Referee Gibbs Makes Rangers Bow

Phil Gibbs from the West Midlands will take charge of his first QPR game on Tuesday night against Bristol City.

The official has been in the business since 1993 but was only promoted to the national list of referees in 2008 after several years taking charge in the Conference.

He got his first taste of Conference football in 2003 when he oversaw Hereford United`s 5-1 win over Forest Green Rovers. The very next game he dished out his first red card when Accrington`s Paul Cook was sent off in their 1-0 victory over Scarborough.

After four more seasons battling away with non-league football he finally broke into the Football League in the 2008-09 season, predominantly taking charge of League Two fixtures.

During the season he was given more responsibility in League One before taking charge of his one and only Championship fixture to date - Swansea`s thumping home win over Preston North End (4-1).

He caused controversy in a League One fixture between Bristol Rovers and Millwall when he sent off two players Gary Alexander (Millwall) and Steve Elliott (Rovers), the former a straight red for handball being rescinded on appeal.

So far this season he has wasted no time in going to his book once again, sending off Rochdale`s Nathan Stanton for a professional foul, despite not being the last man when fouling Aldershot`s Marvin Morgan.

The fixture against Bristol City marks his second Championship test in six years of officiating, which speaks volumes for the confidence that the hierarchy have in the official.




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