David H. Asson was the match referee at the first
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the FA Cup, Football Association Challenge Cup. It has regularly been one of the List of sports attendance figures, most attended domestic football ev ...
to be staged at
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
in 1923.
1923 FA Cup Final
The 1923 Final was the highest attended match at the time;
the Football Association
The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the ...
currently reports that the crowd numbered 200,00
On meeting the captains before kick-off (which had been delayed until 3.45pm) Asson, reputedly, told both men 'We are only three here' (meaning three officials amongst the entire crowd and that they needed the players to help them) (''Association Football'' (Caxton, 1960), v.2, p. 238).
The game itself was beset with problems on account of the crowd encroaching the field of play.
Jack Tresadern
John Tresadern (26 September 1890 – 26 December 1959) was an English professional footballer and football manager. He played twice for the England national side.
Playing career
Tresadern, a left-half, began his career with non-league Wanstead, ...
, a
West Ham United
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club that plays its home matches in Stratford, East London. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club plays at the London Stadium, hav ...
defender was caught on the wrong side of the crowd in the lead up to the early goal and could not get back onto the field before Bolton's first goa
The second goal, in the second half, was also debatable, the shot from
Jack Smith (footballer, born 1895), Jack Smith striking either spectators or the woodwork before coming back onto the field. Asson awarded a goal. West Ham also claimed that the ball had been kicked into play before the goal. The West Ham captain
George Kay
George Kay (21 September 1891 – 18 April 1954) was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.
The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be play ...
reputedly asked Asson to abandon the game but the match continued to conclusio
Background
''The Daily Telegraph'' (May 19, 2007) stated that Asson's father was 'a famous Swiss referee'. There is no verification of this statement.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asson, D.H.
FA Cup Final referees