Shoe bridges the gap
Last updated : 10 February 2009 By @pnemad
Rob Shoebridge started refereeing when he was 13 years of age and progressed through the Central Midlands and Northern Premier Leagues to reach the National List of assistant referees in 2003. Was an assistant referee on the 2006 FA Youth Cup Final, and refereed England v Turkey at U19 level in 2006.
He joined the National List of Referees for the 2006/07 season and took charge of his first Coca-Cola league match on 8 August 2006 between Walsall and Stockport.
The following season he officiated in his first Championship game on 25 August 2007 between Cardiff and Coventry. Last season he refereed 34 games and produced 64 yellow cards but no red cards.
This season Rob Shoebridge has produced 47 yellow and 3 red cards in 23 matches. His last game was on 27 January 2009 between Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham. One of the red cards this season was at Carrow Road when QPR played with ten men for 65 minutes following the sending off of Matthew Connolly as Norwich lost 1-0.
His only Preston game he has taken charge was last season at Southampton when Lewis Neal scored for the Lilywhites in the last minute to secure a 1-0 victory on 22 December 2007.
On Saturday his assistants are Paul Graham from Greater Manchester and Andrew Smith from West Yorkshire, whilst the fourth official is Peter Bankes from Merseyside.
