The young South Yorkshire whistler will reach an important step in his relatively short career so far.
HE’S been quietly impressing in the lower echelons of the football pyramid and now he’s about to get a chance that he has worked hard to achieve.
Thomas Bramall is only in his third season as a Football League referee, but had missed much of the last campaign after suffering a serious ACL injury in pre-season, which had threatened to thwart his progression as an official.
But the unassuming referee will step out on Saturday (20 March) in English football’s second tier for the first time as the man in the middle, when Preston North End welcome Luton Town to Deepdale.
It will mark a significant moment in the fledging career of the young whistler, who could put himself in a strong position to get further Championship appointments before the season’s end, and subsequently in contention for promotion to Select Group 2, if he performs well.
In Lancashire, he will be ably assisted by the experience of James Wilson and Steven Meredith running the line and Jeremy Simpson on fourth-official duties.
Bramall isn’t the first official to have been given a maiden opportunity to demonstrate his ability in the Championship lately, with fellow National List official Craig Hicks trusted to take charge of Blackburn Rovers’ clash with Bristol City at Ewood Park on Wednesday evening (17 March).
But Sheffield-based Bramall has certainly shown on countless occasions over a period of time that he is capable of handling what the frantic and unpredictable nature of arguably one of the best leagues in world football can throw up on any given day.
With both Preston and Luton locked in mid-table, he will take comfort from the fact that very little will be riding on the outcome – which will at least ease some of the pressure – but he will be hoping to repay the faith shown in him.
In the early weeks of the campaign, he put in three positive displays in front of the television cameras – including encountering a Premier League club – which could only have enhanced his credentials.
He was assured in taking charge of Ipswich’s 2-0 win over Wigan in League One and West Bromwich Albion’s 3-0 victory over Harrogate Town in the League Cup second round on Sky Sports, as well as Doncaster’s 5-1 win at FC United of Manchester in the FA Cup first round live on BBC Two.
Bramall has also had the experience of overseeing Liverpool and Manchester United’s Under-23s in the EFL Trophy.
Still a relatively new face on the block to fans of Football League clubs, he was refereeing regularly in the National League less than four years ago.
Bramall’s unfortunate injury restricted him to just five matches in the latter part of last term but the manner in which he has recovered and kicked on this term is testament to his character and ability.
Interested followers among refereeing circles who have seen him in action think he has the potential to progress, and this latest step forward could be the start of another chapter in a career that could go far.
The Premier League referee will take charge of the crucial top-of-the-table battle at the AMEX Stadium between two sides destined for the top-flight.
In the middle: Madley took charge of the first Premier League game of 2017 in a goalless draw between Middlesbrough and Leicester at the Riverside (Picture from Sky Sports)
A Premier League referee will take charge of the crucial SkyBet Championship clash between leaders Brighton and second-placed Newcastle United.
Bobby Madley has been appointed to keep the peace as the two hot favourites for promotion do battle at the AMEX Stadium in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Tuesday night (KO 19:45 GMT).
The 31-year-old will be assisted on the south coast by Select Group linesmen Marc Perry (west Midlands) and Adrian Holmes (west Yorkshire), while Lee Probert (Wiltshire) is the fourth official.
Overall, he has so far brandished a massive 119 yellow cards, sent off four players in four different competitions and awarded eight penalties (seven in the Premier League).
It will be Madley’s first Championship game of the season and he has only ventured down into the Football League once before.
He was criticised by Scunthorpe United boss Graham Alexander for his display in the League One leaders’ 3-1 defeat at Southend United earlier this month and dismissing midfielder Neal Bishop for perceived violent conduct late on at Roots Hall.
Honour: Madley was a surprise choice as he became the youngest referee to handle a Championship Play-Off Final last season (Picture from Sky Sports)
The Ossett-born whistler, who joined the Fifa list of international referees last year, was only in the middle for two Championship games but one was another pivotal encounter for Brighton which proved decisive in the promotion battle.
On his last visit to the AMEX, Madley oversaw the Seagulls’ 1-1 draw with Derby County in their penultimate league game in May last year, sending off Brighton defender Lewis Dunk for a second bookable offence late on before James Wilson’s late equaliser for the hosts.
Just five days later, he oversaw his last match involving Newcastle, which was a difficult one for him to contend with in a goalless draw at already-relegated Aston Villa as beach balls were thrown onto the pitch in protest by the home fans at Villa Park.
