Martin In The Middle On Derby Day

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Martin Atkinson will take charge of Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby as Newcastle United entertain Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League (1.30pm kick-off).

It is the third time the Yorkshire-based official has overseen a Magpies match this season, having been the man in the middle of September's 2-2 home draw with Chelsea, and a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa just before Christmas.

On that evening against the Villans, he booked four players including United defender Paul Dummett.

In total during the 2015/16 campaign, Atkinson has refereed 38 games across the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Capital One Cup and international level, handing out 138 yellow cards and just one red.

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.

Atkinson, aged 44, has also run the rule over numerous World Cup and European Championships qualifiers and Champions League fixtures, and was handed the 2015 Europa League final between Dnipro and Sevilla.

Along with another fellow English referee Mark Clattenburg, he will also officiate at Euro 2016 in France next summer.

On Sunday at St. James' Park, Atkinson will be assisted by Mike Mullarkey and Stephen Child, with Anthony Taylor the game's fourth official.