Rookie Ref`s Maiden R`s Fixture

Rob Shoebridge from Derbyshire will referee Rangers` midweek fixture against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Still relatively new on the refereeing circuit, Shoebridge has only refereed a handful of Championship fixtures thus far since his introduction in 2005.

His first fixture was an F.A. Cup tie between Morecambe and Northwich, in which the visitors came out on top courtesy of a Paul Brayson hat-rick.

Mr. Shoebridge`s first game at this level came last season as Coventry City beat Cardiff City away from home, on that occasion his didn`t use his cards. This was a theme that ran concurrent throughout the earlier stages of his refereeing career where he dished out 64 bookings and no red cards in 34 games.

He has in fact only given two men their marching orders in his refereeing career since 2005, Bradford City`s Joe Brown and Bristol Rovers` Aaron Lescott. Since then no-one has incurred the wrath of the new official on the block.

This season Mr. Shoebridge has officiated one Championship fixture this season overseeing Doncaster Rovers first home win over Coventry City. One again somewhat refreshing that he did not need to use his book throughout the fixture. Shoebridge has also seen a League Cup shock this campaign overseeing Luton Town`s priceless win over Plymouth Argyle, who continue to struggle in the league.

In six games this season he has dished out a mere nine yellows and no red cards, compare that with the R`s last referee Kevin Friend who in the same amount of games has sent off Southampton`s Oliver Lancashire and dished out 18 yellows in the process.

This will be his maiden fixture refereeing Rangers, and with a blank slate to work from, Rangers fans will be hoping that the rookie ref from Derbyshire continues to remain prudent with his cards.

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