The West Coast province has been blessed with many fine referees throughout our history, and while Albert Ernest Neilson may have had officiated in only one first class match while domiciled on the West Coast, he'd go on to have an incredibly successful career off the West Coast, as both a highly respected referee and administrator.

West Coast rugby officials must have been rubbing their hands together in 1908, when Neilson, a member of the Wellington Rugby Referees Association, moved to Greymouth. Neilson soon took up officiating senior club rugby fixtures, and following the Star R.F.C v United R.F.C match in late April that year, the Greymouth Evening Star stated that Neilson, "had charge of the whistle and had entire control of the players from the start, his decisions being very well received".

Noting that the West Coast Rugby Union did not have a Referees Association, Neilson arranged a meeting at the Albion Hotel in Greymouth with the intent of setting up a West Coast Rugby Referees Association, and following the meeting, one was eventually formed, albeit a somewhat short lived one. 

Such was his standing and impact as a referee, the newly arrived official took charge of the whistle in West Coast's only home game that year, an 11-4 victory to West Coast over Buller, at Victoria Park.

The Greymouth Evening Star would report the following on his performance. "Mr Neilson as referee gave every satisfaction. His decisions were prompt and his control of the game was admirable".

Neilson was to continue officiating in club games until the end of the season, but by July 1909, he was back home in Wellington again, and upon leaving the West Coast, it was stated by the New Zealand Freelance newspaper, "he made such a good impression that, when he left the part of New Zealand made famous to us because of many things, the Rugbyites there were satisfied that they were losing the best referee they had had for, many years".

Back in Wellington, he'd again join up with the Wellington Referees Association, rising to be one of the Wellington Rugby Unions main executive officers. Neilson remained in Wellington until September 1912, before moving to Napier, through his involvement in International Correspondence Schools, and again he'd be a very influential figure in the game of Rugby, both as a match official, while also taking up the role as the Hawkes Bay Rugby Unions secretary. 

The Wellington Dominion newspaper, reported from the Wellinton Rugby Unions annual report, the following, regarding Neilson's move to Napier. "A valuable officer of the association was lost during the season. by the removal from Wellington of Mr. A. E. Neilson. He had done good work indeed as a referee and as a member of the Appointment Board, and his loss is to be regretted".

It was stated that when Neilson arrived in the Hawkes Bay, the game of Rugby Union in the province was in a bad way, but by 1915, the code was in much better condition, with the New Zealand Free Lance newspaper stating, "the game there is in a very healthy state and all the better for Neilson's connection with it". 

With the outbreak of World War I, he'd serve with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade as a Captain between 1916-1917, having also served previously in the South African (Boer) War. 

Following the War, Neilson returned home to Wellington, where his love of refereeing would continue at club level in 1919, while he'd be rewarded for his fine officiating later that same year, by being appointed to referee the Wellington v Wanganui, Ranfurly Shield match.

In 1920 he'd referee the Marlborough v West Coast match, while in 1921, he'd referee his first Interntional, when he took charge of the touring Springboks first match of their New Zealand tour, against Wanganui at Cooks Gardens. 

Neilson's standing in the game as one of the countries best whistle-blowers was further highlighted, when he was given the honour of refereeing the second All Blacks v Springboks test, a 9-5 victory to the visitors at Eden Park, while also refereeing the third and final test of the much anticipated series between the two heavyweights of world rugby, which ended in a 0-0 draw at Athletic Park, resulting in a drawn 1-1 series. 

The test was played in appalling wet and muddy conditions at Athletic Park, in what was described in the match report of the Dominion Newspaper, as a "Great Forward Battle". Unfortunately for Neilson, on one occasion during the test, he got a little too close to the action.

The Dominion Newspaper reported that Neilson, "could not get out of the road in time on one occasion, and went right down in the ruck, with the result that he received a slight concussion".

"This was in the second spell, but Mr. Neilson pluckily saw the game to a conclusion, although still feeling the effects of his injury. The result was that he collapsed after the match, and had to receive medical attention. His refereeing was very good, and gave satisfaction to both sides and the public generally".

Thankfully Neilson suffered no long term effects from the concussion, and by 1922 he was the chairman of the Wellington Rugby Referees Association, while 1923 would see Neilson whistle the final of 15 first-class games, but his dedication to Rugby administration at the highest level would continue for several decades following.

Neilson was the secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union from 1924-1948, the NZRFU secretary from 1926-1936 and the NZRFU secretary-treasurer from 1937-1950.

So while the West Coast only had the pleasure of having Neilson's presence for such a short duration, it was no doubt an inspiring time having such an influential man in New Zealand's Rugby history here, for the period that we did.

Albert Ernest Neilson passed away in Palmerston North on the 17th of August, 1965, aged 86.