Meet the referee: Boro v Crystal Palace

Last updated : 29 November 2005 By Reggie Holdsworth
Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
b. 14-7-1971

Mr Webb will be refereeing his second Boro game this season, the first being one we all want to forget, yes, the home defeat by Sunderland. He booked five players that day, including Boro's Gareth Southgate, Massimo Maccarone and Franck Queudrue.

In total this season he has booked 42 players and sent off just one, in 14 games.

Mr Webb has progressed through the ranks of assistant referees and was appointed to the national list of referees in 2000, he was then promoted to the Premier League list in 2003.

He refereed the League 1 Play-off Final between Cardiff and QPR in 2003 and he was in charge of this years Community Shield match between Chelsea and Arsenal, both at the Millennium Stadium.

He officiated in four Boro games last season, two at home and two away. The home games both resulted in victories for Boro, Norwich 2-0 and West Brom 4-0. The away games, both on Merseyside resulted in two defeats, 1-0 at Everton and 2-0 at Liverpool in the Carling Cup.

In the four Boro games last season he booked ten players, while over the whole season he refereed 34 games, booking 100 players and sending off just two.

He will be assisted by Andy Halliday (Yorks) and Gary Kellett (Yorks), the fourth official is Nigel Miller (Co. Durham).