The Acme Thunderer was used by English referee Jack Taylor (1930-2012) in the 1974 showdown between fierce rivals Netherlands and Germany, won 2-1 by the latter. In fact, Taylor awarded two penalties in the first 30 minutes (one for each team, both successful).
The whistle, estimated at £900-1200, was one of two World Cup Final Thunderers offered at Graham Budd’s (17.5% buyer’s premium) Sporting Memorabilia auction on November 4-5. The other, used by George Reader in the 1950 match, sold for the same hammer price against a guide of £1400-1600.
Englishman in the final
Reader (1896-1978) was the first Englishman to referee a World Cup Final. In the game played at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, on July 16, 1950, Uruguay shocked Brazil on home turf by winning 2-1.
The whistles were consigned by a UK private collector and both went to an overseas buyer bidding online.
The Acme Thunderer, still the choice for match officials today, was first developed in 1884 and has since been heard in sporting competitions all over the world.