However, he will still be remembered by most Magpies fans from last season’s Wear-Tyne derby against Sunderland for the controversial dismissal of Fabricio Coloccini which led to a penalty and subsequently turned the game in favour of the Black Cats, who ran out 3-0 winners at the Stadium of Light.
It was his second trip to the national stadium last term having been fourth official to Michael Oliver for the League Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester City, capping a consistent and excellent season for him.
Recent: Madley’s last encounter with a Championship side was earlier this month in Fulham’s 3-0 FA Cup defeat at home to London rivals Tottenham (Picture from BBC Sport)
The Wakefield-born official has established himself as one of the better referees in the Select Group in the last two seasons and will no doubt benefit from the departure of Mark Clattenburg at the end of the season with more regular high-profile matches.
Madley’s most recent game was at Selhurst Park on Saturday for Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Premier League, in which he somehow booked James McArthur for diving rather than award Palace a penalty when the midfielder was fouled by Stewart Downing in the box.
He only joined the National List of referees in 2010 but has made plenty of progress since.
Madley sent off three players on his Premier League debut when West Brom beat Southampton 3-0 at St Mary’s in April 2013 before being promoted to the Select Group of referees for the 2013-14 campaign.
He is the younger brother of Select Group 2 referee Andy, who endured a busy weekend after being fourth official for Wolves against Birmingham at Molineux on Friday night and sending off Aston Villa’s Leandro Bacuna for pushing a linesman in their 1-0 win over Derby County on Saturday.
In control: Madley has shown he can remain calm under pressure, overseeing a League Cup semi-final and a Merseyside derby last season without difficulty (Picture from Sky Sports)
Huddersfield Town fan Bobby has previously handled seven Brighton games stretching back to 2012, all in the Championship, while he has controlled six matches involving Newcastle – four in the Premier League and two in the League Cup.
A referee since 2001, Madley’s experience of the Football League will be required in what is likely to be a fiery and tense occasion under the floodlights on the south coast for the standout game of the midweek fixtures on Tuesday night, with the pressure high on both teams to deliver a positive result.
Newcastle had the edge when the sides met back in August at St James’s Park, with goals from captain Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey securing a 2-0 win over 10-man Brighton.
The vastly-experienced former Premier League official Keith Stroud was in charge and issued six yellows as well as dismissing Sam Baldock for a second bookable offence for a challenge on Newcastle keeper Matz Sels.
Rafael Benitez’s men came from two goals down to earn the point which keeps them one point behind leaders Brighton with 13 games remaining.
Meanwhile, after the game at the AMEX, Madley will be back in Premier League action at the weekend after being appointed to Saturday’s evening showdown between heavyweights Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield.
Andrea Radrizzani has given his backing to his fellow Leeds United co-owner for the cost-cutting measures he has implemented at the club.
Support: Radrizzani has backed Cellino for his strategy as owner (Picture from Sky Sports)
Andrea Radrizzani has backed his fellow Leeds United co-owner and felt Massimo Cellino had no choice but to upset people as he cleaned up the club’s finances.
Cellino, who took complete control of the Championship side in April 2014, has since trimmed the staff at Elland Road in a bid to cut costs.
The Italian completed the sale of 50 per cent of the club to compatriot Radrizzani, who has praised his new boardroom partner for enabling the West Yorkshire outfit to be on a sounder financial footing.
In his first press gathering since arriving at the club this week, businessman Radrizzani said: “The club has had a rollercoaster in the last decade.
“When Massimo Cellino acquired the club he didn’t expect even himself to find so many financial troubles and losses.
“At the moment the club is not at breakeven but is not in a bad financial situation. The club is recovering. In the last two years since Massimo came in he wasn’t nice to many people but he had to be tough to cut costs.
“It seemed to be difficult then but it’s much better now. At the same time the Football League is a loss-making league. It’s difficult to make money in this league, almost impossible.
“We need to be creative to make the financial numbers look good.”
Cellino – who sacked 43 managers in 22 years at his previous club Cagliari – has been a controversial and divisive figure during his time at the club.
Cellino has already given the boot to six bosses in West Yorkshire in Brian McDermott, David Hockaday, Darko Milanic, Neil Redfearn, Uwe Rosler and Steve Evans before appointing former Swansea boss Garry Monk last summer.
