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Martin In The Middle At Goodison Park
Written by Newcastle Utd
Martin Atkinson will take charge of Newcastle United's Premier League fixture at Everton on Sunday
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Martin Atkinson will take charge of Newcastle United's Barclays Premier League fixture at Everton on Sunday (4pm kick-off).
It is the fourth 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, and a 2-1 triumph over Chelsea in December - all at home.
On that afternoon against Jose Mourinho's previously-unbeaten Blues, Atkinson booked six players, including Moussa Sissoko and Cheick Tiote, and sent off United defender Steven Taylor late on for a second yellow card.
In total during the 2014/15 campaign, he has refereed 33 games across the Premier League, FA Cup, Capital One Cup, Champions League and international fixtures, handing out 123 yellow cards and five 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 43, has also run the rule over numerous World Cup and European Championships qualifiers and Champions League fixtures.
On Sunday at Goodison Park, he will be assisted by Mike Mullarkey and Peter Kirkup, with Robert Madley the game's fourth official.