The Men in Black - QPR v Aston Villa

Michael Oliver will take charge of Queens Park Rangers' home clash with Aston Villa this weekend.

Mr Oliver from Northumberland is the son of fellow official Clive Oliver and believes his father was the inspiration behind making the decision to become a referee.

At the age of 14 the young official took up refereeing and eight years later at the age of 22 he had made the national list of officials.

He is the youngest official to referee both in the top flight and also at Wembley, having been promoted to the select list of officials in 2010.

This weekend he will be assisted by Mr John Flynn (Wiltshire) and Mr Ron Ganfield (Somerset) with the fourth official Mr Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Refereeing Rangers

Mr Oliver had a good occasion for his first QPR game when he took charge of Rangers against Preston North End on the final day of the 2008-09 season.

Jon Parkin had handed the Lilywhites the lead before former PNE striker Patrick Agyemang equalised for Rangers. When they needed their goal most the hosts had Sean St Ledger to thank for the winner.

This send North End into the playoffs at the expense of Cardiff City - a side that Mr Oliver oversaw in a fixture with QPR the following campaign.

Hot off the heels of virtually securing their safety against Crystal Palace, Rangers suffered a hangover when Joe Ledley netted the only goal of the game as Cardiff cantered to a playoff place.

Earlier in this campaign, Mr Oliver took charge of Neil Warnock's Rangers as they were defeated by Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

Franco di Santo hit a rare double as Roberto Martinez's men overcame a makeshift QPR side on a rainy Lancashire afternoon.

Mr Oliver & Queens Park Rangers

Preston North End 2-1 QPR - 03-05-2009
Goals: Jon Parkin 37, Sean St Ledger 74; Patrick Agyemang 57
Booked: Billy Jones, Sean St Ledger; Matt Connolly, Mikele Leigertwood

QPR 2-1 Cardiff City - 17-04-2010
Goals: Joe Ledley 80
Booked: Peter Ramage, Adel Taarabt

Wigan Athletic 2-0 QPR - 27/08/2011
Goals: Franco di Santo 41, 66
Booked: Gary Caldwell, Adrian Lopez




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