The Sky Sports pundit still believes Garry Monk needs to be busy in the transfer market if the club are to sustain a promotion challenge this season.
Bolstering their ranks: The Football League pundit thinks Leeds need to add numbers in January to stay in the promotion battle (Picture from Sky Sports)
Peter Beagrie believes high-flying Leeds United still need to strengthen in the January transfer window, despite their current lofty position in the SkyBet Championship table.
But, identifying two key positions he feels the Yorkshire club need more cover, former Bradford and Everton winger Beagrie thinks more transfer activity is required if they are to maintain their promotion challenge.
Transformation: The former Swansea boss has overseen a remarkable turnaround in west Yorkshire so far this season (Picture from Sky Sports)
Speaking before the game, when asked if they need further additions to the squad, Beagrie told Sky Sports: “Yes, I think so. We said before they need to get players who are going to improve this team – not players who are just going to come and be bit-part players.
“They’ve tried to get the loanees secured long-term or as long as possible, that’s happened to a degree, and I think they’ve identified centre-half has been a problem position if important players get injured, and a centre-forward as cover for [Chris] Wood as well.
“If he goes out of the equation I think promotion hopes do slip slightly.”
Former player: Ex-midfielder Prutton scored four goals in 67 appearances for Leeds between 2007 and 2010 (Picture from Sky Sports)
Fellow pundit David Prutton also highlighted the significance of head coach Monk being able to continue to take care of football matters without interference from the club’s hierarchy.
The former Leeds midfielder said: “That’s fundamental to the way this club moves forward – that’s got to be maintained, letting him get on with the stuff that goes on within the borders of the white markers on the pitch is exactly what he was brought in for and what he’s good at.
“And leave the business to the people who know how to work businesses and maximise businesses.”
Leeds are currently without a number of first-team players through injury and suspension as they prepare for their next game against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley at Oakwell on January 21.
By following a team through thick and thin, day in day out, watching every game and attending every press conference, a local journalist can often be the font of all knowledge and opinion when it comes to a football club.
Well-respected: Phil Hay has 96,000 followers on Twitter and regularly attends Leeds United matches (Picture from Sky Sports)
Phil Hay, chief football writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post, has been covering Leeds for many years.
Before the match against Derby, Sky Sports caught up with Hay, who gave his views on what the boardroom change may mean for Radrizzani, the club, Monk and Cellino.
Here is the interview in full…
On what to expect from Radrizzani:
“If you look at Radrizzani’s background and his business background, he’s been involved in and pretty much pursued right from the start of his career sports broadcasting and media rights – that is his specialism and his area of expertise.
“He is a very business-minded animal. I think people will hope that, aside from the football aspect of the business here, that commercially he will bring new ideas and new ways of working.
“On the football side, it’s his first taste of football club ownership and I think he knows himself that he has plenty to learn about that and I think, while he won’t be hands-off in the next six months, I think he’ll avoid being front and centre so he can get to grips with that and get a feel for how a club operates and works.”
Negotiations: Radrizzani could also acquire Cellino’s remaining shares at the end of the current season (Picture from Sky Sports)
On relationship with Monk:
“Garry Monk seems very happy – he says he’s been impressed with him. He met with Monk and the squad on Thursday night, also with Monk for dinner on Wednesday evening, and it’s pretty clear already that Radrizzani is very happy with the job Monk is doing.
“There’s definite backing there and no question at all that Monk’s position is any less secure now than it was before the investment.”
First: Monk is now the longest-serving manager since Cellino took over in April 2014 after being in charge since last June (Picture from Sky Sports)
On how it will work with co-owner Cellino:
“We’re told that it is a straight 50/50 split and in practice it will work like that – it is a straight division of authority. They will share the decision making – it’s an interesting dynamic and it is not in Cellino’s make-up generally, or hasn’t been in the past, to split authority like this.
“He very much intended at the outset to own 100% of this club but of course he has a Football Association ban pending as well, which potentially starts on February 1 and runs for 18 months.
“That’s significant from the point of view of how it will change things in the boardroom from the additional pressure it might ask of Radrizzani, so it remains to be seen I think that’s a question Radrizzani will answer himself.”
