Meet The Ref - Latics v Preston North End

Latics are back in the Championship and we kick off the new season with a home game against local rivals Preston North End, the referee for the game will be Bobby Madley.

 

Bobby Madley

Seemingly he’s been around for years, but surprisingly, Madley is still only 36. Following a break from the game, he is making his way back to the top of his profession and has been promoted to the Select Group 2 of officials for this new season.

 

Previously he rose quickly through the ranks and became one of the youngest ref’s to make it to the top, when in April 2013, aged just 27, he took charge of the Premier League game between Southampton and West Brom, this came less than two years after he made his debut in the Football League in the PNE v Notts County League One game in August 2011.

 

The 2013/14 season saw Bobby make it to the Select Group of referees and officiate in five top flight games, though he ended the campaign in the bottom tier with a League 2 encounter between Burton and Chesterfield.

 

At the end of the 2017/18 season, Madley was taken off the referees list following some personal issues, he subsequently returned in October 2020 and has made his way back up the ranks.

 

In a recent interview Bobby explained how he got into refereeing:

 

‘I had played for a Championship team’s School of Excellence and didn’t quite make the grade. I returned to playing for my local junior team, Ossett Town, but had become a little disillusioned with the game.

 

‘I was advised to take the referees course which I did, along with my brother Andy who came to keep me company. I was 16 when I took the course and at 23 I was promoted onto the Premier League as an Assistant Referee.

 

Previous Games

Madley has taken charge of eight Latics’ games previously, our first encounter was the first game of our FA Cup winning run, Bournemouth at the DW in January 2013 and the latest encounter was the League One promotion clash away at MK Dons back in March last season, that game finished 1:1, Tom Naylor on the score sheet for the ‘tics.

Bobby Madley was also in charge of our opening game last season, away at Sunderland, awarding the home side a penalty for a, well let’s be honest, a bit of a dive, that came just two minutes after we had taken the lead on the quarter hour mark. Madley booked four Latics players, Darikwa, Power, Wyke and Edwards. 

 

Bobby Madley’s Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
12 Mar 2022	League 1	MK Dons 1:1 Latics	3 Yellow
30 Nov 2021	EFL Trophy	Accrington 1:1 Latics	1 Yellow
07 Aug 2021	League 1	Sunderland 2:1 Latics	4 Yellow
01 May 2021	League 1	Hull 3:1 Latics	2 Yellow
16 Jan 2021	League 1	Rochdale 3:3 Latics	1
25 Oct 2014	Championship	Derby 1:2 Latics	5 Yellow
19 Aug 2014	Championship	Cardiff 1:0 Latics	0
05 Jan 2013	FA Cup	Latics 1:1 Bournemouth	0

 

 

Bobby Madley Card Watch 2021/22

Games – 40

Yellows – 134

Reds – 6

Penalty Awards – 14

 

Wigan Athletic v Preston North End
Referee – Bobby Madley
Assistant Referees - Jonathan Hunt and Matt McGrath
4^th Official - David Rock

 

Preston Preview Podcast