John Charles Stark, sometimes erroneously named James Stark (; 17 February 1865 â 1932), was a German-born English football referee who officiated nine international matches between 1908 and 1912, including four in the British Home Championship.
Born on 17 February 1865 in Calw, Baden-Württemberg, Johann Carl Stark became known as John Charles Stark when he moved to Middlesex, where he married Katharine Babette Marie Hager.
In 1905, the 40-year-old Stark became the president of the London Society of Association Referees.
On 12 April 1908, he refereed his first international match, a friendly between France and Belgium at the Colombes, which ended in a 2âÂÂ1 win to the latter. He went on to officiate a further three French-Belgium friendly matches between 1910 and 1912, with the Belgians achieving two more wins and a draw. Between 1909 and 1911, he also refereed four matches in the British Home Championship, two England-Wales, one England-Ireland, and one Wales-Ireland.
On 17 March 1912, Stark refereed his last international match, another friendly involving France, but this time against Italy in Turin; France achieved an epic 4âÂÂ3 victory, the country's first-ever win over the Italians.
Stark died in Hackney, Middlesex, in 1932, at the age of either 66 or 67.