Long-time CFL official Dave Foxcroft retiring after Labour Day game
The veteran referee works his final CFL game Monday when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats host the Toronto Argonauts at Tim Hortons Field. When the final whistle sounds, the 56-year-old Burlington, Ont. resident, will retire and cap a 22-year tenure that’s spanned over 350 games, including six Grey Cups.
However, Foxcroft isn’t leaving the CFL. He’ll work in the league’s Command Centre and continue training and developing officials.His father, Ron, was a celebrated U Sports/NCAA basketball official who also officiated the 1976 Olympic final and currently works with the NBA. He also invented the Fox 40 pea-less whistle that’s used worldwide by such leagues as the NFL, CFL, NHL, NCAA, NBA, FIFA and FINA.
“At the time, the whistle was kind of new and football people didn’t really know who my dad was so I was able to make that transition.” “Dave is also very good at keeping it light at the right time. When the lights are on and he needs to stand up and present, he’s very professional and his announcements are great. But he’s able to make a joke at key times to reduce the stress level.”
“When we came into the locker room at halftime, Tom Vallesi and I put on black jackets and sneaked out without [head referee Glen Johnson] knowing,” Foxcroft said. “We wanted to watch Justin Bieber and it was just us and the cheerleaders on the field. “He must’ve known I was going to leave the locker room at halftime because we come in, I give them time to set up the stage, I put on my black jacket and go to open the door and it’s locked from the outside. He had security lock me in so I wouldn’t leave at halftime. We laugh about that today.”
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Read more »
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