Norman John Redman

• Comment: Great start on this article; sounds like this person had a very interesting life. Your sources look good for establishing notability, but every claim in the article body needs to have an inline citation or to be removed if no citation can be provided. Quid Est Squid (talk) 03:11, 23 October 2026 (UTC)

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Norman John Redman
File:NORMAN REDMAN FA Referee.png Norman Redman File:NORMAN REDMAN FA Referee.png Norman Redman File:NORMAN REDMAN FA Referee.png Norman Redman
Born	7 July 1944 Littlehampton, West Sussex
💀Died	2 December 1992 Littlehampton, West Sussex2 December 1992
Cause of death	HIV/AIDS
💼 Occupation	Cinema projectionist; part-time football referee

Norman John Redman (7 July 1944 - 2 December 1992) was an English political activist and football referee.

The UK's first openly homosexual referee, he faced institutional stigma and prejudice after he publicly shared his HIV/AIDS status in 1987. He also campaigned on local issues, standing in council elections at last five times, campaigned on gay rights and founded the first Football Association-registered gay football team, 'Gaystars XI'.

Early life

Cinema projectionist

Upon leaving school Redman spent many years as a cinema projectionist at the Palladium Cinema in Littlehampton, Sussex. On 24 February 1965, a passerby spotted flames from an upper window and got Redman's attention by whistling up allowing him to stop the film 'Tarzan and the Three Challenges', raise the alarm and safely evacuate 50 customers.

Campaigning

Littlehampton Hunt Saboteur Association

From 1964 Redman was the leader of the Littlehampton branch of the Hunt Saboteurs Association comprising 30 anti-fox hunting individuals. They disrupted hunts by throwing meat at the hounds to distract and sabotage scent trails.

In March 1964 a police sergeant at the Chiddingford Farmers Hounds hunt at Pitch Hill, Ewhurst, Surrey had told Redman, who was throwing meat at the hounds, to "pack it in". Redman responded by throwing more meat with other saboteurs and the master of the hunt testified in court on 6 March 1964 that 19-year-old Redman and the police sergeant got into a scuffle and both fell to the ground. As a result Redman was fined £15 and bound over for two years at Guildford magistrates' court for "insulting behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace".

Redman attracted media attention as the leader of the local Association, but in April 1965 UK tabloids reported that Redman had switched sides and joined the Crawley and Horsham Hunt on his 5-year-old mare, Tammy. Threatened with being sacked by the Association, Redman resigned.

Local politics

Redman was a Liberal Party candidate for council elections in 1970 and 1973. In the latter, he unsuccessfully ran for councilor in the ward of Littlehampton Beach but secured only 489 votes. He told a Brighton newspaper he was sabotaged by his own party as his election addresses were only delivered to electors' homes on the eve on the vote.

In 1976, Redman was an independent candidate, this time in the River Ward.

Gay rights

In 1974, Redman was Sussex field organiser of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE). He compiled an education pack on homosexuality for schools and held public consultation meetings stating "We should educate youngsters to accept homosexual people as ordinary members of society and not evil deviants. In this way we can do away with such foul practices as queer bashing". In 1975, he was founder and chairman of the CHE's Arun branch.

Football referee

Redman became a football referee in 1970, refereeing matches in and around Sussex.

In a 1976 interview, Redman talked about his gay activism to Gay News, and mentioned his regular role as a football association referee. News of Redman's sexuality quickly spread. By September 1976, teams were refusing to play if Redman was assigned as referee. Wickbourne Lions, under 14's manager declared "our boys will be called off the pitch. Neither the boys who play in the team or their parents are impressed with the way Mr. Redman has publicly flaunted his morals." The boys have no respect for him". Redman consulted his solicitor as he considered the statements by the Wickbourne Lions Manager as defamatory and demanded a public apology "for insinuating that I am a risk where young boys are concerned. I consider this insinuation to be damaging to my professional career as a football referee and could have an adverse effect on my promotion within the F.A." The league's chairman Jim Twitcher told the press "We will continue to give match appointments to Mr. Redman. We have spoken to most of the teams that would be involved in his matches and they have said he is a very good referee".

