William Pickford

William Pickford (1861–1938) was an English football administrator, who played an important role in the early development of The Football Association, in which he was its most recent President not to come from the British royal family.

Early life Pickford was born in Lancashire During his time there, he was initially interested in rugby before, in 1878, he was invited to attend a football match between Blackburn District and Bolton. Remembering this later, Pickford wrote: I fell in love with "soccer" at once. The players were not bunched together half the time in struggling heaps, but each man in his place, like chessmen, and the footcraft, passing and speed fascinated me.

Referee Pickford was also a prominent referee in Hampshire, taking charge of Hampshire Junior Cup and Hampshire Senior Cup finals. He became Vice-President of the Referees Association (formed in 1893), becoming treasurer from 1908 to 1914. In 1895, Pickford was instrumental in the Society producing "The Referees' Chart, 1895–96"; this contained 17 Laws (or rules) and was far more substantial than the original rules, laid down in 1863. he wrote "How to Referee", in which he set out the rules of the game Don't worry your head about the noise spectators kick up. Free Britons have queer ways of enjoying themselves.

In 1996, the Hampshire F.A. marked Pickford's contribution to the game, both locally and nationally, by naming their new headquarters in Winchester Road, Southampton after him. Ten years later, the Hampshire F.A. moved their headquarters to Basingstoke, and "William Pickford House" was sold to Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions.