The Ref Assessor - Colchester (H), Barnsley (H)


By TheLongside.co.uk
September 5 2006

The Ref Assessor takes a look at the referees for the home fixtures against Colchester United and Barnsley as Ray Olivier and Gary Sutton take charge of the games respectively.


The Ref Assessor

 

Our first game back after the international break is the visit of Colchester United, and the referee in charge will be Ray Olivier. Olivier took charge of two games involving the Clarets last season, the first being an away trip to eventual champions Reading in August. The Clarets lost the game 2-1 and on that occasion he sent-off Garreth O'Connor for kicking out at Bobby Convey late on.

 

Later on in the season, QPR visited the Turf in April for a game which was difficult to handle due to a number of niggly fouls preventing the game from flowing, although the blame for the game failing to flow could not be blamed on Olivier. The Clarets went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to an Andy Gray goal.


Two seasons ago he took charge of our trips to Watford and to play Stan Ternent's Gillingham. In the 2003/04 season he took charge of the Clarets twice, taking in our draws at home to Rotherham and away at Nottingham Forest, with only three cautions between the two matches.

 

Olivier will probably be remembered for the sending off of Mark McGregor at Watford in late 2002, much to the disapproval of Stan. After that match Stan came out with the classic quote of “The incompetence of referees needs to improve.” (Ed - Good old Stan!)

 

Olivier is not a referee who will reach for the cards though, and in his three matches so far this season he has issued just four yellow cards, and three of these came in his first match of the season.  Mr. Olivier has been a Football League referee since 1998, and he will be assisted by Mr Kevin Mattocks and Mr Bob Roberts. The 4th official is Mr Paul Varley.

 

Our Tuesday night fixture at home to Barnsley sees Gary Sutton making his first appearance in charge of a Burnley match. This is only Sutton’s second season officiating Football League matches and this will be only his second match in the Championship.

 

His only match in the Championship so far saw Luton draw 2-2 with Stoke City as Sutton handed out just the two cautions to the visitors Stoke. Tony Pulis thought Mr Sutton had however denied Stoke a penalty for what he saw as a foul on Vincent Pericard, Sutton then later booked Pericard for simulation. Sutton again is not a card happy referee and in his five Football League matches so far he has issued just five yellow cards.

 

Sutton will be assisted by Mr Craig Barker and Mr Peter Quinn. The 4th official will be Mr. Andrew Smith.

 

Many thanks as always to the Ref Assessor.