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Paws for Thought

Last updated : 09 August 2009 By @pnemad

Craig Pawson began referring at the age of 14 in 1993. He was introduced to referring by his father who was on the national list of assistant referees at the time.

He was promoted to the national list of referees in the summer of 2008 after officiating in the Blue Square Conference Play Off Final at Wembley in May 2008 between Exeter and Cambridge.

His first league match was a 0-0 draw between Grimsby and Rochdale on 9 August 2008 and has officiated in one Championship game last season as Coventry beat Blackpool 2-1 on 17 January 2009.

The 2008/09 season saw him take charge of 23 matches producing 58 yellow and 3 red cards.

This will be the first time he has refereed a Lilywhites match but took charge of two Morecambe matches last season. The first was in the Football League Trophy at Oldham which saw the Shrimps win 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The last time was a 1-0 win at home to Notts County on 18 April 2009.

His assistants are Peter Bankes of Merseyside and Darren Hanley from Lancashire. The fourth official, who is also from the Red Rose County, is Gary Hilton.