Archive
It's Mason In The Middle Against Swansea
Written by Newcastle Utd
Lee Mason will take charge of Newcastle United's Barclays Premier League home fixture against Swansea
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Lee Mason will take charge of Newcastle United's Barclays Premier League home fixture against Swansea on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
It is the fourth time this season the 44-year-old has been appointed to a match involving the Magpies, having been the man in the middle of November's single-goal victory at Bournemouth, a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Everton on Boxing Day, and a 1-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion in February.
On that afternoon against the Baggies, Mason booked three players - all for the visitors.
In total during the 2015/16 campaign, the Lancashire-based official has taken charge of 27 games across the Premier League, Championship, FA Cup and Capital One Cup, issuing 76 yellow cards and three reds, and awarding five penalties.
Mason began refereeing in 1988, and after working his way up through the leagues, took charge of his first of his first Football League match in August 2002 - a Division Three fixture between Shrewsbury and Exeter.
He was appointed to the Premier League in 2006, and his top flight bow came in February of that year when Middlesbrough suffered a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.
Mason's greatest honour to date came in May 2014 when he officiated the Championship play-off final, which saw Queens Park Rangers defeat Derby County at Wembley.
On Saturday at St. James' Park, Mason will be assisted by Simon Bennett and Matthew Wilkes, with Phil Gibbs the game's fourth official.