Trouble ahead: Cellino, 60, was fined £250,000 and given a future ban last year for breaking FA regulations over the transfer of Ross McCormack in 2014 (Picture from Sky Sports)
On whether he will bring in extra money to invest in transfer window:
“I don’t think January will change significantly as a result of this deal. I think Garry Monk is very clear on the type of players he wanted, the number of players he wanted and, speaking to him a couple of times since the deal went through, that hasn’t really changed.
“I think he still knows who he wants, I think he still knows the positions that he wants to work in.
“It might help to get those deals done but I don’t we’ll go from a position of no money to a position of a huge amount of money – I think the budget is as it was.”
The referee has been announced for Saturday’s Midlands derby in the televised evening kick-off at Molineux.
On the box: It will be Harrington’s fourth TV match of the season – two in the Championship, one in League One and one in the EFL Cup (Picture from Sky Sports)
The referee has been announced for Saturday’s SkyBet Championship clash between Wolves and Aston Villa.
Tony Harrington will take charge of the evening kick-off at Molineux, which will be televised live on Sky Sports (KO 17:30 GMT).
The Cleveland whistler has will be assisted for the Midlands derby by Ian Cooper (Kent) and Timothy Wood (Gloucestershire), with Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire) acting as fourth official.
Harrington was the subject of criticism from Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez after his side’s victory over Cardiff in November for not protecting his players enough.
After four years as an EFL assistant referee and four years in the National League and National League North, he was promoted to the Football League referees list at the start of the 2012-13 season.
Despite collecting the most bookings in the league this season, Villa are yet to receive a single red card – a statistic which could change in the hotbed of a derby atmosphere, albeit Harrington has a lenient reputation.
The game will see Wolves boss Paul Lambert face his old club for the first time since leaving in February 2015 on a day when the memory of Graham Taylor, who managed both clubs, will be honoured.
You can see the rest of the EFL match official appointments for this weekend here.
The Manchester referee will get his first taste of the East Midlands derby when Derby County welcome rivals Nottingham Forest to Pride Park for Sunday’s televised encounter.
Establishing his name: Kavanagh, who has been refereeing since 1998, has more than 60 Football League games under his belt (Picture from Sky Sports)
Referee Chris Kavanagh will take charge of his first East Midlands derby when Derby County host Nottingham Forest in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Sunday.
The 30-year-old will be making the decisions at Pride Park for the televised lunchtime contest between the two fierce rivals in the SkyBet Championship (KO 12:00 GMT).
Kavanagh, from Manchester, will be have a team of officials from Lancashire – assistants Nick Greenhalgh and James Mainwaring, and fourth official Darren Bond.
The same assistants will be on duty, with Kavanagh as fourth official, on Tuesday night for Leeds United’s Championship match against Reading – which will be refereed by Geoff Eltringham at Elland Road.
It will be a 20th game of the season for Kavanagh – who is one of 18 full-time Select Group 2 referees primarily officiating in the Championship from this season in an attempt to drive up standards.
The Ashton-under-Lyne whistler has so far brandished 65 yellow cards and awarded three penalties but is yet to send off a player – a statistic which could change in what is likely to be an intense encounter between the sides separated by 15 miles across the Midlands.
Having controlled eight live TV games last term, this weekend will be his third appearance of the campaign in front of the cameras – after presiding over Bristol Rovers’ EFL Cup first round success over Cardiff City in August and Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle the following month.
Kavanagh will oversee his 13th game in the second-tier of 2016-17 so far and will certainly be hoping it won’t prove to be an unlucky number as he bids to stay under the radar during one of the Football League’s most fiery fixtures.
Half of his 36 games came in the Championship last season, during a year in which he proved his ability to earn a place among the 18-strong group of professional officials primarily officiating in the second-tier.
Kavanagh, who is being considered for future promotion to the Select Group of Premier League referees, has overseen a number of top-flight teams in cup competitions already this term.
Kavanagh also hit the headlines in October after sending Sunderland boss David Moyes to the stands during their fourth-round defeat at Southampton for swearing at fourth official James Adcock – who refereed Curzon Ashton’s FA Cup defeat by Wimbledon last weekend.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Preston boss Simon Grayson expressed his frustration after Kavanagh admitted he had missed two penalties for his side in their 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle.
Kavanagh was only promoted to the Football League in 2014 but has been to Wembley, as fourth official for the 2015 FA Vase Final between Glossop North End and North Shields.
