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It's Howard's Way This Saturday
Written by Newcastle Utd
Howard Webb will take charge of Newcastle United's Premier League home fixture against Chelsea
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Howard Webb will take charge of Newcastle United's Premier League home fixture against Chelsea on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
It is the third time this season the the Yorkshire-based official has been appointed to a Magpies match, having overseen the 3-0 home defeat against Manchester United in October, and a 2-1 defeat at Stoke in November.
On that evening at the Britannia Stadium, Webb booked four players, including Davide Santon and Vurnon Anita.
In total this term, the whistler has overseen 27 games across the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Championship and World Cup qualifiers, issuing 97 yellow cards and four reds.
Webb, aged 41, began officiating in his local Rotherham leagues in 1989 and worked his way up the football pyramid before being added to the National List of Football League Referees in 2000.
He stepped up to the Select Group for the Premier League three years later, with his first match being a goalless draw between Fulham and Wolves in October 2003.
Webb is widely recognised as one of the best referees in the business and took charge of both the 2010 Champions League final and the 2010 World Cup final.
On Saturday at St. James' Park, he will be assisted by Peter Kirkup and John Brooks, with Stuart Attwell the game's fourth official.