In November 1985, Redman pledges his referee fees from the upcoming three seasons estimated at £900 to assist HIV/AIDS research and care by Terrence Higgin's Trust. Redman hoped to lead by example so that other sports personalities would also make donations. The following month, with Chichester consultant Dr. Tim Bushell, Redman sets up a new working party group to address the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

In November 1986, Redman was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. In February 1987, the Worthing Herald reported "Mr. Redman has told the Sussex County Football Association that he is an AIDS carrier - and plans to carry on as a referee". On 28 February 1987, Brighton's Argus newspaper reported the FA had allowed Redman to continue as a referee. However, after national press coverage, teams playing games Redman was due to referee raised concerns over publicity. Redman withdrew from the matches. On 3 March 1987, The Argus reported: "In a tired, sad voice he [Redman] described how he has become "a social leper" since he confessed his secret. He said "This has made my life hell in Littlehampton because some people point and stare. People who used to stop and talk to me now cross the road when I approach. I know more that 50 gays and I can count on one hand those who have been in touch to support me".

In March 1987, Redman resigned as a referee after West Sussex Football League banned Redman from refereeing all games under their jurisdiction after players said they feared catching AIDS from him. The Sussex County Football Association fully supported Redman saying he was a highly regarded referee and could not transmit HIV/AIDS through officiating football matches. Redman wrote to Michael Marshall MP asking for the Sports Minister Colin Moynihan to inform the West Sussex Football League of the facts on HIV/AIDS and transmission routes. Moynihan told The Argus on 28 August 1987 "It would be my personal view that they should reflect on their decision in the light of known facts about this virus, the views of the County FA and Referee's Association and Mr. Redman's considerable service to the game."

In September 1987, Redman returned his collection of trophies after he was charged by West Sussex Football League with bringing the game into disrepute. Bognor Regis team Westloats had refusing to play if Redman was referee, saying his HIV/AIDS diagnosis posed a risk to players. Redman swapped with another referee and then wrote to Westloats stressing that the FA did not feel he was a risk to players - "In the letter I said they were silly and should act like adults. I also sent the two leaflets, one titled 'AIDS: The Facts' and the other was 'Safer Sex - Don't Dream It, Do It'. He said he was then stunned to receive a letter charged with a breach of FA Rule 26 covering acts or statements "considered to be ungentlemanly, insulting or likely to bring the game into disrepute". Redman was interviewed by Ocean Sound Radio presenter Guy Hornsby on 20 September 1987 about the case.

On 11 April 1988 Redman faced a panel of five Sussex Football Association referees who ruled Redman's letter was "ungentlemanly" and Redman was censured. Redman told the Littlehampton Gazette on 15 April 1988 "I stand by the letter. If they refuse to read the facts, then they can't be educated by them." He lodged an appeal, heard by the FA on 7 June 1988. After a 90 minute hearing, Redman's appeal was rejected and he was ordered to pay £90 costs. Redman, supported by gay rights protesters outside ,stated "This was a chance for the National FA to issue a slap on the wrist [in his favour] but they have let prejudice reign".

In 1988, Redman resumed officiating in matches in the Chichester & District Sunday League and in July 1988 received their 'Referee of the Year' award. Redman remarked "It proves that some teams judge a referee on his ability to supervise a game rather than his private life."

Gaystars XI

In August 1978, Redman makes headlines in the UK, Canada, United States and Australia after officially registering an all gay football team 'Gaystars XI' with the Sussex County Football Association. Team members had to be a member of the CHE. The side's football strip was described as royal blue with two amber stripes; media reported that players also dyed their hair royal blue. The team played several charity matches although Coventry City turned down the invitation to play against the team. Gaystars XI was disbanded months later.

Media

Redman was a guest on the Channel 4 discussion programme Right to Reply on 5 October 1991 to discuss racism in football.

Death

Redman died at his home in Littlehampton, West Sussex on 2 December 1992 with his death certificate certifying his cause of death as 1a. AIDS, 1b.Human Immuno-deficient Virus (HIV).

References

This article "Norman Redman" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Norman Redman. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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