It’s a familiar face in the middle at Deepdale on Saturday, as experienced match official Andy Madley takes charge of the Lilywhites’ televised clash with Stoke City.
The man who took charge of North End’s Wembley triumph back in 2015, has done plenty of North End games over the past few years, including four last season.
In 2017/18, as well as the final day win over Burton Albion, he refereed the the 1-0 win over Reading at Deepdale back in August 2017, and our games at Ipswich Town and away at the Madejski Stadium in April.
He is one of the most familiar faces in terms of match officials for North End fans, as he also took charge of five of our games the season before that, as well as the aforementioned Play-Off Final win and our last encounter with local rivals Blackpool – when Tom Clarke wrote his name in PNE folklore.
In 2016/17 he was the referee away at Queens Park Rangers, in both games we played at St James’ Park, Newcastle, the away game at Aston Villa and the 5-0 home thrashing of Bristol City in April 2017.
He also had the whistle for three PNE games in 2014/15, including the win at Wembley, having been the referee in the first league win of the season, the 4-0 triumph at Scunthorpe United back in August of 2014 and then the live TV game against Fleetwood Town at Highbury in March 2015.
Mr Madley, as mentioned, was also in charge of our now memorable League Cup win over Blackpool in 2013/14 and then at Port Vale when North End won 2-0 with ten men.
This year he has so far officiated two games, issuing three cautions and one red card, his last game was Middlesbrough’s 1-0 win over Birmingham City last weekend.
He will be assisted on Saturday by Steven Meredith and Phil Dermott and the fourth official will be Andy’s fellow select group two match official and another Deepdale regular, Jeremy Simpson.