Career
Not to be confused with Neil Midgley (football player) or Neil Midgley (journalist) During his refereeing career he was initially based in Salford before moving to Kearsley, part of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in 1987. until his death in 2001. Midgley joined the Eccles Referees" Association in 1961 after taking up refereeing, being awarded a life membership in 1978. He became a Football League linesman in 1974 and two years later a supplementary referee, graduating to the full list one year later in 1977.
In 1985 he was appointed to the Milk Cup Final between Norwich City and Sunderland with the Norfolk team winning via a Gordon Chisholm own goal.
At the start of the 1986-1987 season, he was awarded control of the 1986 FA Charity Shield match between Everton and Liverpool at Wembley, which finished 1-1, the trophy being shared. Midgley reached the standard retirement age in 1991 but was granted an one-year extension due to his strong performances.
He then became a referees" assessor for the newly formulated Premier League competition, and for Union of European Football Associations. However, in 1999, he was replaced as a Premiership assessor by Martin Bodenham, although still retained in that capacity by the European governing body. He became the European Research Area chairman early in his career, and served as their president from 1983 to 1989 and from 1992 until his death.
Neil Midgley died at the Little Hulton Hospice in Manchester, a few months after being diagnosed with cancer.
He was 58.