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Martin In The Middle On Sunday
Written by Newcastle Utd
Martin Atkinson will take charge of United's final game of the season, against West Ham, on Sunday
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Martin Atkinson will take charge of Newcastle United's final Barclays Premier League fixture of the season, against West Ham on Sunday (3pm kick-off).
It is the fifth time the Yorkshire-based official has overseen a Magpies match this season, having been the man in the middle of an opening day defeat against Manchester City, October's victory over Leicester City, a 2-1 home triumph over Chelsea in December, and March's 3-0 reverse at Everton.
On that disappointing afternoon at Goodison Park, Atkinson booked three players including Ryan Taylor and Moussa Sissoko, and handed captain Fabricio Coloccini a straight red card.
In total during the 2014/15 campaign, he has refereed 45 games across the Premier League, FA Cup, Capital One Cup, Champions League, Europa League and international fixtures, handing out 174 yellow cards and ten reds.
Having started refereeing at the age of 16 in his local Bradford leagues, Atkinson rose through the leagues and was appointed to his first top flight fixture in April 2005, as Manchester City took on Birmingham City.
He has grown in stature to be regarded as one of the country's top referees and in recent years has overseen the 2006 FA Community Shield, the 2011 FA Cup Final, and the 2014 Capital One Cup final, which saw Manchester City defeat Sunderland.
Atkinson, aged 44, has also run the rule over numerous World Cup and European Championships qualifiers and Champions League fixtures, and has been handed the Europa League final later this month.
On Sunday at St. James' Park, he will be assisted by Mike Mullarkey and Stephen Child, with Kevin Friend the game's fourth official.
Tickets for Sunday's Barclays Premier League fixture against West Ham United are still on sale. To secure your seat at St. James' Park, click here.