Stephen Lodge (referee)

infobox football official


name = Stephen Lodge
fullname = Stephen John Lodge
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1952|9|26
cityofbirth = Barnsley, Yorkshire
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
otheroccupation =
years = ? -1992
1992-2001
league = Football League
Premier League
role = Referee
Referee
internationalyears = not known
confederation = FIFA approved
internationalrole = Referee

Stephen John Lodge (born September 26 1952 [ [http://www.zerozero.eu/uk/arbitro.php?id=1133 Birthdate confirmation] : "zerozero.eu" website.] ) is an English former football referee, who retired from top-flight officiating at the end of the 2000-2001 season. [http://www.mastersfootball.com/refs_stevelodge.htm Biographical detail] : "Masters Football" profile.] He lives in Barnsley, Yorkshire, has a wife and one son, and works as a local government .

Career

He took up the whistle at the age of 19 years, in the Barnsley & District Football League. He was included in the FA Premier League list of referees from its inception in 1992. His first appointment in this competition was the game between Middlesbrough and Manchester City on 19 August 1992 at Ayresome Park - a 2-0 home win with goals from Bernie Slaven. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=299729 First Premiership game] : soccerbase.com website.]

Although never to be appointed to a FIFA World Cup competition or UEFA European Championships, he did take charge of Germany's pre-tournament friendly match against Canada in Toronto on 8 June 1994, prior to the World Cup of that year. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesd/duit-intres-det1990.html#1994 Canada v. Germany] , 1994: "Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation" website.]

1996 was a busy year for Lodge. In that year he took charge of an FA Cup semi-final, a Football League Cup semi-final, and the FA Vase final of that year, in which Brigg Town beat Clitheroe 3-0. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engfavase96.html Brigg Town v. Clitheroe, FA Vase Final] , 1996: "Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation" website.]

He refereed the 1997 FA Cup Final when Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough 2-0, the goals coming from Roberto Di Matteo and Eddie Newton. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engcuphistfinal.html Chelsea v. Middlesbrough, FA Cup Final] , 1997: "Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation" website.]

In 1998 he was appointed to referee another FA Cup semi-final, this time between Arsenal and Wolves, which the 'Gunners' won with a Christopher Wreh goal, on their way to winning a second "double". [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=258347 Wolves v. Arsenal, FA Cup Semi-final] , 1998: soccerbase.com website.]

Since the year 2000, he has officiated in the annual series of national six-a-side tournaments called Masters Football, referees for which are FA endorsed. This competition features ex-professional chosen by the PFA, and is televised on Sky TV. [ [http://www.mastersfootball.com/faq.htm About "Masters Football"] : from "MastersFootball.com" website.]

On 7 May 2001, he stepped out for his last ever "National List" appointment, the game at Portman Road where Ipswich Town defeated Manchester City by 2 goals to 1. Matthew Holland and Martijn Reuser scored for Ipswich, Shaun Goater replied for City. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=306941 Last ever Premiership game] : soccerbase.com website.]

In 2002, he was invited by the then manager of Leeds United, David O'Leary, to counsel their players for a period of time regarding reaction to official decisions on the field of play and their incidences of past misconduct. [http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/oleary-hires-exref-to-keep--players-onside-498485.html Counselling Leeds United players] , and confirming him as a Referees' Assessor: article from "Independent.ie" website.] He also became a UEFA Referees Observers Panel member in the same year, for a two year period. [ [http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/InternationalRelations/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/08 Referees Observers Panel] : 2002 appointments by UEFA.]

He is an FA Premier League referees' assessor, and continued to officiate occasionally from 2004 to 2006 in the Football Conference South competition. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/refs2.sd?refid=158&seasonid=134 Later involvement] in refereeing at a high level: at soccerbase.com website.]

References

External links

* [http://www.soccerbase.com/refs2.sd?refid=158 Stephen Lodge Referee Statistics] at soccerbase.com
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19991005/ai_n14277955 'Football: Referees are being given a raw deal'] : Article including quotes from Stephen Lodge
* [http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article207598.ece 'Lodge helps to bring down the house of cards'] : Independent.co.uk feature