Next Ref: Paul Armstrong

Paul Armstrong from Berkshire has been announced as the man to take charge of Rangers away trip to Ipswich.

Mr. Armstrong started his refereeing career back in 1978, and progressed through the youth and Isthmian League ranks. He then joined the list of assistant referees in 1993; furthermore he then joined the referee`s list in the year 2000. The 43-year-old was assistant referee for the 2000 League Cup Final; and the football league playoff semi-finals in the same year.

Mr. Armstrong first met the R`s in the old Division 2 in 2001 in the home encounter against Colchester United. A Kevin Gallen brace ensured the game finished in a 2-2 draw. In Rangers run towards the playoffs in the 2002/03 season, Mr. Armstrong oversaw Rangers compelling last minute win over Cardiff in the welsh capital, Richard Langley`s last minute effort saw Rangers to victory.

In the R`s promotion winning season of 2003/04, Paul presided over yet another 2-2 draw with Colchester, this time at Layer Road. A sumptuous brace from Paul Furlong sandwiched a goal from Rowan Vine for the U`s; Scott McGleish equalised from the spot. In their first season back in the second tier of English football, Armstrong officiated the first game of the campaign, a 1-1 draw against Rotherham, for which the R`s took the lead through Gareth Ainsworth.

In 2006, Armstrong continued a trend of one game a season with the R`s, by officiating the Home 0-0 against Wolves in Gary Waddock`s 4th game in charge of the R`s. Stefan Bailey made his debut in an impressive 1-1 draw for Rangers. Last season Paul refereed the R`s home loss to playoff finalists West Brom, he handed the R`s a penalty, which was spurned by Paul Furlong. Rangers did score through Dexter Blackstock but it sandwiched strikes from Kevin Phillips and Zoltan Gera.

Mr. Armstrong has taken charge of a mere 12 games this season, showing 21 yellow cards and 1 red; sending off Brentford stopper Simon Brown in their 7-0 away defeat to Peterborough.

It couldn`t be much worse in terms of officiating after the debacle at Wolves, and any signs of improvement to give Rangers fans some faith in the system would be ideal going into the tie at Portman Road.

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