Stuart Attwell
Encyclopedia
Stuart Steven Attwell (born 6 October 1982) is an English
professional football referee from Nuneaton
, Warwickshire
. He made a prominent debut in 2008 as the youngest person ever to referee in the Premier League.
in 2004. Refereeing had been a life-long ambition for him, according to his father. Attwell worked his way up from local games to non-League football, then to the West Midlands League and the Football League
.
His promotion to Football League refereeing came ahead of the 2007-08 season
, officiating his first match on 11 August 2007 in a League 2
fixture between Hereford United
and Rotherham United
. He first officiated in League 1
when taking charge of a game between Swansea City and Gillingham
. Despite some portions of the media considering some decisions during that match to be "bizarre", Attwell continued to be promoted and on 26 December 2007 he made his League Championship
debut officiating a 1-1 draw between Sheffield United
and Blackpool
. In total he refereed five Championship games during the 2007-08 season. On 26 May 2008 Attwell officiated the League 2 play-off final
between Rochdale
and Stockport County
at Wembley Stadium
, won 3-2 by Stockport.
Attwell was included in the Select Group of referees for the 2008-09 season, making him eligible to referee in the Premier League, and granting him full-time employment by the Professional Game Match Officials Association. On 25 June 2008, he was promoted to the list of top flight officials in the Premier League, after just one season in the Football League
. This made him the youngest ever Premier League referee at 25 years of age. On 23 August 2008, he made his Premier League debut when he refereed a 1-1 draw between Blackburn Rovers
and Hull City
.
Less than a month later Attwell and one of his assistants, Nigel Bannister, were heavily censured for a decision to award an early goal to Reading
in a Championship fixture against Watford
on 20 September 2008. Bannister flagged for a goal instead of a corner after Watford's John Eustace
played the ball over the byline - four yards wide of the goal post - before Reading's Noel Hunt
hooked it back into play. Attwell awarded Reading a goal. The incident led to Attwell's one-game deferral from refereeing duties.
On 20 December 2008, Attwell was added to the international list of referees for 2009.
Attwell has also received some criticism after Premier League officiating. In April 2010, Wigan Athletic
manager Roberto Martínez
accused Attwell of "lying" after he issued Wigan defender Gary Caldwell
a debatable straight red card in a match against Manchester City
. Later that month, Attwell was accused of being influenced by "who shouted the loudest" by Stoke City
defender Danny Higginbotham
after his team's 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers
.
In July 2010, Attwell officiated in Japan
ese J. League
matches for three weeks. Attwell and Anthony Taylor
were sent to Japan as part of referee exchange programmes signed between the English FA
and Japanese FA
.
Statistics for all competitions, including domestic, European and international. No records available prior to 2007/08.
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 from Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. He made a prominent debut in 2008 as the youngest person ever to referee in the Premier League.
Career
Attwell graduated from Staffordshire UniversityStaffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
in 2004. Refereeing had been a life-long ambition for him, according to his father. Attwell worked his way up from local games to non-League football, then to the West Midlands League and the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
His promotion to Football League refereeing came ahead of the 2007-08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
, officiating his first match on 11 August 2007 in a League 2
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
fixture between Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
. He first officiated in League 1
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
when taking charge of a game between Swansea City and Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
. Despite some portions of the media considering some decisions during that match to be "bizarre", Attwell continued to be promoted and on 26 December 2007 he made his League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
debut officiating a 1-1 draw between Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. In total he refereed five Championship games during the 2007-08 season. On 26 May 2008 Attwell officiated the League 2 play-off final
2008 Football League Two play-off Final
The 2008 Football League Two play-off Final, also known as the 2008 Coca-Cola League Two play-off Final due to sponsorship from Coca-Cola, was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 26 May 2008, at the end of the 2007–08 season....
between Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
and Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
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...
, won 3-2 by Stockport.
Attwell was included in the Select Group of referees for the 2008-09 season, making him eligible to referee in the Premier League, and granting him full-time employment by the Professional Game Match Officials Association. On 25 June 2008, he was promoted to the list of top flight officials in the Premier League, after just one season in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. This made him the youngest ever Premier League referee at 25 years of age. On 23 August 2008, he made his Premier League debut when he refereed a 1-1 draw between Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
.
Less than a month later Attwell and one of his assistants, Nigel Bannister, were heavily censured for a decision to award an early goal to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in a Championship fixture against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
on 20 September 2008. Bannister flagged for a goal instead of a corner after Watford's John Eustace
John Eustace
John Mark Eustace is an English footballer who plays for Watford as a central midfielder. He has previously been contracted to Coventry City and Stoke City, and has spent time on loan at Dundee United, Middlesbrough, Hereford United and Derby County.-Coventry City:Born in Solihull, Eustace began...
played the ball over the byline - four yards wide of the goal post - before Reading's Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Football League Championship side Reading. His brother is Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C...
hooked it back into play. Attwell awarded Reading a goal. The incident led to Attwell's one-game deferral from refereeing duties.
On 20 December 2008, Attwell was added to the international list of referees for 2009.
Attwell has also received some criticism after Premier League officiating. In April 2010, Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
manager Roberto Martínez
Roberto Martínez
Roberto Martínez Montoliú is a Spanish former professional footballer and is currently manager of Wigan Athletic.Martínez played as a midfielder and began his career at lower league Spanish side CF Balaguer. Two years later he went to English Division Three side Wigan Athletic...
accused Attwell of "lying" after he issued Wigan defender Gary Caldwell
Gary Caldwell
Gary Robert Caldwell is a Scottish footballer who is currently the captain of Wigan Athletic and also plays for the Scotland national football team....
a debatable straight red card in a match against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. Later that month, Attwell was accused of being influenced by "who shouted the loudest" by Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
defender Danny Higginbotham
Danny Higginbotham
Daniel John "Danny" Higginbotham is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Stoke City.Higginbotham started his career at his local side Manchester United he made seven appearances at Old Trafford as well as a loan spell with Belgium side Royal Antwerp before joining...
after his team's 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
In July 2010, Attwell officiated in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
matches for three weeks. Attwell and Anthony Taylor
Anthony Taylor (referee)
Anthony Taylor is an English football referee from Wythenshawe, Manchester who, since 2010, is on the list of Select Group Referees who officiate in the Premier League.-Refereeing career:...
were sent to Japan as part of referee exchange programmes signed between the English FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
and Japanese FA
Japan Football Association
The Japan Football Association, sometimes known as the Japan Soccer Association , is the governing body responsible for the administration of association football in Japan. It is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions....
.
England
| Season | Games | Total | per game | Total | per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007/08 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool... |
32 | 52 | 1.62 | 9 | 0.28 |
| 2008/09 | 30 | 94 | 3.13 | 8 | 0.26 |
| 2009/10 | 26 | 95 | 3.65 | 4 | 0.15 |
| 2010/11 | 25 | 79 | 3.16 | 2 | 0.08 |
| 2011/12 |
Statistics for all competitions, including domestic, European and international. No records available prior to 2007/08.
Japan
| Season | Games | Total | per game | Total | per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 J. League Division 1 The 2010 J. League Division 1 season was the 46th season of the top-flight club football in Japan and the 18th season since the establishment of J1 League. The season began on March 6 and ended on December 4.... |
2 | 18 | 9.00 | 0 | 0.00 |
External links
- Stuart Attwell Referee Statistics at soccerbase.com
- Stuart Attwell Profile at Refworld.com
- Stuart Attwell Profile at RateTheRef.net