He will encounter Derby for the third time – his first since their 2-1 defeat at Cardiff City back in April – while it will be his fourth Forest game with his most recent being their 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich in September.
Steve McClaren’s Derby have won five league games in a row to parachute themselves into the top half, while Forest are seeking a fourth successive win as their upturn in form under Philippe Montanier continues.
There has been a mixed record in the last five meetings, with two wins for each side and a 1-1 draw.
Tim Robinson will take charge of Friday’s west London derby at Griffin Park, before Paul Tierney will oversee Saturday’s televised early kick-off between Wolves and Derby at Molineux.
Moving up: Robinson is in his fifth season as a Football League referee but has ambitions to officiate in the Premier League one day (Picture from Sky Sports)
TIM Robinson has been confirmed as the referee for the west London derby between Brentford and Fulham on Friday night.
The 32-year-old, from west Sussex, will take charge of the first SkyBet Championship match of the weekend as the Cottagers seek a first victory at Griffin Park in 18 years, in front of the Sky cameras (KO 19:45 BST).
He will be assisted by Andrew Fox (Warwickshire) and Mark Jones (Nottinghamshire), with James Adcock (Nottinghamshire) the fourth official.
Robinson is becoming a regular on live TV and on Friday nights – having been on electronic board duties at Loftus Road for Brentford’s 2-0 win over QPR, which Adcock refereed, in another west London derby last week.
His only other televised game this term came in September when he awarded penalties to both sides in Peterborough’s 2-2 draw with Swindon at the ABAX Stadium in League One.
Swindon midfielder Michael Doughty admitted afterwards he had to ‘bite his tongue’ after Robinson controversially awarded Posh a free-kick, on the linesman’s advice, despite Doughty appearing to cleanly the ball off Marcus Maddison – who went on to score.
Robinson has so far brandished 65 yellow cards, sent off three players and awarded three penalties – and it will be the second time he will encounter both sides in the Championship this term.
Established: Robinson is now a familiar presence in the Championship and is able to focus more on his refereeing as a professional EFL official (Picture from Sky Sports)
He encountered the Bees in their 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest in August, in which Forest defender Damien Perquis was dismissed for two bookable offences late on.
Meanwhile, Robinson oversaw the Cottagers in their 1-1 draw against Burton at Craven Cottage in mid-September.
In the same month, he was criticised by Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth for missing what he felt was a blatant handball in the build-up to Portsmouth’s third goal in their 4-2 victory over his side at Fratton Park in League Two.
Robinson’s only previous experience of a west London derby came back in February in Fulham’s 3-1 win at QPR.
The Middleton-on-Sea official enjoyed a progressive campaign last season – in which he officiated 43 games in all competitions, 14 of which were in the Championship and six were televised.
Robinson was fourth official for four Premier League games as well as the League Two Play-Off Final, and handled the League One Play-Off semi-final second leg between Millwall and Bradford at the New Den.
Robinson – who is the chairman of the Chichester and West Sussex Sunday League – has been qualified for 15 years and progressed through the Sussex, Wessex and Ryman leagues having first taken up the whistle on the advice of his former PE teacher, Paul Blackmore.
He ran the line in the 2008-09 Conference Play-Off Final at Wembley before gaining a place on the Football League list of assistant referees in the 2010-11 season.
His first game as a National List referee was Southend against Accrington in League Two in August 2012.
ELSEWHERE…
Seasoned campaigner: Tierney handled over 200 games in the Football League since his promotion in 2008 (Picture from Sky Sports)
Premier League whistler Paul Tierney will take charge of the Midlands derby between managerless Wolves and Derby County on Saturday.
The 37-year-old, from Lancashire, has been assigned to the televised lunchtime encounter at Molineux as Wolves’ caretaker boss Rob Edwards hopes to get the better of the Rams in his first home game in charge (KO 12:15 BST).
He will be assisted by Andy Halliday (north Yorkshire) and Mark Scholes (Buckinghamshire), while Select Group 2 referee Chris Kavanagh (Manchester) will be on fourth official duties.
