Pat Dunn

Pat Dunn (née Patricia Alice Thurston; 29 January 1933 – 11 July 1999) was among the first women to officially qualify as a football referee.

Early life Pat Dunn was born in London in 1933, the daughter of Lewis Henry Thurston (1893–1972) and his wife, Rebecca, née Stebbings, who died when Pat was one year old. The family moved from south London to Weymouth, Dorset, in the early Second World War. Pat became an enthusiastic footballer when growing up. After the family had moved again to Newbury, Berkshire, as a 15-year-old she joined Stroud Green Football Club – the only girl in the team. Dunn continued to make her case and was allowed to take the examination in September that year, and passed. Belatedly the FA issued the certificate while at the same time also passing a ban on women officiating at an FA or league match.

Later life Pat continued to referee football for about ten years after 1976, before she gave it up in favour of umpiring cricket. She died in Dorchester in 1999.