Mike Dean from the Wirral will take charge of this weekend’s FA Cup encounter between Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea.
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 Stephen Child & Peter Kirkup with the fourth official the fellow Select List referee, Mike Jones.
Thus far this season Dean has taken charge of 24 games dishing out 76 yellow cards and a solitary red – giving him a card average 3.21 cards per game.
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Refereeing Rangers |
Dean 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 last time Dean refereed a Rangers clash was 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.
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Mr Dean & Queens Park Rangers |
Swindon Town 3-1 QPR – 31/10/1998
Goals: Mark Walters 45pen, 90, Iffy Onoura 79; Mike Sheron 10
Yellow: Iffy Onoura, Darren Bullock; Karl Ready
Red: Paul Murray
QPR 3-1 Huddersfield Town – 07/08/1999
Goals: Jermaine Darlington 16, Chris Kiwomya 38, Gavin Peacock 79; Clyde Wijnhard 65
Yellow: Tim Breaker, Gavin Peacock, Chris Kiwomya; Steve Baker, Chris Lucketti, Jamie Vincent
Crystal Palace 3-0 QPR – 02/12/2006
Goals: Dougie Freedman 30, Shefki Kuqi 32, Clinton Morrison 86
Yellow: Zesh Rehman, Kevin Gallen
Chelsea 1-0 QPR – 05/01/2008
Goals: Lee Camp 28og
Yellow: Fitz Hall
Coventry City 0-0 QPR – 05/03/2008
Goals: NONE
Yellow: Leon Best; Matt Connolly, Ákos Buzsáky