Tierney was also labelled as “appalling” by then Bolton boss Neil Lennon at the start of last season when refereeing another derby in the Championship, in their goalless draw with Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Expert: Tierney has controlled more Championship games (82) than any other league or competition in his career (Picture from Sky Sports)
Saturday will be his fifth second-tier match of 2016-17 – and his second in front of the Sky cameras, after taking control of an incident-free stalemate between Derby County and Aston Villa in another all-Midlands affair at the iPro Stadium in August.
Tierney, meanwhile, has not encountered Wolves for over a year since their 2-0 home defeat by Brentford in October 2015.
His career highlights include running the line in a 2009 FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Arsenal, taking charge of the 2014 League Two Play-Off semi-final second leg between Southend and Burton Albion and being fourth official for the FA Trophy Final in the same year.
Although allowing the game to flow as much as possible and largely avoiding controversy, Tierney has built a reputation for being a card-happy official during his six seasons as a Football League referee.
The clash between the sides at Molineux was also officiated by a Premier League referee last season, as Graham Scott handed out five bookings when George Saville struck twice for their 2-1 win over Derby back in February.
Different role: Tierney has been fourth official for eight games this season, six in the Premier League and two in Europe (Picture from Sky Sports)
You can view the rest of the EFl match official appointments here.
Darren Deadman will take charge of two League One games in the next seven days despite a controversial display in Oxford United’s win at Wimbledon last weekend.
No-nonsense: Deadman, who is often found in Leagues One and Two, has often been accused of lacking common sense and rushing to utilise his cards (Picture from Sky Sports)
CONTROVERSIAL referee Darren Deadman will return to the middle this weekend, despite being heavily scrutinised for a poor display during Wimbledon’s 3-1 win at Oxford United last Sunday.
The Cambridgeshire whistler incurred the wrath of Oxford fans for a series of crucial decisions which went against their team and failed to take control of the match from the start.
But their anger is now likely to intensify after it was revealed on Monday he will be back on the pitch in League One, as soon as this Saturday.
Deadman has been appointed to take charge of Charlton Athletic’s match against struggling Coventry City at the Valley.
And, if that wasn’t bad enough, he will also be in the middle for Bolton Wanderers’ trip to face Millwall at the New Den next Tuesday night in the third-tier.
Despite his wealth of experience, the Peterborough-based official’s card-happy and strict line has not won him many supporters during his 11 years in the Football League.
In an interview in 2011, he described his approach as “firm but fair” and said he is unfazed by headlines such as ‘Dead Man Walking’ in reference to decisions which are unpopular with fans and managers alike.
Deadman, who was once in contention for promotion to the Premier League panel of referees, has long since harboured a reputation for not taking any prisoners and applying the letter of the law.
But he appeared to go against his usual principles at the Kassam Stadium, despite issuing just five yellow cards.
He let a number of strong and robust challenges go unpunished, including an early one by Wimbledon striker Tom Elliott which could have seen red, and was largely inconsistent with his decision-making throughout.
Oxford should have been awarded a first-half penalty when Chris Maguire was clearly tripped by Barry Fuller – and justifiably had reason to believe Wimbledon’s second goal shouldn’t have stood after Dean Parrett’s dangerous challenge in the build-up, despite his unobscured position.
He wasn’t a popular figure on the terraces, with followers of both teams making their feelings clear through a number of chants aimed at him.
Other role: Deadman has also been fourth official for a number of Premier League and key Championship games during his career (Picture from Sky Sports)
Many supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with the standard of officiating on Twitter and felt he should be spared from duty, with some even calling for him to be removed from the list altogether.
But they haven’t been granted their wish as Deadman, who was overlooked for the newly-formed Select Group 2 in the summer, prepares for two more games in the next seven days.
And he will hope he’s not the centre of attention again – otherwise there may be some more criticism heading his way.
Like at the Kassam Stadium, he will be assisted for both of his upcoming games by linesman Andrew Aylott.
Deadman will also have Gavin Muge and fourth official Ian Cooper among his officials at the Valley on Saturday, with Stephen Finch his other assistant at the New Den and Dean Whitestone the fourth official.
Read more about who will take charge of the three Championship derbies this weekend here.
You can see a full list of SkyBet Football League match official appointments here.
James Linington, David Coote and Graham Scott will take charge of the Severnside, Midlands and Yorkshire derbies respectively in the SkyBet Championship this weekend in front of the Sky cameras.
