Premier League official Lee Probert takes charge of the Lilywhites’ local derby against Wigan Athletic at Deepdale this weekend.
The experienced referee was last in PR1 for the victory over Leeds United in March this year, 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 tenth 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 five games, issuing 17 cautions and two red cards – both in the same game between Everton and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
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 Andrew Garratt and Neil Davies, whilst the fourth official for the fixture will be Ross Joyce.