Roger East from Wiltshire is the man in the middle as Rangers make their second foray to the West Country to face Plymouth Argyle.
Mr East is better known for his exploits as an assistant referee as he emerged as one of the country`s select crop of linesmen. He spent seven years on the national list before joining the select list in 2007 and joined the Fifa list for two years before trying his hand at refereeing.
During his time as an assistant he cites the 2003 playoff final between the two sides the best game he has been involved in. He oddly told of an offside decision against the Bluebirds as one of his greatest career decisions.
He said: “Mainly because it was Cardiff at the Millennium and my decision in the second period of extra time an offside decision which was correct, and gave me great satisfaction.”
He also assisted Jeff Winter in the 2004 FA Cup Final as Manchester United defeated Millwall while also assisting Martin Atkinson in the 2006 Community Shield as Liverpool defeated Chelsea.
The first Football League match that Mr East officiated was Macclesfield`s 3-3 draw against the MK Dons in August 2007. He oversaw six goals and booked seven players.
He officiated 29 games in his first Football League campaign booking 65 times and dishing out five red cards, averaging him 2.14 cards per game. He dished out two reds in a single League One fixture sending off Brighton`s Gary Hart and Huddersfield`s Chris Brandon for a late confrontation.
It must be something about the sea air that sends Mr East into a flurry of reds cards, as after revisiting the Withdean Stadium for the Seagulls game against Barnet. He sent off Glen Murray and Kenny Gillet in the fixture as Brighton cantered to a 4-0 League Cup win.
East raised the ire of Coventry City earlier on in the campaign as he gave this weekend`s opponents Cardiff City welcome relief by disallowing a Freddy Eastwood goal. Mr East had initially signalled a goal but called play back for a handball against Scott Dann on the advice of his assistant referee.
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Refereeing Rangers |
Mr East took charge of a solitary Rangers game last season in the R`s stalemate with playoff hopefuls Cardiff City. In truth it was one of the R`s best away displays of the campaign with Wayne Routledge tearing his former team mates to shreds.
The killer instinct eluded Rangers at the vital moment, something that was all too common last season under Iain Dowie, Gareth Ainsworth and Paulo Sousa.
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Mr East & Queens Park Rangers |
Cardiff City 0-0 QPR – 25-02-2009
Goals: NONE
Booked: Liam Miller
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Mr East & Plymouth Argyle |
Plymouth Argyle 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday – 04-10-2008
Goals: Mark Beevers 15og, Paul Gallagher 25, Jamie Mackie 30, Marcel Seip 90
Booked: NONE
Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Southampton – 26-12-2008
Goals: Rory Fallon 38, Luke Summerfield 52pen
Booked: Steven McLean; Kelvin Davis, Oliver Lancashire, Rudi Skacel
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