Lee Probert from Wiltshire will take charge of Queens Park Rangers as they kick off the 2012-13 season at home to Swansea City.
The official joined the National List of referees in 2003 before his eventual promotion to the Select List in 2007.
Last season he refereed 38 games – booking 110 and sending off nine players – thus giving him a card average of 3.13 cards per game.
Tomorrow he will be assisted by Dave Bryan (Lincolnshire) and Ron Ganfield (Somerset) with Graham Scott (Oxfordshire) the fourth official.
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Refereeing Rangers |
When QPR travelled to a sodden Molineux in October 2004, the match was played out in frankly farcical conditions with a sizeable puddle in the middle of the turf.
A Carl Cort brace saw off the visiting QPR with Kevin Gallen’s sublime late consolation all the away fans could take away from a clash that disappointingly went ahead.
There was a sending off at Loftus Road as Rangers met Preston North End after the turn of the year and while Eddie Lewis was given his marching orders for the Lilywhites, that wasn’t the one I make reference to.
Jude the Cat was being his pesky self, giving cheer to the support and making his way back to the tunnel after the start to the second half. The linesman complained he was confusing him with the hooped shirt and Jude was abruptly sent off.
I would advise the linesman that QPR players don’t make a habit of wearing big furry heads when attempting to score goals – though in light of the recent goalscoring crisis it may be an idea.
Paul Furlong’s opener was cancelled out with a debut goal by David Nugent following his signing from Bury, before Chris Lucketti won the game for a resilient North End side.
The final and perhaps the most ridiculous debacle of that season was at Bramall Lane where Rangers battled hard to haul themselves level against a commanding Sheffield United side.
Martin Rowlands’ effort from distance put the R’s infront before a Danny Webber brace either side of the break put the Blades in front. Kevin Gallen levelled with a deflected effort because the madness ensued.
In the 90th minute Mr Probert spotted an infringement that no-one else saw, no appeals from Sheffield United players and inexplicably a penalty was given for a push. Andy Gray dispatched the home crowd into raptures.
There was still time for yet more embarrassment as the referee sent off Andrew Davies for falling over, and Steve Kabba’s bunny hop over the top of his was deemed worthy of a second yellow, suffice to say Holloway and QPR were left fuming once more.
Two years later he took charge of QPR’s trip to the Valley to take on the recently relegated Charlton Athletic. This time he made a few more friends with his more balanced approach.
A penalty was spurned by Martin Rowlands in a dominant second half display, as Marc Nygaard somehow got away with mauling Nicky Weaver, who didn’t seem to complain, and Adam Bolder stabbed home for the only goal of the game.
Probert refereed a victory over Cardiff City, and it brought with it its usual controversy with another couple of red cards – Gavin Mahon’s winner – a player ordered on by Flavio Briatore – was thus overshadowed by two moments of madness from the Bluebirds.
Darren Purse’s over-zealous challenge earned him a red before the half-hour mark, before Miguel Comminges’ petulance saw him given his marching orders three minutes from time – no surprise that both were rescinded by the Welsh FA.
The official refereed a second game against Cardiff City, this time ending in a 2-0 win for Rangers – Jay Simpson netting twice for the R’s in a thumping away victory.
Back to Millwall in the excellent 2010/11 campaign, but a feisty affair remained goalless – despite Mr Probert only dishing out a couple of cards on this occasion.
Fast forward to the Premier League campaign of 2011/12 with Rangers taking a trip to fellow promotees Swansea City. The Swans had the lead courtesy of a summer QPR target Danny Graham before Jamie Mackie stole in to level the game and ensure each side had a share of the spoils.
The final fixture for Probert in charge of Rangers that season was another against Swansea, this time it was Rangers coming out on top. Despite holding the ball for long periods of the game, the Swans were blown away as Joey Barton opened the scoring in the first half, Jamie Mackie and Ákos Buzsáky both struck from the edge of the area to secure a comfortable win.
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Mr Probert & Queens Park Rangers |
Wolves 2-1 QPR – 23-10-2004
Goals: Carl Cort 22, 70; Kevin Gallen 90
Booked: Colin Cameron, Mark Kennedy, Kenny Miller
QPR 1-2 Preston North End – 12-02-2005
Goals: Paul Furlong 26; David Nugent 67, Chris Lucketti 75.
Booked: Gareth Ainsworth, Andrew Davies, Kevin Gallen, Georges Santos; Claude Davis, Eddie Lewis.
Sent Off: Eddie Lewis
Sheffield United 3-2 QPR – 09-04-2005
Goals: Danny Webber 43, 53, Andy Gray 90pen; Martin Rowlands 26, Kevin Gallen 66
Booked: Marcus Bignot, Lee Cook, Andrew Davies, Georges Santos
Sent Off: Andrew Davies.
Charlton Athletic 0-1 QPR – 27-10-2007
Goals: Adam Bolder 72
Booked: Andy Reid, Lloyd Sam.
QPR 1-0 Cardiff City – 08-11-2008
Goals: Gavin Mahon 80
Booked: Patrick Agyemang; Miguel Comminges, Stephen McPhail
Sent Off: Darren Purse, Miguel Comminges
Cardiff City 0-2 QPR – 19-09-2009
Goals: Jay Simpson 19, 40
Booked: Michael Chopra, Paul Quinn; Alessandro Pellicori, Damion Stewart
QPR 0-0 Millwall – 28/09/2010
Goals: NONE
Booked: Heidar Helguson; Alan Dunne
Swansea City 1-1 QPR – 27/12/2012
Goals: Danny Graham 14; Jamie Mackie 58
Booked: Ashley Richards; Clint Hill, Adel Taarabt, Joey Barton
Swansea City 1-1 QPR – 27/12/2011
Goals: Danny Graham 14; Jamie Mackie 58
Booked: Ashley Richards; Clint Hill, Adel Taarabt, Joey Barton.
QPR 3-0 Swansea City – 11/04/2012
Goals: Joey Barton 45, Jamie Mackie 55, Ákos Buzsáky 67
Booked: Taye Taiwo, Samba Diakité
