Being a referee in the Premier League is a thankless job. It’s a classic case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. It’s a sorry state of affairs when the scenario of preference for the man in the middle is to become almost invisible to the viewer and those in attendance.
If the officiating goes the entire 90 minutes unnoticed, it tends to mean football’s centre-circle operator has done a good job.
Unfortunately for the men in black, the old political adage from poet, John Lydgate “You can please some of the people all the time, you can please all the people some of the time, but you can’t please all the people all the time” certainly rings true as far as officiating is concerned.
Accusations of secret allegiances or preferential treatment toward certain clubs are commonplace when it comes to supporters’ assessments of referees and their displays. Like many a profession, there is usually some vested interest in what one is practising, and in most instances there is a love and shared passion.
Therefore, by extension, there is typically a football team that a referee follows. While they may not be as forthright in their devotion to a specific side as Mike Dean has famously been with Tranmere Rovers, with the retired referee a regular fixture on the terraces at Prenton Park, many a ref’s allegiance will become common knowledge to fans.
With the men in the middle required to disclose who they support during the application process to ensure that impartiality isn’t compromised, GIVEMESPORT takes a closer look at whom the current crop of Premier League referees support, via a report from the Mirror.Premier League and the Teams They Support Anthony
TaylorAltrincham
Arguably, one of the more renowned referees on this season’s officiating roster is Anthony Taylor. The 44-year-old, who got demoted to the Championship after a poor decision earlier this season, made his way through the ranks as a 23-year-old in the Northern Premier League, eventually rising up the leagues, and in 2010 was officially made a Premier League referee.
Since 2013, Taylor has been a FIFA-registered official and has been given the capacity to oversee both European and international fixtures, a status only a select few British referees currently hold. Heralding from Wythenshawe, Manchester, the stern ref has been a lifelong supporter of National League side Altrincham. He even buys a season ticket every year, although he can’t attend very many games, of course.Michael OliverNewcastleIt seems to be the case that footballers breed footballers, such is the strength of their genetic influence. In Michael Oliver’s case, it appears referees are also capable of breeding referees, with his father having plied the same trade before Michael.
He, incredibly, introduced the officiating practice to his son, aged 14.Born and raised a mere 15 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne, it will come as no surprise that the 39-year-old is a lifelong supporter of none other than Newcastle United. Understandably, since his Premier League refereeing debut in 2010, Oliver hasn’t taken charge of a Magpies game, no matter the opposition.
Andrew Madley
Huddersfield
The older brother of former Premier League referee Bobby Madley, the 40-year-old only took to the field for his first Premier League game in 2019 after being promoted to the Select Group 1 referee list, so he is a relative newcomer in comparison to several of the veterans who are currently plying their trade as officials. From Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Andrew Madley is, unsurprisingly, a huge Huddersfield Town fan and has admirably stayed true to his roots – as is his brother. Now a respected man in black, he was at the Huddersfield Town School of Excellence before joining Bobby on a refereeing course at Altofts Cricket Club.
Peter Bankes
Unknown
Having started on the often thankless road of refereeing aged 14, Peter Bankes would have heard every insult under the sun a hundred times over by now, but fast-forward 25 years, and Bankes is still frequenting football pitches in that unmistakable black kit, albeit in front of tens of thousands nowadays rather than just a man and his dog.
Hailing from Liverpool, it remains one of football’s greatest mysteries regarding who Bankes supports. Although, given his locational geography, an educated guess might have Bankes down as a fan of the two clubs on either side of Stanley Park. Interestingly, he has never taken charge of a match involving Liverpool, Everton or Tranmere Rovers.
David coote
Notts County
Like the aforementioned Bankes, David Coote has been very cute around the personal information available about him in the public ether. Having been a top flight official since the year of 2018, the man who originates from Nottinghamshire is the son of a former Nottinghamshire cricketer, David Coote Sr.
However, ahead of the Carabao Cup final of 2022/23 between Manchester United and Newcastle, there were fears raised by supporters that he was a Red Devil as his alleged Facebook page used a generic photo of Old Trafford as his cover photo. Subsequently, the PGMOL confirmed that his allegiances actually lie with Notts County. However, recent controversy has led to Coote being suspended by the PGMOL pending investigation after a video appeared to show him slating Liverpool and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp.
Rob jones
Unknown
With debatably the most common name on this season’s refereeing spreadsheet, Rob Jones’ life and times leave a lot to the imagination, with who he supports remaining an undisclosed piece of information.
