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Referee Gillett to make history in Magpies' Watford clash
Jarred Gillett will become the first overseas referee to take charge of a Premier League fixture when he oversees Newcastle United’s clash with Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Australian official, born in Queensland, has been appointed for the fixture, which will be his first top flight appearance having been promoted to the division’s roster of referees in the summer.
Previously, the 34-year-old enjoyed a successful stint in his homeland, becoming one of the A-League’s most prominent officials during a near-ten-year stint there between 2010 and 2019 in which he won the league’s referee of the year award multiple times.
During his time in Australia, Gillett took charge of five A-League grand finals, including four in succession between 2015 and 2018, and also spent some time officiating in the Chinese Super League, the Indian Super League, the Saudi Professional League and the J-League.
After moving to England in 2019, he began refereeing in the EFL alongside his academic work at the Liverpool John Moore’s University, where he specialised in research on children with cerebral palsy.
As part of Select Group 2, he took charge of fixtures from League Two to the Championship, as well as in the domestic cup competitions before his promotion to the Select Group in June.
So far this term, both of Gillett’s appointments as a referee have come in the Championship in games between Fulham and Stoke, and Peterborough and Birmingham – which both ended in 3-0 victories for the respective home sides.
His sole red card of 2021/22 – issued to Birmingham’s Gary Gardner last weekend – was just the sixth he has dished out during his time in England so far.
Gillett will have Lee Betts and Constantine Hatzidakis alongside him as his assistants when he makes history this weekend, with the experienced Martin Atkinson as fourth official.
Craig Pawson will be the VAR, assisted by Marc Perry.