New job: Linington gave up his day job as a self-employed plumbing and central heating engineer to become a full-time referee on the Select Group 2 over the summer (Picture from Sky Sports)
JAMES Linington will be the man in the middle for Friday night’s Severnside derby between Cardiff City and Bristol City.
The Isle of Wight official will be at the helm for Neil Warnock’s first game as Bluebirds boss when the fifth-placed Robins visit the Cardiff City Stadium to face the second-bottom team (KO 19:45, live on Sky Sports).
He will be assisted by Steven Meredith (Nottingham) and Neil Davies (London), with Tim Robinson (west Sussex) on fourth official duties.
Linington encountered both sides in the first month of the season in the Championship.
Overall, he has issued 39 yellow cards, sent off one player and awarded three penalties in seven games this term – five of which have been in the Championship and two EFL Cup ties.
Linington was due to take charge of Derby’s televised match with Newcastle at the iPro Stadium last month but was injured in the warm-up and replaced by the fourth official, Darren Bond.
REF CHANGE: Darren Bond has stepped up from Fourth Official to take charge of #DCFCvNUFC, with James Linington picking up an injury
The Newport-based whistler has to travel the furthest to get to games by catching the ferry from Fishbourne port across the Solent before making the rest of his journey by car.
He will be hoping to stay on the right side of new Cardiff manager Warnock, who has had many a run-in with referees during his career despite being a qualified official himself.
Linington took up the whistle at the age of 14 before giving up football playing as a winger because he was told he was ‘not strong enough’.
He has been a Football League referee since 2008 – having spent two years as a Select Group linesman, during which he ran the line in the 2006 League One Play-Off Final at Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium.
Taking control: It will be Coote’s seventh Championship game of the season this weekend, having only handled 10 in the whole of last season (Picture from Sky Sports)
David Coote has been confirmed as the referee for Aston Villa’s clash with Midlands rivals Wolves on Saturday.
The Select Group 2 official has been put in charge of the evening game at Villa Park when managerless Villa welcome Walter Zenga’s Wolves (KO 17:30 BST, live on Sky Sports).
Coote will be able to call upon the assistance of Shaun Hudson (Tyne & Wesr) and James Wilson (Cheshire), while Andy Madley (west Yorkshire) will be on electronic board duties as fourth official.
The West Yorkshire whistler has been among the busiest in the Football League so far this term, having refereed 11 games and been fourth official for nine others.
He has dished out an average of three yellow cards per match, sent off Reading’s Garath McCleary in their 2-1 win at Barnsley and pointed to the penalty spot three times.
Coote has never officiated an Aston Villa game before but was in the middle for Wolves’ 2-1 defeat against Leeds at Elland Road in April last season.
Cricket-loving Coote, originally from Nottinghamshire, first took up the whistle at the age of 14 before progressing to become a Football League referee in 2010.
He has had five trips to Wembley as a match official – his most important as the man in the middle for the 2014 League One Play-Off Final when Rotherham beat Leyton Orient on penalties.
It will be the sides’ first meeting since Villa won 3-2 at Molineux in the Premier League in January 2012.
Out of action: Scott only officiated 20 matches last season because of injury but 11 of them were in the Championship (Picture from Sky Sports)
Graham Scott has been assigned to Sunday’s Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
The 48-year-old will be in charge as the current leaders host their south Yorkshire neighbours in what promises to be a competitive contest at the John Smith’s Stadium (KO 12:00 BST, live on Sky Sports).
He will be assisted by Dave Bryan (Lincolnshire) and Matthew Wilkes (west Midlands), as well as fourth official Oliver Langford (west Midlands).
He has brandished 26 yellow cards, sent off Gillingham’s Ryan Jackson in their 1-1 League One draw with Bradford, and awarded three spotkicks.
The Oxfordshire whistler was promoted to the Premier League after six seasons in the Football League in the summer of 2015.
But he has since received only six top-flight matches – with his only one this term coming last month in Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, in which three players were cautioned.
It will be his second TV match of the season after putting in a good display in Leeds’ 2-0 win at Cardiff last month, also in the second-tier.
He awarded the visitors a spotkick under the new shirt-pulling directive at a crucial time after Matthew Connolly hauled down Pontus Jansson, which allowed Chris Wood to open the scoring at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The Abingdon-based official, who has also been fourth official for four games this season, encountered Huddersfield twice last season – in both of their West Yorkshire derbies against Leeds United.
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