The Men in Black - Norwich City

Andy Penn from the West Midlands will referee table-topping QPR against Norwich City this weekend.

Mr Penn qualified as a referee in 1986 and progressed through youth football and the West Midlands leagues before being promoted to the Football League as an assistant referee in 1996.

He was promoted to the national list of referees in 2002. He refereed the 2004 Birmingham senior cup final and a FA Vase semi-final in the same year, before joining the National List in 2002.

Since then he has taken charge of QPR four times times, twice against Cheltenham Town and twice against Championship side Watford, details of which are documented below.

Thus far this season Mr Penn has taken charge of 11 fixtures dishing out 25 yellow cards and one red - that gives him a card average of 2.36 cards per game.

On Saturday he will be assisted by Richard Kendall (Bedfordshire) and David Rock (Hertfordshire), with the fourth official Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Refereeing Rangers

Mr Penn refereed Rangers in the second division as they travelled to Cheltenham`s Whaddon Road. Loanee Jerome Thomas handed the R`s the lead before two match changing incidents.

Kevin Gallen was withdrawn injured during an excellent display as Rangers lost their lynchpin forward, Martin Devaney then equalised for the Robins before Mr Penn made an atrocious decision to send off Rangers defender Clarke Carlisle.

The defender was adjudged to have spat at forward Julian Alsop who himself was oblivious to any wrongdoing on the defenders part. Suffice to say the card was rescinded.

The following season in the League Cup and Rangers were back at Whaddon Road and so was Mr Penn, and once again a familiar affair saw Rangers come out narrowly on top. Gareth Ainsworth opened the scoring to continue his blistering start in a Rangers shirt, before Richard Langley signed off with a late winner before departing for Cardiff City.

This coming despite the R's being a goal down courtesy of Grant McCann, and once again a man down after Paul Furlong was sent off after just over 20 minutes. Mr Penn keeping up his card happy record against the R`s.

There was an eight-year break before Rangers visited Vicarage Road last season, where Gareth Ainsworth took charge of Rangers for the last time of his caretaker tenure. New boss Paulo Sousa watched on from the stands.

Rangers were humbled in dramatic fashion as a Tommy Smith penalty, Darren Ward and Lee Williamson blew the R's away - while Fitz Hall made it three sendings off from Mr Penn in three games presiding over QPR.

Hall lunged into an ill-advised challenge with Will Hoskins and was given his marching orders in disappointing fixture at the Vic.

Back to Vicarage Road once more and another humbling that ultimately saw Jim Magilton pay with his job and while Patrick Agyemang had given QPR an unlikely lead - the visitors were soon pegged back.

A first career goal for Lloyd Doyley was added to by second half strikes from Don Cowie and Tom Cleverley as Rangers were humbled once more at Vicarage Road.

Mr Penn & Queens Park Rangers

Cheltenham Town 1-1 QPR - 19th October 2002.
Goals: Martin Devaney 64; Jerome Thomas 11.
Booked: Richard Forsyth; Danny Shittu, Jerome Thomas
Sent Off: Clarke Carlisle

Cheltenham Town 1-2 QPR - 12th August 2003.
Goals: Grant McCann 4; Gareth Ainsworth 16, Richard Langley 86.
Booked: Bertrand Cozic, Grant McCann; Paul Furlong, Richard Langley.
Sent Off: Paul Furlong.

Watford 3-0 QPR - 22-11-2008
Goals: Tommy Smith 26pen, Darren Ward 36, Lee Williamson 45.
Booked: Jon Harley; Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma, Gavin Mahon, Damion Stewart

Watford 3-1 QPR - 07-12-2009
Goals: Lloyd Doyley 43, Don Cowie 56, Tom Cleverley 90; Patrick Agyemang 33
Booked: Gary Borrowdale, Fitz Hall, Damion Stewart




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