Jan Nieulant Pelkman

Dutch-born Jan Pelkman, known as John, moved to England before the start of World War II. A keen hockey player, he kept goal for Staines and Richmond before and after the War. Pelkman turned his attention to umpiring in the mid-1950s, and he went on to become one of the best umpires in England.

Pelkman officiated in some important matches in England and abroad. He was umpire in four games at the 1964 Olympics and in 1969 he officiated at the County championship final between Lancashire and Lincolnshire which resulted in the first goalless draw in the competition’s history. The highlight of his career was probably in umpiring the 1970 European Hockey Championship final at Brussels between his country of birth, Netherlands, and West Germany.