South Yorkshire Times January 15, 1949
Partly Paralysed he has Refereed for 37 Years
When In May Louis Bramham retires from football refereeing he will have completed 37 years’ service under the Sheffield and Hallamshire F.A. Louis holds the F.A.’s longest continuous record—but the pleasure of the distinction is only secondary to the most remarkable feature of his sporting career. Since birth Louis has been paralysed in his left side!
In spite of his handicap, Louis, as a boy at Wath National School, was as keen on cricket and soccer as most average boys and had his first cricket trial with Wath Reserves when he was 13. He took three wickets that day. He played cricket with the Reserves in the South Yorkshire League, with Wath Mechanics in the Hickleton League and with Wath Prims in the Wombwell Sunday School League. He was secretary for Wath Albion for five years—soccer and cricket sections—and passed his football referee’s examination under the Sheffield and Hallamshire F.A. at Mexborough in 1912. He has refereed under the Barnsley and Mexborough Football Associations, and has seen many a Young player of his earlier days make the grade in first-class soccer. He can remember Wilf Copping when he was playing with Middlecliffe,
Lewis should have left refereeing behind seven years ago — he is 57 now—but he was happy to carry on during the war years, and with referees in short supply and with a big demand. Years ago it was much walking — often as far the field as Hemingfield; to-day it is easier; the changing years have sped up football and Louis finds it scientific—more “kick and rush.
His handicap has never seriously interfered with his refereeing; and his ‘second enemy’ has caused him more recently to give occasional backword—lumbago!
Louis, whose home is at Barnsley Road, Wath-on-Dearne has also umpired in the South Yorks League and Rotherham West Riding Police cricket.
Playing days are over but the enthusiasm is ever present, backed by memories of days when, as a medium paced right arm bowler, he took 52 wickets for102 runs In a season for Wath Albion.
Born at West Melton, son of a former Wath Councillor, Lewis, brother to Mr Irving Bramham (former Council) of Wath and Mr Arthur Bramham (former county councillor)