Source: FOOTYMAD
Shoebridge is first referee of the year
Derbyshire referee Rob Shoebridge is the man tasked with taking charge of Burnley's first game of 2001 against Sheffield United at Turf Moor this afternoon. Despite him being from Derbyshire, this will be his first visit as a referee to Turf Moor with his previous three Burnley games all having been played in the south of England, twice at Charlton and his last Burnley game coming during the promotion season at Ipswich.Apart from one controversial incident on the second of our two visits to the Valley he's caused no real problems. That incident was, quite correctly, allowing a Martin Paterson goal before changing his mind when the assistant, who was far worse placed, flagged. Pato was not offside as the header to him had come from a Charlton player.He's a referee we shouldn't really notice too much and we shouldn't expect a flurry of New Year cards either. In 14 games this season he's handed out just 25 yellow cards and two red cards. He sent of Jason Jarrett in Oldham's 1-1 draw at Charlton and, more recently, former Burnley target Barry Robson as Middlesbrough drew 2-2 at home to Portsmouth. Both came in the closing minutes of the games.Of those yellow cards, 11 have gone to home team players and 12 to away team players.His last game was back in November when he took charge of the 1-1 drawn FA Cup tie between Crawley and Swindon. There were no cards in that game in a season where his highest total in a game is four yellow card.The assistant referees today are Peter Gooch (Lancashire) and Peter Wright (Merseyside). The fourth official is Ken Haycock (West Yorkshire). Previous Burnley games:SeasonOppsVResYRBurnley players cardeda2007/08Charltona3-150Gudjonsson Unsworth2008/09Charltona1-120Elliott2008/09Ipswicha1-110Paterson
