D'Urso in charge of 2014 JPT Final
- adamhigginsuk
- Mar 7, 2014
- 2 min read
REFEREE Andy D’Urso will be the man in the middle for the 2014 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final between Chesterfield and Peterborough United.
The Essex official will oversee proceedings at Wembley Stadium on 30 March, competition organisers The Football League have confirmed.
Ian Cooper (Kent) and Guy Stretton (Leicestershire) are the assistant referees while Iain Williamson (Berkshire) is the fourth official and Andy Hendley (West Midlands) is the reserve assistant.
D'Urso, a member of the Barking and Dagenham Referees Society, was first promoted to The Football League in 1994 and five seasons later was named on the Premier League list.
However the 50-year-old, who has also served as a FIFA referee, was demoted from the Select Group in the 2005/06 campaign.
His final appearance in the top-flight was Fulham’s 3-3 draw with Aston Villa in December 2005 after being suspended for 28 days for failing to send off Barry Ferguson having shown the then Blackburn midfielder three yellow cards against Southampton.
In what could be his final campaign on the National List before retirement, D’Urso has taken charge of 26 games in all competitions so far in 2013/14.
The Billericay-based official has brandished 75 yellows and eight red cards whilst awarding ten penalties.
? DID YOU KNOW ?
Andy D’Urso is the joint most experienced official in the Football League along with Scott Mathieson, with both officiating in their 20th season as a referee.
It will be only the second time D’Urso oversees the teams this term after handling Peterborough’s FA Cup exit to Kidderminster and Chesterfield’s 2-2 draw with Rochdale, both in January.
D’Urso has taken charge of three League One and one League Two play-off finals at the national stadium including Yeovil’s surprise 2-1 win over Brentford last May.
In addition, the experienced whistler has also refereed three FA Cup quarter-finals and the 2001 Charity Shield between Liverpool and Manchester United at Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium.
He attracted criticism from Exeter boss Paul Tisdale last month following his decision to overturn an injury-time penalty in their 1-1 draw with Morecambe.
Having consulted the linesman, D’Urso booked Exeter’s David Wheeler for diving after sending off Morecambe midfielder Jamie Devitt for a headbutt during a frantic melee.
The appointed officials will wear grey shirts, black shorts and black socks for the showpiece, which kicks off at 14:00 GMT and is live on Sky Sports.
The Spireites beat fellow League Two promotion rivals Fleetwood 3-2 on aggregate in the Northern Area Final while Posh edged out League One Swindon on penalties after a 3-3 scoreline over two legs in the Southern Area Final.
The Posh – managed by Darren Ferguson, who won the competition as a Wrexham player – will compete in their first JPT final while Paul Cook’s Chesterfield lifted the trophy for the first time two years ago when beating Swindon.
JPT Final: The last ten men in charge
2013: Nigel Miller (County Durham)
2012: Tony Bates (Staffordshire)
2011: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)
2010: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
2009: Phil Crossley (Kent)
2008: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire)
2007: Graham Laws (Northumberland)
2006: Anthony Leake (County Durham)
2005: Brian Curson (Macclesfield)
2004: Roy Pearson (County Durham)
Last updated: 7 March 2014 18:52pm
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