Whitestone The Ref For Coventry Fixture

Dean Whitestone from Northampton will referee the R`s fixture away to Coventry City this weekend.

Despite his refereeing career commencing in non-league in 2003, Mr. Whitestone does lack some of the experience of the higher echelons of the football league. His superiors seem not to deem him worthy of many Championship fixtures, and when you read some of the criticism levelled at the official it is an understandable decision.

With the majority of his games being played out at non-league level, the official refereed the Conference play-off final in 2006 – a match played out between Halifax and Hereford, with the latter edging the game 3-2.

Mr. Whitestone was granted five Championship fixture in 2006/07 but some criticism was levelled at the official for losing control of the game and the players, and this has become a re-occurring theme upon criticising the referee.

Last season he refereed two Championship games, one of them was Burnley`s home draw with Watford, Vital Burnley criticised the official for his display at Turf Moor,

“Once again we see the main talking point of a match being an appalling referee, but this was on another level.”

“Only Lee Mason who refereed our home game in December against Preston can compare to this one this season and but for this refereeing performance from Dean Whitestone which was the height of ineptitude we`d have no doubt picked up all 3 points.” – Dated March 4, 2008.

The other fixture he refereed that season was his first Rangers fixture, in the R`s 2-1 win over relegated Colchester United at Loftus Road. Two magical goals from Akos Buzsaky stole the show, as Rangers soared to a 2-0 lead.

Colchester came back through former R`s target Mark Yeates, and when Mr. Whitestone reduced the R`s to ten men sending off Damion Stewart, it was backs to the wall stuff. Rangers came through narrowly in a game they should walked in W12.

Saturday will mark Whitestone`s first Championship test of the campaign. He has already booked 15 players in his five games thus far in his campaign including a massive 8 bookings in the League One fixture at Huish Park between Leeds United and Yeovil Town. On that day former R Terrell Forbes picked up a yellow card.

Last season Mr. Whitestone dished out 10 red cards and 93 yellows in 31 games. By and large there is a worrying trend developing in Whitestone`s performance. When he gets on a role in terms bookings there is no stopping him.

Mr. Whitestone & QPR

QPR 2-1 Colchester United – 26th December 2003.
Goals: Akos Buzsaky 27, 52; Mark Yeates 62.
Booked: Mikele Leigertwood, Damion Stewart; Pat Baldwin, Bela Balogh, Kevin Lisbie, Adam Virgo.

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