Michael Oliver will take charge of Queens Park Rangers’ FA Cup clash with Milton Keynes Dons
Mr Oliver from Northumberland is the son of fellow official Clive Oliver and believes his father was the inspiration behind making the decision to become a referee.
At the age of 14 the young official took up refereeing and eight years later at the age of 22 he had made the national list of officials.
He is the youngest official to referee both in the top flight and also at Wembley, having been promoted to the select list of officials in 2010.
This weekend he will be assisted by Mr Bob Pollock (Merseyside) and Mr Adam Nunn (Wiltshire), with the fourth official Mr Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Thus far this campaign Mr Oliver has officiated 17 games, dishing out 49 yellows and three reds – giving him an average of 3.06 cards per game.
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Refereeing Rangers |
Mr Oliver had a good occasion for his first QPR game when he took charge of Rangers against Preston North End on the final day of the 2008-09 season.
Jon Parkin had handed the Lilywhites the lead before former PNE striker Patrick Agyemang equalised for Rangers. When they needed their goal most the hosts had Sean St Ledger to thank for the winner.
This send North End into the playoffs at the expense of Cardiff City – a side that Mr Oliver oversaw in a fixture with QPR the following campaign.
Hot off the heels of virtually securing their safety against Crystal Palace, Rangers suffered a hangover when Joe Ledley netted the only goal of the game as Cardiff cantered to a playoff place.
Earlier in this campaign, Mr Oliver took charge of Neil Warnock’s Rangers as they were defeated by Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.
Franco di Santo hit a rare double as Roberto Martinez’s men overcame a makeshift QPR side on a rainy Lancashire afternoon.
His second QPR test of the 2011-12 campaign he presided over a controversial affair against Aston Villa at Loftus Road. Gabriel Agbonlahor’s tumble in the area prompted the official to spot a penalty, something that no-one in the ground expected or appealed for.
Barry Bannan netted the resultant spot kick as things looked bleak for QPR. That was before Richard Dunne popped up with a last gasp own goal to spare referee Oliver’s blushes.
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Mr Oliver & Queens Park Rangers |
Preston North End 2-1 QPR – 03-05-2009
Goals: Jon Parkin 37, Sean St Ledger 74; Patrick Agyemang 57
Booked: Billy Jones, Sean St Ledger; Matt Connolly, Mikele Leigertwood
QPR 2-1 Cardiff City – 17-04-2010
Goals: Joe Ledley 80
Booked: Peter Ramage, Adel Taarabt
Wigan Athletic 2-0 QPR – 27/08/2011
Goals: Franco di Santo 41, 66
Booked: Gary Caldwell, Adrian Lopez
QPR 1-1 Aston Villa – 25/09/2011
Goals: Richard Dunne 90og; Barry Bannan 58pen
Booked: Armand Traoré; Alan Hutton, Stephen Warnock, James Collins, Charles N’Zogbia, Stilyan Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor
