Peter Craigmyle

"Peter Craigmyle" (1 January 1894 – 21 November 1979) was revered by many to be Scotland's greatest football referee of the 20th century. Born in [Oldmeldrum], Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Peter William Craigmyle and Isabella Barclay Craigmyle, née McWilliam.

His own playing aspirations were dashed after breaking both his legs in 1916,[1] but he was encouraged to take up refereeing by the Aberdeen FC manager at the time.

His unique personality and his flamboyant but effective refereeing skills aside, Peter was a football referee like no other because:

• Of his meteoric rise to fame - taking charge of his first Celtic v Rangers game in just his second season as a senior referee.
• He was the first referee to have his own regular weekly radio programme.
• He was the first referee to officiate at a game in a prison.
• He was the first referee to fly to officiate at a game.
• He was the first referee to officiate at two consecutive Scottish Cup Finals.
• He was the first [and probably the only] referree to have his own personal trainer / masseur accompany him to games. [A service provided by 3 members of the same family for over 20 years].
• He was the first British referee to officiate in Ireland, Malta, and the Faroes.
• He was only the second ever referee to publish an autobiography.
• He was said to be the fittest and fastest of referees - training regularly at Pittodrie with Aberdeen F.C. players.
• He only ever sent off two players in his career - 15 years apart and both from Celtic.
• He was a trained professional vocalist, a 'key-note' speaker and lecturer, an accomplished compere, a champion bowler and a master of ceremonies at boxing events.
• His senior career spanned an astonishing 31 years - retiring at 56, the oldest top level referee.
• His unselfish dedication to charity and local communities, by regularly organising, compering, and participating as a vocalist in fund-raising concerts and other charity events.

In the 1920s he had a weekly programme on a local radio station [2BD]. He travelled to Malta and the Faroe Islands lecturing and refereeing and was known as the "fearless Aberdonian."

In an impressive and unparalleled topflight refereeing career spanning over 31 years he earned virtually every honour and accolade possible. Even today he remains one of Scotland’s most revered and respected whistlers. Some of his refereeing achievements were true 'firsts'.

He refereed almost every senior cup final in Scotland and Ireland as well as many Old Firm matches. Craigmyle is known to have officiated 26 international matches during the period from 1924[2] to 1946. He refereed three Scotland-England international matches, at [Hampden Park] in 1941, 1943 and 1946. [3]

He retired from refereeing in 1949. [1] He owned a sports shop and wholesale tobacconists on King Street, [Aberdeen]. He was also a keen bowls player and was president of a number of bowling clubs in Aberdeen.

He was a trained vocalist and an accomplished stage performer, master of ceremonies, lecturer, event compere and organizer. During World War II, he organised and produced shows at many venues in North East Scotland, including Aberdeen's Garrison Theatre and ran classical music concerts in the Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen, to raise money for the troops.

He died on 21 November 1979 in Aberdeen. His second wife Annie "Nan" Craigmyle died on 23 November 2004 at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. [4]

His book 'A Lifetime of Soccer' was published in 1949 by [Aberdeen Journals] and has in 2023 been republished by his great-nephew. A website www.petercraigmyle.com and a new publication "The Remarkable Story of Peter Craigmyle- The Fearless Aberdonian," launched in 2023 provides further insight, quoting over 700 press articles and features from 1919 to 2011.