Career
He was based in Tring in Hertfordshire during his career, but now lives in Spain. In 1998, after progressing through to the FA Premier League List of referees via the Football League List, he was appointed to the Fédération internationale de football association International List. He took charge of his first major appointment, the Charity Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Wembley on 1 August 1999.
The "Gunners" were victorious by 2-1, thanks to second-half Kanu and Parlour goals, in reply to David Beckham"s strike in the 36th minute.
Seventeen days later, on 18 August 1999, he was man-in-the-middle for his first international game, the friendly match between Greece and El Salvador in Kavala, when Greece triumphed by 3 goals to 1. His first major international engagement was the World Cup qualifying match on 3 September 2000, involving Hungary and Italy in Budapest, and this was drawn 2-2.
On 12 May 2002, he took charge of the Championship Play-off Final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Birmingham City and Norwich City. He had also been referee for two earlier appointments in 2002 at semi-final level in the Football League One and Two Play-offs.
The first of his only two European Championship qualifying games, both in season 2002-2003, was the encounter between Holland and Belarus on 7 September 2002 at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.
His last professional season was 2003-2004. In this final period of his career he was given his last big European honour when he was chosen to referee the Union of European Football Associations Super Cup game between Air Corps Milan and Football Club Porto, held in the principality of Monaco at the Stade Louis II Stadium on 29 August 2003. He was to handle one of the 2004 FA Cup Semi-finals before his retirement from active top-class officiating at the end of that season, the tie between Arsenal and Manchester United on 3 April 2004 at Villa Park, Birmingham.
He retired in 2004, two years before the standard FA Retirement age.
He subsequently moved to Spain, where he works for property brokers GKM-International.
