About Norman Burtenshaw
Lived 1926 – 2023 (aged 97). Norman Burtenshaw was a British association football referee.
Career Burtenshaw became a Football League referee in 1962, and achieved international status after only three seasons in 1965.
In 1967, he was knocked unconscious by incensed Millwall fans following their team's 2–1 defeat by Aston Villa at The Den. The FA dropped him from its list of referees' names submitted to FIFA in 1970. However, he had a strong season in 1970–71. Burtenshaw was given control of the 1971 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Liverpool. Arsenal won 2–1 after extra time. At the end of the game Burtenshaw sank to the ground in celebration "pumping his fists towards the heavens". and a European Cup semi-final second leg tie between Benfica and Ajax, which turned out to be the most senior European club appointment of his career.
Burtenshaw retired at the end of the 1972–73 season, one which coincidentally saw the début of another Football League, FA Cup and FIFA referee from the same home town of Great Yarmouth – Alf Grey.
Burtenshaw was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1974 New Year Honours.
Burtenshaw later became president of the Referees' Association.
Burtenshaw died on 16 June 2023, at the age of 97.
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Important facts
People in Norman Burtenshaw's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Norman Burtenshaw's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Norman Burtenshaw?
Football referee (1926–2023)
When was Norman Burtenshaw born?
Norman Burtenshaw was born on 9 February 1926 in Great Yarmouth.
When did Norman Burtenshaw die?
Norman Burtenshaw died on 16 June 2023 in Saxmundham.
What was Norman Burtenshaw's occupation?
Norman Burtenshaw was an association football referee.
What nationality was Norman Burtenshaw?
Norman Burtenshaw was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Norman Burtenshaw
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Norman Burtenshaw. https://biography.guide/norman-burtenshaw/
MLA: "Norman Burtenshaw." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/norman-burtenshaw/.
Chicago: "Norman Burtenshaw." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/norman-burtenshaw/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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