Meet The Ref - Stoke v Latics

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Wigan Athletic travel to the Britannia Stadium on Sunday to face Stoke City in what is a massive, massive game for the Latics, Premier League survival depends on the result of this the last game of the season, strong refereeing is essential, so who have we got? Andre Marriner that`s who.

The 40 year old has been a top flight referee since 2005 when he took charge of the Latics v Fulham game, which we won, courtesy of a last minute Pascal Chimbonda goal, this will be the 5th time this season that the Birmingham official has taken charge of a Wigan game. Draws against Sunderland, Bolton and Spurs, plus an away defeat to Fulham being the previous four.

Marriner first got into refereeing because he liked the money, his words not mine, he reveals this information in a recent interview he gave with refworld.com:




How did you get introduced into refereeing?

I went along to watch a local football team that had asked me to play for them. The referee had not turned up and so as I was a neutral at the game, they asked me to referee it. It was an end to end game and I really enjoyed the experience. At the end of the game, they even handed over £10.00 for my services!!!


What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight for me personally is the day that I received my letter inviting me to referee on the Southern Football League following a successful interview. This made me realise that I was going to referee semi professional football


What is the best game you have officiated and why?

Without a doubt, it will always be the 2003 Inaugural Conference Play Off Final between Doncaster Rovers and Dagenham & Redbridge. It was a massive game at that stage of my career as it led me to be promoted onto The National List as a referee.


Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why?

There is no single person that I can name as everybody I have worked with and met to do with refereeing have had some kind of influence on me.


Well there you have it, a money grabber who listens to no one, only joking Andre, here`s hoping that he has a quiet game on Saturday and the only talking points are the goals that the Latics have scored.



Card Watch, Andre Marriner 2010/11

Games - 35, yellows - 124, reds - 5





















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