Colin Webster of Tyne and Wear will be the man in the middle for QPR`s cup replay against Burnley.
Mr Webster started his path up the refereeing ladder in 1988 and progressed through the Wearside and Northern Leagues. The 42-year-old was appointed to the national list of assistant referees in 1994 and subsequently progressed to the referee`s list in 2000.
The official has taken charge of Rangers on five separate occasions, and an analysis of these are outlined below.
Refereeing Rangers
Mr Webster`s first game in charge of QPR was the second game of the 2001/02 season – the R`s first season back in the old Division Two. Andy Preece`s Bury were the R`s first away test of the campaign and they were on the back foot when defender Michael Nelson handed the Shakers the lead within five minutes.
However Rangers came back courtesy of an Andy Thomson penalty, his second in two games, and Paul Bruce rounded off the win at Gigg Lane.
A more controversial affair ensued later that campaign as the R`s travelled to Saltergate to play Chesterfield. Rangers had their first glimpse at loan signing Danny Shittu from Charlton Athletic – with the majority of the crowd taken aback at how big this lad really was!
Mr Webster handed both sides a spot kick within five minutes of each other, as David Reeves and Andy Thomson scored respectively. Shittu rose to head home on his debut to the delight of the travelling fans, before Matthew Rose sealed the win by capitalising on a loose ball to slam home.
Jonathan Howard pulled one back for the Spirites who could taste a point as debutante Shittu was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence. The game petered out and Rangers claimed the win.
Into 2002/03 and Rangers faced the ever tricky trip to Northampton Town, but this time managed to come out with a point. Brent Rahim had given the Cobblers a lead at the Sixfields, but Paul Furlong rolled the ball home to the delight of the travelling supporters to equalise.
The diving antics of Marco Gabbiadini were once again under the spotlight, with the official conned several times by the forwards embarrassing renditions of Swan Lake. However in the build up to Furlong`s goal he was not duped into another decision as Rangers broke away and scored.
In 2003/04 he didn`t oversee a Rangers fixture but his refereeing was under scrutiny as he sent off three players in Scunthorpe United`s 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic. Matthew Sparrow, Darren Sheridan and Danny Boshell were all given their marching orders by the overzealous official who was quickly establishing himself as a card merchant.
If results under the watchful eye of Mr Webster had been satisfactory so far, this was the one that blew them out of the water. In 2004 Rangers were humbled against Leeds United in their first meeting since the R`s fell out of the Premier League.
Gareth Ainsworth handed Rangers the lead, but United stormed back, with veteran Brian Deane grabbing four goals and David Healy and Jermaine Wright rounding off the scoring. They even spurned a further chance from the penalty spot as Ian Holloway`s men had a very bad day at the office.
The following season the referee presided over the R`s away from home once more, but this time there was a more desired outcome as they overcame the ten men of Leicester City. The R`s had the lead in the 12th minute as Marc Nygaard powered home his first goal for the club.
Alan Maybury received his marching orders from Mr Webster after kicking out at a Rangers player, but in a game littered with bookings the R`s couldn`t assert their numerical advantage. Eventually it was the hosts that got back into the game with former Fulham man Elvis Hammond placing home. He took off his shirt and was duly booked.
Rangers had the last laugh however when Paul Furlong drilled home from the edge of the area to take the R`s back to W12 with all three points. There was still time for Mr Webster to centre of attention once again as he achieved his mission of evening up proceedings by sending off Paul Furlong in the final minutes.
That was the last game Mr Webster presided over involving the R`s as he is deemed less worthy of Championship fixtures as his career begins to wind down. He does have a friend in Rangers though as he sent off Brentford`s stopper Ben Hamer in their FA Cup debacle away at Barrow.
In 23 games so far this season the official has handed out 39 yellow cards and three reds, giving him a modest card average of 1.83.
Mr Webster & Queens Park Rangers
Bury 1-2 QPR – 18-08-01
Goals: Michael Nelson 4; Andy Thomson 30, Paul Bruce 67.
Yellow Cards: Paddy Kenny.
Chesterfield 2-3 QPR – 15-12-01
Goals: David Reeves 61pen, Jonathan Howard 79; Andy Thomson 65pen, Danny Shittu 69, Matthew Rose 71.
Yellow Cards: Ian Breckin; Danny Shittu
Red Cards: Danny Shittu
Northampton Town 1-1 QPR – 08-02-03
Goals: Brent Rahim 16; Paul Furlong 60
Yellow Cards: Marco Gabbiadini; Gino Padula, Steve Palmer.
Leeds United 6-1 QPR 20-11-04
Goals: David Healy 9, Brian Deane 13, 42, 44, 72, Jermaine Wright 23; Gareth Ainsworth 2.
Yellow Cards: Marc Bircham.
Leicester City 1-2 QPR – 24-09-05
Goals: Elvis Hammond 73; Marc Nygaard 12, Paul Furlong 86.
Yellow Cards: Marc De Vries, Elvis Hammond, Stephen Hughes, Paddy McCarthy; Gareth Ainsworth, Paul Furlong, Simon Royce, Georges Santos.
Red Cards: Alan Maybury; Paul Furlong.
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