Sheffield United v QPR - The Men in Black

Andy Woolmer of Northamptonshire will referee Rangers' weekend trip to Sheffield United

The official is a testament to the old adage of if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. Embarking on his refereeing journey at the age of 16 - 20 years later and he qualified for the National List.

Mr Woolmer has emerged as a card merchant in recent seasons dishing out a flurry of cards in the majority of fixtures - no less than in QPR fixtures.

Last campaign he refereed 31 games, dishing out 79 yellows and three reds - giving him a card average of 2.65 cards per game.

Against the Blades he will be assisted by Phil Dermott (Cheshire) and Amy Fearn (Leicestershire) - the latter being the first female official to preside over a Football League fixture. The fourth official is David Benton (South Yorkshire).

Refereeing Rangers

His first fixture refereeing Rangers was against Sheffield Wednesday as the R's were a team looking to avoid the drop under the guidance of then boss John Gregory.

Rangers went one down courtesy of Chris Brunt stabbing the ball home from close range, it hardly graced the occasion where the R's were celebrating the anniversary of their league cup victory.

Rangers then hit back courtesy of a Martin Rowlands spot kick, with Marc Nygaard being tugged in the box. Mr Woolmer produced his yellow card seven times in the fixture, booking Adam Bolder, Lee Cook and Martin Rowlands for the R's.

Gareth Ainsworth's Rangers then hosted Burnley at Loftus Road following the departure of Iain Dowie, and they got off to a positive start at Loftus Road.

Dexter Blackstock opened the scoring for Rangers, placing the ball home form close range - but an incredible strike from Robbie Blake and a second half strike from substitute Alan Mahon secured the Clarets' win.

Mr Woolmer presided over the R's latest FA Cup defeat as Sheffield United were victorious at the second attempt.

Following a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane the Blades went three goals up against Paul Hart's dismal Rangers, with replies from Ákos Buzsáky and Damion Stewart raising home but proving fruitless.

His second of two Rangers games last season came as Rangers travelled to Middlesbrough and another lacklustre display saw Woolmer hand Boro two first-half penalties, which Barry Robson duly dispatched.

Mr Woolmer & Queens Park Rangers

QPR 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday - 10-03-2007
Goals: Martin Rowlands 72pen; Chris Brunt 56
Booked: Adam Bolder, Lee Cook, Martin Rowlands; Frankie Simek, Tommy Spurr, Steve Watson, Richard Wood

QPR 1-2 Burnley - 15-11-2008
Goals: Dexter Blackstock 14; Robbie Blake, Alan Mahon 60.
Yellow Cards: Peter Ramage; Joey Gudjonsson, Stephen Jordan, Kevin McDonald

QPR 2-3 Sheffield United - 12-01-2010
Goals: Ákos Buzsáky 71pen, Damion Stewart 88; Lee Williamson 19, Jamie Ward 68, Richard Cresswell 70
Yellow Cards: Kaspars Gorkss; Ched Evans, Stephen Quinn, Marcel Seip

Middlesbrough 2-0 QPR - 27-02-2010
Goals: Barry Robson 39pen, 45pen
Yellow Cards: Chris Killen; Kaspars Gorkss




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