Ashington referees in Wembley double

Posted by The Journal on May 22, 09 11:40 AM in News

Discipline was clearly never a problem in this household.

Father and son Clive and Michael Oliver are a pair of professional referees, and this weekend they will be treading the hallowed turf of Wembley on consecutive days.

Clive and Michael Oliver from Ashington

The Ashington pair will be taking control of two high pressure play-off finals at England's national stadium.

Clive will be reffing the game between Shrewsbury Town and Gillingham in the Coca-Cola League Two play-off final on Saturday.

The following day, Scunthorpe United face Millwall for a place in the Championship, and Michael will be the man in the middle.

Clive, 48, who also works in insurance, said: "Obviously, it's the highlight of my career. It's the one stadium in the world that everyone wants to referee a game at.

"It's a real achievement for the family. There's a whole country full of referees and the league, in their wisdom, have given both the games to the same household.

"I have always been very proud of Michael - more so for the person he is and the amount of comments I get from managers about him. He has a very nice way with players."

Remarkably, at the age of 24, Michael has refereed at Wembley once before.

He took charge of Morecambe's Blue Square Premier division play-off final victory over Exeter City in 2007, giving the first penalty and making the first sending-off at the new stadium.

Michael began taking matches in the Morpeth Sunday League at the age of 16 and speedily progressed to the Championship. On top of his league experience, he has also officiated in a Carling Cup match at Liverpool.

Michael - who is in the third year of a sports degree at Sunderland University - said he was thrilled about being given the opportunity to referee at Wembley again, especially as it will be a family affair.

He said: "We will both go to each other's games, and I'm looking forward to it.

"We don't analyse each other's games as a rule, but if something has happened, we tend to sit down with the DVD and ask for an opinion.

"I started at 14 and worked my way through the system like everyone else before I got to where I am now."

As well as his experience in the Championship, Michael has also been the fourth official at a number of Premiership games this season, including a handful at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

He said: "You do tend to get stick as a fourth official. You are stationary while the referee and his assistants are on the move, so you end up taking the stick."

Despite the pressures, Michael says he has ambitions of becoming a Premier League referee.

He said: "That's the plan, and hopefully I can do it. I think another good season next year would help a lot and, at my age, I've got plenty of time."

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