played on grass at the time, he was fortunate enough to be appointed to Lord’s Cricket Ground for his first game, Ireland vs Spain.

The next year he was added to the FIH list of umpires and continued to officiate international matches until he reached retirement age of 50 in 1980. In total he oversaw 20 full internationals as well as countless other significant fixtures at home and abroad.

Despite officially retiring he continued to officiate at Reading HC for more than 20 years, particularly for the top veterans’ side. He was also a Vice President at the club.

Off the pitch he made a hugely significant contribution, having been Hon Sec at Fort Dunlop, Warwickshire, Midlands CHA and then Great Britain Hockey Board in the mid 1980s when the men’s team secured a bronze in Los Angeles.

Reading’s Chairman Micky Denehy wrote, “Like many, I first encountered Trevor when he umpired me as a young 20 year old hockey player trying hard to impress in regional or Reading 1st XI matches. I had no idea at that time what an influence he was to have on me and my hockey career.

“Firstly, as RCHC Chairman I want to acknowledge the passing of one of Reading Cricket and Hockey Club's most loved and respected Vice Presidents. He contributed hugely to the success of the club both as a hockey umpire and as an active member who always took an interest in the club and the welfare of others. Trevor will be hugely missed by all of us at Reading Cricket & Hockey and on behalf of the club I will send our condolences to his family.

“Secondly, as a hockey player and captain of many Reading sides who benefitted from Trevor's umpiring excellence. Trevor read a hockey match better than most players, he knew instinctively when to play advantage or when to make a quick decision. He knew a red card could ruin a close match and had the authority and presence to ensure a word of warning to a hot-blooded player or a few minutes to cool the blood in the dugout would ensure the guilty player would calm down and allow the match to continue with 11 players on each side.

“He knew the rules inside out and knew when to flex and when to stick firmly to them - quite simply he made hockey a better game whenever he umpired. He remained a first class umpire well into his 80s and we were all sad when he hung up his whistle. Trevor taught me a life long lesson which is to respect umpires no matter how good or bad they might be (after all we can't play without them) and we were lucky to have one of the best of them to run our matches for so many years.

“Thirdly, as a marketing man. Trevor was marketing director for Taylor Woodrow (a big construction firm) he worked with one of the best known and notorious advertising agencies in London - Allan, Brady, Marsh. As a relatively small client of the agency Trevor was always amazed that the Chairman, Peter Marsh, regularly attended meetings with Trevor and seemed to give much more time to the Taylor Woodrow account than the budget might have demanded. As I said to Trevor, agencies thrive on clients they enjoy working with (regardless of their marketing budgets) and Trevor would have been a client my agency would have walked over broken glass for if he had ever given us his business. Trevor was always a great story teller which made him a natural marketer.

 “Lastly, I will always cherish the visits many of us made to see Trevor, Janet and their beloved Goldie (Janet's guide dog for the blind) in their home in Bourne End after he retired. The Jones's went through some very sad and difficult family times but the warmth of their welcome and Trevor's love of hockey and Reading Hockey Club never wavered, he always had stories to share and his recollection of matches he had umpired and the players involved was amazing.

“Sadly their move to Shrewsbury and Janet's death last year during Covid lockdown meant we saw less of him face-to-face but on phone calls he remained so alert and interested until the very end. When I last spoke to him in August he said how grateful he was to still be on Bartie's Reading Vets distribution list as this kept him informed of what was going on and he loved the match reports and banter.

“I am sorry to have gone on so long but I wanted to take this opportunity to pay my respects and say thank you to a man who meant so much to me and to so many of us.

“Needless to say when the news came though after our Vets match later on Saturday that Trevor had died the Relics raised a glass in memory of a Reading legend and I love the fact that Immy (an international hockey player and now a regular umpire) said on hearing the sad news that watching and playing with Trevor as umpire had helped make him a better umpire.

“RIP Trevor Jones - yours was a life well lived, you will be much missed but never forgotten and always much loved by so many at Reading Hockey Club and the wider hockey family."