Mick
Life President
The man in charge on Saturday is Eddie Ilderton from Tyne and Wear. He is in his 13th season as a League referee but really it's his 12th as he missed all of one season through injury. He works in the building industry.
He has refereed Southend just six times before, most recently in the match at Bury 2013/14. They got a late equaliser just after Coker was sent off for a second yellow in the 87th minute. One yellow for them and also one for Atkinson. I saw that match and seem to recall the Assistant had more than a little to do with the dismissal.
Before that it was the game at Bradford when Clohessy and Benyon were sent off (the latter again on the say so of one of his Assistants). Previously at Leeds 2009/10 (2 yellows apiece, Christophe and Laurent for us)). Before that the away defeat at Huddersfield in the same season (no cautions). Before that he had not refereed a Southend match for over 5 years when co-incidentally he officiated in our 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield in 2003/4 when he cautioned Drewe. Then finally our defeat at York in 2002/3.
He is a steady official and has a reputation of being one of the better Football League referees. However he has once again been struggling for fitness and started this season in December! His 6 games this season have produced an average 17 yellows and 2 reds.
He will be assisted by Nicholas Barnard from Warrington and Geoff Liddle from Darlington. The latter had the same role in the corresponding fixture last season. Also from Darlington is fourth Official Glen Hart, son of ex-Premiership referee Robbie Hart.
He has refereed Southend just six times before, most recently in the match at Bury 2013/14. They got a late equaliser just after Coker was sent off for a second yellow in the 87th minute. One yellow for them and also one for Atkinson. I saw that match and seem to recall the Assistant had more than a little to do with the dismissal.
Before that it was the game at Bradford when Clohessy and Benyon were sent off (the latter again on the say so of one of his Assistants). Previously at Leeds 2009/10 (2 yellows apiece, Christophe and Laurent for us)). Before that the away defeat at Huddersfield in the same season (no cautions). Before that he had not refereed a Southend match for over 5 years when co-incidentally he officiated in our 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield in 2003/4 when he cautioned Drewe. Then finally our defeat at York in 2002/3.
He is a steady official and has a reputation of being one of the better Football League referees. However he has once again been struggling for fitness and started this season in December! His 6 games this season have produced an average 17 yellows and 2 reds.
He will be assisted by Nicholas Barnard from Warrington and Geoff Liddle from Darlington. The latter had the same role in the corresponding fixture last season. Also from Darlington is fourth Official Glen Hart, son of ex-Premiership referee Robbie Hart.
