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Robin Whitfield
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| Born | 26 November 1943 Widnes, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 20 July 2025 (aged 81) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Robin Whitfield (26 November 1943 – 20 July 2025) was an English rugby league player and referee. As a player, he was a fullback for his hometown club Widnes, and later went on to play for Barrow and Huyton. After finishing his playing career, he became a referee, officiating his first professional game in 1980. He took charge of three Challenge Cup finals, and regularly refereed international matches throughout the 1980s.
Biography
[edit]Whitfield was born in Widnes, Cheshire 26 November 1943.[2] He began playing as a fullback for Widnes. A prolific goal-kicker, he kicked 11 goals in a match in 1965, a club record which stood for over 30 years.[3] He moved to Barrow in August 1969, where he made 45 appearances before transferring to Huyton a year later.[4]
He eventually ended his playing career due to a poor disciplinary record and turned to refereeing.[5] He was added to the Rugby Football League's Grade One referee's list during the 1980–81 season.[2] He went on to officiate three Challenge Cup finals (in 1983, 1986 and 1992).[6] He also took charge of the third game in the 1983 State of Origin series.[7]
Throughout his career, he refereed over 400 games, both domestically and internationally,[8] before retiring in 1994.[9]
Whitfield died after suffering from Alzheimer's disease on 20 July 2025, at the age of 81.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Whitfield was the elder brother of Colin Whitfield, who played rugby league for Wigan and Salford.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Robin Whitfield - Referee Career". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ a b Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1992). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 388. ISBN 978-0-7472-7906-8.
- ^ "Recording the facts". Warrington Guardian. 29 July 1999. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ "Former Barrow player and Rugby League ref Robin has died". The Westmorland Gazette. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ a b Riviere, Richard de la (16 November 2021). "Rugby League Heroes: Robin Whitfield – Total Rugby League". Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ igoo (23 July 2025). "IN MEMORY: ROBIN WHITFIELD". Widnes Vikings. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ "The RFL pays tribute to Robin Whitfield". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Dollin, Shawn. "Robin Whitfield - Referee Career - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Bettley, Dave (9 June 1994). "Why ref knew every trick". Widnes Weekly News. p. 71 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tributes to distinguished rugby league referee Robin Whitfield". Runcorn and Widnes World. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
External links
[edit]- Profile at rugby.widnes.tv
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