Neil Swarbrick from Lancashire will take charge of QPR’s home test against Norwich City tomorrow afternoon.
A referee that discovered his calling late Mr Swarbrick wasted no time in making his way up the ladder, making the National List of assistant referees in six years four years later he was promoted to the National List of referees.
He has taken charge of Rangers eight times previously, details of which are outlined below.
This weekend he will be assisted by Craig Breakspear and Dave Richardson with the fourth official Phil Dowd.
This season Mr Swarbrick has taken charge of 16 games, dishing out 64 yellow cards and three reds – giving him an average of 4.19 cards per game.
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Refereeing Rangers |
After refereeing his first Championship clash in 2006, he took charge of his first Rangers fixture the following season. John Gregory`s QPR were beginning to flex their muscles in the race to stay in the league and Marc Nygaard in particular was in no mood to be relegated.
Loanee Iñigo Idiakez set the ball rolling with a header just after the break, before Nygaard netted a penalty before unleashed a fearsome volley from distance to kill the game off. A consolation from the penalty spot from Iain Hume was all that the Foxes could muster.
Mr Swarbrick must be thinking that Marc Nygaard is the best forward since sliced bread as the Great Dane struck an equaliser against Ipswich Town at Loftus Road. Sylvain Legwinski’s outstanding dipping volley cancelled out by the man mountain forward.
In his next Rangers game he saw the R’s defeated up at Hillsborough in a game which Hogan Ephraim was given his marching orders. The visitors had the lead after 15 minutes when Delaney latched onto a dragback to net his first goal for QPR.
Sheffield Wednesday hit back before half time with Graham Kavanagh nodding a looping header home past Lee Camp. The lead and the game was taken when Deon Burton converted a penalty. Substitute Hogan Ephraim lashed out in frustration by the corner flag and was rightfully handed a red by Mr Swarbrick.
The R’s opened their campaign against Barnsley under new boss Iain Dowie and Mr Swarbrick was there to witness the razzmatazz, glitz and glamour of Flavio Briatore’s pre match entertainment. All of which was forgotten as Iain Hume handed the Tykes a lead inside five minutes.
Two goals from defender Fitz Hall turned the game on its head before the half time break firstly bundling over the line before athletically turning in a right-footed volley. The pre-match fireworks continued on the field for Marciano van Homoet who got himself sent off for an ill-advised lunge.
Finally and most recently Mr Swarbrick took charge as Sheffield United came to town in March 2009, with the visitors in truth far better off in their chase for a playoff place.
Indeed Kevin Blackwell’s men were looking a tough unit in this clash, but the fixture petered out into a war of attrition rather than a fixture between two playoff chasers.
Another Sheffield United fixture came and passed the following season with little to note between the two sides beyond the first ten minutes. Mikele Leigertwood’s effort was equalised by Richard Cresswell in another drab affair in W12.
A fixture against Coventry City saw the Sky cameras come to the Ricoh Arena. Kyle Walker’s effort was placed in off the back of Keiren Westwood, before Tommy Smith glanced home an Adel Taarabt cross to secure the win for QPR.
Latterly he took charge of the fixture that saw QPR promoted to the Premier League – Adel Taarabt opened the scoring with the deftest of flicks before former Watford man Tommy Smith netted the crucial goal against his former club.
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Mr Swarbrick & Queens Park Rangers |
Leicester City 1-3 QPR – 17-03-2007
Goals: Iain Hume 90pen; Iñigo Idiakez 47, Marc Nygaard 51pen, 68.
Yellow Cards: Iain Hume, Nils-Eric Johansson; Danny Cullip, Paul Furlong, Ray Jones, Damion Stewart.
QPR 1-1 Ipswich Town – 20-10-2007
Goals: Marc Nygaard 73; Sylvain Legwinski 53.
Yellow Cards: Rowan Vine.
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 QPR – 08-03-2008
Goals: Graham Kavanagh 45, Deon Burton 52pen; Damien Delaney 15.
Yellow Cards: Marcus Tudgay; Damien Delaney, Damion Stewart.
Red Cards: Hogan Ephraim.
QPR 2-1 Barnsley – 09-08-08
Goals: Fitz Hall 29, 31; Iain Hume 5.
Yellow Cards: Lee Cook.
QPR 0-0 Sheffield United – 07-03-09
Goals: NONE
Yellow Cards: Damion Stewart
QPR 1-1 Sheffield United – 19-12-2009
Goals: Mikele Leigertwood 2; Richard Cresswell
Yellow Cards: Damion Stewart; Mark Bunn, Chris Morgan
Coventry City 0-2 QPR – 28-12-2010
Goals: Keiren Westwood 49og, Tommy Smith 61
Yellow Cards: Gary McSheffrey; Alejandro Faurlín, Heidar Helguson
Watford 0-2 QPR – 31/04/2011
Goals: Adel Taarabt 77, Tommy Smith 90
Yellow Cards: Don Cowie
