Mike Dean from the Wirral will take charge of the crunch Premier League decider between Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City.
The official set off on his path in 1985 before progressing to the National List of Referees in 1997. Three years later he joined the Select List where he has resided since.
He has taken charge of both the FA Cup Final (2008) and League Cup Final (2011) and remains one of the most experienced officials on the list.
This weekend he will be assisted by Mr Stuart Burt (Northants) and Mr Andy Garratt (West Midlands) with the fourth official Mr Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Thus far this season Dean has taken charge of 42 games dishing out 143 yellow cards and a four reds – giving him a card average 3.50 cards per game.
|
Refereeing Rangers |
ean first took charge of QPR as the R’s travelled to Swindon Town in 1998. Despite Mike Sheron giving Rangers the advantage, Mark Walters levelled before half time with a spot kick, before Iffy Onoura turned the game on its head – Walters then netted the clincher at the death with Paul Murray also seeing red.
In 1999 that 3-1 scoreline was in Rangers’ favour as defender Jermaine Darlington handed QPR a lead, added to by a Chris Kiwomya strike. Clyde Wijnhard halved the arrears before Gavin Peacock clinched the opening day win for the R’s.
Fast forward to 2006 – where Dean’s Select List exploits kept him away from Rangers. His return to presiding over QPR didn’t go down well as Crystal Palace mauled Rangers. Former youth product Dougie Freedman netted along with strikes from Shefki Kuqi and the enigmatic Clinton Morrison.
The official took charge of Queens Park Rangers first trip to Chelsea in a number of years when a Lee Camp own goal separated the two sides in a lifeless fixture at Stamford Bridge. Claudio Pizarro’s strike cannoning back off the upright, into the back of Camp and drifted into the net.
Dean refereed Rangers against Coventry City in 2008. A drab goalless draw, rather typical of both teams at the time as both were firmly locked in Championship mid-table mediocrity. Fast forward to 2012 and it was Chelsea again for Dean and QPR.
The FA Cup once more as the wounded Blues came back to W12 following the furore of a defeat earlier in the Premier League campaign. Dean handed the visitors a very generous spot kick, owing much to the theatrics of Daniel Sturridge, before Juan Mata dispatched from the spot.
Rangers faced a crucial six-pointer away at Blackburn Rovers and the home side seem home and hosed with Yakubu, Steven N’Zonzi and a Nedum Onouha own goal effectively putting QPR to the sword before the break. A wonderful double from Jamie Mackie hauled Rangers back into the fixture, but it wasn’t enough as points once more went awry.
A home fixture marked his penultimate QPR match of the campaign as Rangers hosted neighbour from North London, Arsenal. Adel Taarabt gave his former club Tottenham a moment of cheer when he turned Thomas Vermaelen with consummate ease before burying a well-taken effort.
Theo Walcott was helped by a fortunate deflection off the upright to strike home an equaliser for the visiting side. It was the persistence of Jamie Mackie that helped set up an all important winner for QPR with Samba Diakité slamming home – Dean had a day to remember as well, booking seven players.
|
Mr Dean & Queens Park Rangers |
b>Swindon Town 3-1 QPR – 31/10/1998
oals: Mark Walters 45pen, 90, Iffy Onoura 79; Mike Sheron 10
ellow: Iffy Onoura, Darren Bullock; Karl Ready
ed: Paul Murray
QPR 3-1 Huddersfield Town – 07/08/1999
oals: Jermaine Darlington 16, Chris Kiwomya 38, Gavin Peacock 79; Clyde Wijnhard 65
ellow: Tim Breaker, Gavin Peacock, Chris Kiwomya; Steve Baker, Chris Lucketti, Jamie Vincent
Crystal Palace 3-0 QPR – 02/12/2006
oals: Dougie Freedman 30, Shefki Kuqi 32, Clinton Morrison 86
ellow: Zesh Rehman, Kevin Gallen
Chelsea 1-0 QPR – 05/01/2008
oals: Lee Camp 28og
ellow: Fitz Hall
Coventry City 0-0 QPR – 05/03/2008
oals: NONE
ellow: Leon Best; Matt Connolly, Ákos Buzsáky
QPR 0-1 Chelsea – 28/01/2012
oals: Juan Mata 62pen
ellow: Fitz Hall, Shaun Wright-Phillips; Ashley Cole, Oriol Romeu
Blackburn Rovers 3-2 QPR – 11/02/2012
oals: Yakubu 15, Steven N’Zonzi 23, Nedum Onouha 45og; Jamie Mackie 71, 90
ellow: Jason Lowe; Jamie Mackie
QPR 2-1 Arsenal – 31/03/2012
oals: Adel Taarabt 22, Samba Diakité 66; Theo Walcott 37
ellow: Anton Ferdinand, Samba Diakité, Adel Taarabt, Joey Barton, Jamie Mackie; Thomas Vermaelen, Alex Song
