NO 9 LES GOUGH
1968 OLYMPIC GAMES
Les Gough was born July 9th, 1940 in Sydney.
He commenced playing basketball at the Sydney YMCA at the age of 15 and started refereeing when he was 18. He says, “In 1964 realizing I was too small, too slow and not skilled enough to continue playing at a high level I decided to concentrate on refereeing.”
In 1963 at the age of 23 he became NSW State Secretary. This was incredibly young for such a position, but Les’s skills and confidence fitted him for the role.
His early basketball administrative career was outstanding as at a very young age he became Secretary of the Eastern Suburbs ABA, Secretary Sydney Basketball Referees Association, and Secretary NSW Basketball Referees Association. He served on the State Junior Men’s Committee and was a State Junior Men’s Selector.
It was as a referee that he would have the most recognition in NSW and Australia. He established himself as a highly skilled and dedicated referee in the Sydney and NSW competitions. He does remember that, “I was usually the youngest referee amongst the older more experienced guys.” The same can be said for his sports administrative career.
He refereed at Australian Junior, Senior Men and Senior Women’s Australian Championships. His first referee appointment for NSW was at the Under 18 and Under 16 Australian Championships in 1959 when he and Bob Staunton were appointed as the officials from NSW. “Those 1959 Championships are amongst my fondest memories. Being the first they were special of course but I enjoyed them so much and wanted to repeat the experience for many more years,” recalls Les.He refereed at the Under 18 and Under 16 National Championships for the next five years.
A NSW referee badge holder from 1959 he gained his Australian Badge in 1962, and in 1964 gained his FIBA badge. He held his FIBA badge for over 10 years. He holds an Honorary FIBA Referees Badge (awarded to those who have held their FIBA accreditation for longer than 10 years).
Les was a Rules Interpreter at Australian Championships and held the rank of Number 1 referee in NSW for 12 years from 1964 to 1976. He clearly demonstrated his skills as the best referee in NSW and one of the best in Australia. In 1969 he refereed at the South Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
His great abilities in refereeing were recognised when he was chosen to represent Australia at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and the 1971 World Women’s Championships in Brazil. “Being chosen for my first Olympics was of course a career highlight. Participating in the Olympic Games is something you dream about but don’t really expect to happen,” says Les.
In the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico the conditions, the organization, language difficulties and the altitude in Mexico City challenged all players and officials. Les refereed four games at the Pre-Olympic tournament in Monterrey, Mexico and four games at the Olympic Finals in Mexico City, he acquitted himself very well and demonstrated that Australian basketball refereeing was world class. When asked about his first game at the Olympics Les remarked, “I remember being very nervous, but once the game got going I was soon in the flow of things.” Les continued to referee after the 1971 Women’s World Championships and in particular worked in referee education and into the late nineteen seventies was still representing the NSW Referees Association at National Championships.
A move to the North Coast of NSW meant he was not able to commit as much time to representing NSW. However his enthusiasm for the game was not diminished and he continued to contribute to North Coast basketball in administration, coaching, refereeing and referee education.
During his time in elite refereeing Les Gough continually demonstrated that he was a highly skilled referee. His understanding of the rules, the game, the players and his calm manner of control gained him the respect of colleagues, coaches and players. He was one of Australia’s finest referees in his era.
Les Gough is a Life Member of the NSW Basketball Referees Association. He was inducted into the Basketball NSW Hall of Fame in 2011.
(Basketball NSW)
(Basketball NSW)
(Les Gough)
(Les Gough)
(Les Gough)