VINCENT James, a football league referee for 14 years and a well-known figure in the York branch of the Club and Institute Union, has died suddenly in York District Hospital following a heart attack. He was 75.

Mr James, who was born in York and was a pupil at Manor Higher Grade School for Boys, twice officiated at Wembley where he became the first referee to caution a player in a final.

He was linesman for the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in 1967 and refereed the Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion League Cup final in 1970.

This appointment came as a shock to him. "I had refereed the semi-final between West Brom and Carlisle United and you are only usually given a final in your last year on the list. As I have four and a half seasons to go, you can imagine it was a big surprise to me," he said in February 1970.

"When you start refereeing on Knavesmire, getting to Wembley is what you always dream about, but you never think it will happen. I have been linesman for a Scotland v Wales match at Hampden Park and also for an FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Southampton, but this is easily the highlight of my career," he told the Evening Press in May 1967 after hearing of his FA Cup final appointment.

Mr James also had the remarkable distinction of refereeing six FA Cup ties in the 1969-70 season.

He was in charge of South Shields v Oldham in the second round, then Liverpool v Coventry and Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace. All three ties were drawn and he also refereed the replays.

Mr James took up refereeing in 1945 after playing in goal for Fulford United Reserves and gradually worked his way up after starting in the York and District League.

After completing nine seasons on the Football League list, the League decided to grade referees in 1969 and Mr James was placed in the top list, having charge of many First (now Premier) Division matches.

When he finished his long career as an official he became an assessor. Peter Rhodes, who also refereed in the Football League for many years, said today: "Vince was essentially a referee's referee and when his long career came to an end he was a natural choice to be an assessor. Many up and coming officials have benefited from his advice.

"I have travelled thousands of miles with him for matches and meetings and only a fortnight ago I was with him at Goodison Park to watch Everton play Middlesbrough."

Mr James was employed by Yorkshire Clubs Brewery Ltd at Huntington for 45 years, all his working life, and was presented with the gold award by the York branch of the Club and Institute Union in 1977 for 21 years service as branch secretary.

Mr James, who suffered from Parkinson's Disease, leaves a wife, Anne, and two sons, Vincent and Barry. Funeral arrangements have still to be announced.

Updated: 11:08 Friday, September 27, 2002