Premier League official Lee Probert takes charge of the Lilywhites’ local 2019 opening day clash against Rotherham United at the New York Stadium.
The experienced referee was in the middle for his second PNE game of the season, having officiated our 4-0 home win over Wigan Athletic at the beginning of October.
Prior to that, he was last in PR1 for the victory over Leeds United in March 2018, his only PNE game last season. Likewise, he took charge of just one North End fixture the previous year, away at Huddersfield Town in April 2017.
This is the Wiltshire referee’s 11th game in charge of North End since his joined the league’s lists back in the 2003/04 season; the last of which before that clash at the Terriers, being at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane in January 2015, when the Lilywhites won an FA Cup fourth round replay 3-1.
Over the years he has refereed European games and international matches, so is a very well-respected official, who this season have taken charge of 15 games, issuing 49 cautions and four red cards.
An interesting fact is that Lee was the referee when the Lilywhites played at QPR in February 2005 in the first of the modern day Gentry Day fixtures, former PNE skipper Chris Lucketti and David Nugent scoring in the 2-1 win at Loftus Road.
He will be assisted by Simon Beck and Andrew Garratt, whilst the fourth official for the fixture will be David Webb.