Kevin Friend
Encyclopedia
Kevin Friend is an English
professional football referee, based in Leicestershire
, who officiates primarily in the Premier League.
. He officiated in the Leicestershire Senior League
and Midland Football Alliance
before being promoted to the National List of Referees, and later to the Select Group of Referees ahead of the 2009/10 season
, taking charge of his first Premier League fixture on 20 September 2009, a 2-1 victory for Wolverhampton Wanderers
over Fulham
, with Friend issuing two yellow cards.
Friend issued his first Premier League red card on 15 December 2009 to Sunderland
captain Lorik Cana
for a second bookable offence in his team's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa
.
Friend refereed the 2009 FA Vase
final at Wembley Stadium
on 10 May between Whitley Bay
and Glossop North End
, won 2-0 by the Bay.
manager Avram Grant was charged by the FA with improper conduct for confronting Friend at half-time over a number of the official's decisions during his team's eventual 1-1 draw with Sunderland. Portsmouth had two penalty appeals disregarded by Friend, who earlier in the match had sent off Portsmouth's Ricardo Rocha
and simultaneously awarded Sunderland a penalty. He went on to issue a further two red cards to Sunderland players Lee Cattermole
and David Meyler
.
Friend came in for eminent criticism following his handling of a League One match on 10 April 2010 between Norwich City
and Milton Keynes Dons
. Friend issued 11 yellow cards, including two to Dons player Aaron Wilbraham
, disallowed a 32nd-minute Norwich goal for a dubious foul on the goalkeeper, and failed to award an 82nd-minute penalty kick
for Norwich for an apparent handball by Wilbraham prior to his sending off.
On 27 November 2010, Friend was censured by Cardiff City
manager Dave Jones for failing to award his team a late penalty in their 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers
.
Statistics are for all competitions. No records are available prior to 2003/04.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional football referee, based in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, who officiates primarily in the Premier League.
Career
Friend started refereeing at the age of 13 in his home county of LeicestershireLeicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. He officiated in the Leicestershire Senior League
Leicestershire Senior League
The Leicestershire Senior League is a football competition based in Leicestershire, England.-History:...
and Midland Football Alliance
Midland Football Alliance
The Midland Football Alliance is an English association football league for semi-professional teams. It covers Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and also southern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire...
before being promoted to the National List of Referees, and later to the Select Group of Referees ahead of the 2009/10 season
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
, taking charge of his first Premier League fixture on 20 September 2009, a 2-1 victory for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, with Friend issuing two yellow cards.
Friend issued his first Premier League red card on 15 December 2009 to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
captain Lorik Cana
Lorik Cana
Lorik Cana is an Albanian footballer, who plays for Lazio as a defensive midfielder and the Albania national football team. He is the captain for Albania at international level...
for a second bookable offence in his team's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
Friend refereed the 2009 FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 10 May between Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay F.C.
Whitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...
and Glossop North End
Glossop North End A.F.C.
Glossop North End A.F.C. are an English football club based in Glossop, Derbyshire. Former members of the Football League, they are currently in the North West Counties League and are members of the Derbyshire County Football Association. They play their home matches at Surrey Street, which has a...
, won 2-0 by the Bay.
Criticisms
In February 2010, PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
manager Avram Grant was charged by the FA with improper conduct for confronting Friend at half-time over a number of the official's decisions during his team's eventual 1-1 draw with Sunderland. Portsmouth had two penalty appeals disregarded by Friend, who earlier in the match had sent off Portsmouth's Ricardo Rocha
Ricardo Rocha (Portuguese footballer)
Ricardo Sérgio Rocha Azevedo is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Portsmouth in the Football League Championship, as a defender.-Portugal:Rocha was born in Santo Tirso, Porto District...
and simultaneously awarded Sunderland a penalty. He went on to issue a further two red cards to Sunderland players Lee Cattermole
Lee Cattermole
Lee Barry Cattermole is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League. His preferred position is in central midfield in front of the back four and he is known for his tough-tackling midfield play.-Early life:Cattermole was...
and David Meyler
David Meyler
David Meyler is an Irish footballer who plays for Sunderland in the Premier League. He is the son of hurling manager John Meyler. He grew up in Rochestown Rise in Cork, and, like his father, played hurling, Gaelic football and soccer from an early age.-Cork City:He progressed through the youth...
.
Friend came in for eminent criticism following his handling of a League One match on 10 April 2010 between Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. Friend issued 11 yellow cards, including two to Dons player Aaron Wilbraham
Aaron Wilbraham
Aaron Thomas Wilbraham is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Norwich City. He joined the club on 1 January 2011, from Milton Keynes Dons, on an 18 month contract for an undisclosed fee.-Early career:Wilbraham started his career at Stockport County, where he made...
, disallowed a 32nd-minute Norwich goal for a dubious foul on the goalkeeper, and failed to award an 82nd-minute penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
for Norwich for an apparent handball by Wilbraham prior to his sending off.
On 27 November 2010, Friend was censured by Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
manager Dave Jones for failing to award his team a late penalty in their 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
Career statistics
| Season | Games | Total | per game | Total | per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003/2004 | 27 | 98 | 3.63 | 4 | 0.15 |
| 2004/2005 | 37 | 107 | 2.89 | 7 | 0.19 |
| 2005/2006 | 21 | 45 | 2.14 | 2 | 0.09 |
| 2006/2007 | 34 | 87 | 2.56 | 6 | 0.18 |
| 2007/2008 | 41 | 100 | 2.44 | 11 | 0.27 |
| 2008/2009 | 46 | 124 | 2.69 | 6 | 0.13 |
| 2009/2010 | 34 | 133 | 3.91 | 7 | 0.21 |
| 2010/2011 | 33 | 116 | 3.52 | 7 | 0.21 |
| 2011/2012 | | |
Statistics are for all competitions. No records are available prior to 2003/04.
External links
- Kevin Friend Profile at Refworld.com
- http://www.soccerbase.com/refs2.sd?refid=865&seasonid=139 at Soccerbase.com