LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
1. A budding ten-year-old footballer for Whiston Junior and Infants School first XI in 1981-82.
2. (Clockwise from top left) Dad, Mum, me, Joanne and Claire. I was aged 12 when this photo was taken.
3. A grainy picture of my dad refereeing a local game in about 1985. It was he who pointed me away from playing and into
officiating.
4. Modelling the worst referees’ kit, with its random white splats it was instantly christened the ‘birdshit
kit’.
5. January 2001, Brentford v Northampton. Early in my journey through the professional ranks of referees – you can see
why I decided it would be best to shave my head. (Getty Images)
6. Joleon Lescott of Wolves and Andy Hughes of Reading battle it out in the Championship play-off semi-final – the match
that helped ensure I would be working in the Premier League the following campaign. (Getty Images)
7. I developed a warm-up routine that helped ensure things ran as smoothly as possible. Here I’m with my assistants Andy
Martin and Graeme Atkins. (PA/Empics)
8. Following Jeff Winter, during a Select Group training session in 2004. There was plenty of lively, and not always friendly,
competition between the referees. (PA)
9. Graeme Souness protests, while Alan Shearer looks on, after I’d turned down his penalty claim in November 2004. In the
end, I had to send the Newcastle manager to the stands. (PA)
10. Another tough game, this time between Bolton and Everton in December 2004. During the match, Gary Speed had told me:
‘You’re starting to let us down, ref.’ He was right – and I received the worst mark of my career that day. (Getty Images)
11. Sir Alex Ferguson billed the FA Cup tie between Manchester United and Liverpool in February 2006 as a ‘big
test’ for me. In these encounters, the pressure was always high – from the players, the dugout and the stands. (Getty Images)
12. In the thick of it. The brawl at the end of the 2007 Carling Cup final resulted in three red cards. At the time, I felt
I had lost control, but I received praise for my handling of the situation. (Getty Images)
13. Before I took charge of this game between Brazil and Poland in the Under-20 World Cup in June 2007, I was told it was my
first step on the road to the 2010 World Cup. It was also the first time I teamed up with my assistants, Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey. (Getty Images)
14. Pointing to the spot, as Poland are penalised in the 91st minute in their European Championship game against Austria in
Vienna. Because of this decision, I received death threats. (PA)
15. Leading the teams out at an emotional Old Trafford in February 2008, on the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
(PA)
16. Waving away the Spurs protests, I award a penalty to Manchester United that sparked a stunning comeback in April 2009.
It was a mistake, and from then on I was plagued with allegations that I was a closet United fan. (Getty Images)
17. You only ever referee the FA Cup final once, and happily the match between Chelsea and Everton in 2009 went smoothly.
(Getty Images)
18. If ever there is a good time to show a card, midway through the first half is it. Here Bayern Munich’s centre-back
Martin Demichelis goes into the book during the 2010 Champions League final. (PA)
19. Mike Mullarkey, me and Darren Cann making our World Cup debut in the Spain v Switzerland game on 16 June 2010. Happily,
we received praise for our teamwork from the FIFA assessor. (Getty Images)
20. Thumbs up! After the Brazil v Chile game went well, I signalled to my dad in the stand how happy I was. Little did I
know that my next game would be the final. (Getty Images)
21. Nigel de Jong’s flying ‘tackle’ on Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final merited a red card, but I just
didn’t see it well enough to send him off, so I gave a yellow. (Getty Images)
22. Receiving my World Cup final medal from Sepp Blatter, with South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma looking on. I was
worried that the match might have ruined my career. (Getty Images)
23. Dimitar Berbatov goes to ground after minimal contact from Daniel Agger in the first minute of the FA Cup tie between
Manchester United and Liverpool in 2011 – I’d been caught cold. (Getty Images)
24. Summoning urgent help after Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch in March 2012. (PA)
25. Luis Suarez is right to protest. I’d missed a clear foul by Samuel Eto’o in the penalty area during the
Chelsea v Liverpool game in December 2013. (Getty Images)
26. My final Premier League game: Hull City v Everton, 11 May 2014 – it was time to call it a day. (Getty Images)
27. Preparing to go out for my last game: Brazil v Chile in the 2014 World Cup finals. (Getty Images)
28. I made one of the biggest calls of my career in the match, correctly disallowing a goal that could have knocked out the
hosts if they had lost. (Getty Images)
29. I’ve had the privilege of refereeing in many great venues, but none to match Buckingham Palace, as part of the
FA’s 150th celebrations.
30. Another Champions League final, but this time in a different role. I’ve really enjoyed working with BT Sport since
I retired from officiating.
31. The Saudis love their football, so I was pleased to have the opportunity to help develop their officials – a role
I can combine with my work for BT Sport.
32. Receiving an honorary degree from Robert Winston, the chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University.
33. Kay and our children look on as I am granted the Freedom of Rotherham.
34. Our children Jack, Lucy and Hollie have all followed their father in becoming fans of Rotherham United.
35. Very proud to be asked to unveil the name of Rotherham United’s new ground: the New York Stadium. (James Brailsford)