He has been a referee in the English Football League since 2016 and gained Premier League official status three years later.All that we do know is Jones derived from Merseyside, and his parents lacked originality when naming him. On the basis that he grew up in the northeast of England, most likely surrounded by fans of either Liverpool or Everton, you could hedge your bets – but, for now at least, his allegiance remains a secret.
John brookes
Unknown
Born in the Midlands town of Melton Mowbray, home to the country’s most famous pork pie, John Brooks has kept both of his cards close to his chest as far as his supporting persuasions are concerned. The same can be said for his refereeing style, with the official brandishing just one red card so far in the 2023/24 season.
Another official to begin his refereeing career at the tender age of 14, Brooks is a newer face on the block, having only joined the Select Group at the start of the 2021/22 campaign. Affiliated to the Leicestershire and Rutland County Football Association, who he supports is unknown, but it is worth noting that he has never officiated a Leicester City game.
Stuart Attwell
Luton town
Currently, the longest-serving referee in England’s top tier, Stuart Attwell has been presiding over Premier League games since way back in 2008. After 183 Premier League appearances and over 200 EFL games, Attwell is a seasoned pro and enters his 16th season as a first-division ref.For the first time in his professional career, his allegiance to Luton Town will directly impact his ability to referee his club’s games following their promotion to the Premier League ahead of the 2023/24 season. However, controversy has struck after Attwell had his hand in three egregious decisions that went against Nottingham Forest, Luton’s relegation rivals, in their 2-0 loss to Everton.
Craig Pawson
Sheffield United
FIFA-listed since 2015, Craig Pawson is one of the more established referees in the Premier League. The 45-year-old, who is associated with the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association is, arguably, one of the better referees in England’s top flight out of the current roster.Originating from the Steel City, the Yorkshireman is a known Sheffield United supporter and is a regular presence in and among the Bramall Lane stands. Pawson’s notable appearances include the 2015 League Cup Final, the “spy-gate” play-off game between Leeds and Derby, as well as being the fourth official for the 2015 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Darren Bond
Unknown Refereeing isn’t a profession for the faint-hearted, but referee Darren Bond’s capacity to soak up abuse is, at the very least, admirable. For a large portion of last season, Bond sported a headband for his silvery quiff, appearing to model it on none other than Jack Grealish. Naturally, Bond opened himself up to an outpouring of hair-based insults from those who disapproved of his decision-making.
The 2023/24 season has presented Bond with his first opportunity as a fully-fledged Premier League referee, replacing the departing Andre Marriner. Like several others, for diplomacy, Bond’s neutrality when it comes to announcing his colours means we are yet to find out who he supports.
Simon Hooper
Swindon town
A certain level of respect has to be held for a supporter of Swindon Town, such has been the torrid luck of the club since the club’s relegation from the top flight in the 1993/94 season, having spent the vast majority of their existence since languishing in the nation’s third and fourth tier of football. Even when in the Premier League, they finished the 1993/94 campaign with the most goals conceded in a single season.
Simon Hooper is one such unfortunate soul, however, as luckily for the referee, he gets regular breathers from fourth-tier football by overseeing some of the best players in the world in England’s top flight.
The man from the West Country won’t be welcome in Wolverhampton any time soon, having missed a blatant penalty which saw Man United’s ‘keeper Andre Onana clatter into the back of Wolves man Sasa Kalajdzic. Thomas BramallUnknownAt 33 years old, Thomas Bramall is the youngest 2023-24 Premier League official.
Flicking between appearances in the Premier League and the EFL Championship, Bramall will be familiar to many a fan across the two divisions, as well as a large proportion of the football league, having begun his journey to the refereeing summit in 2017 in the National League.
Soon after, the product of the Manchester Football Association would make his Football League bow with a game between Cheltenham Town and Crawley in 2018. Emanating from the aptly named “Rainy City”, Bramall’s allegiance to a club remains unrevealed, and with a plethora of clubs in and around Greater Manchester, it is anyone’s guess.
Paul TierneyWigan
Athletic
The 43-year-old has been officiating in the Premier League since 2014 and has overseen 180 games while at the top of the pyramid, much to the disdain of a certain Jurgen Klopp, who is clearly not a fan of the referee. After all, he once received a two-match touchline ban plus a £75,000 fine for comments he made about the referee suggesting an anti-Liverpool bias.
The man from Lancashire’s sporting involvement extends beyond football, being the stepfather of former Rugby League player, Lewis Tierney.
Paul Tierney is a well-documented supporter of his local side, Wigan Athletic, who are currently residing in England’s League One.
