Martin Atkinson of West Yorkshire takes charge of a Newcastle United match for the 3rd time this season, and the 5th overall, as we travel to the all new Emirates Stadium for the first time to play Arsenal in the Barclays Premiership tomorrow.

Atkinson is just 35 years old but has already made the FIFA list, and refereed the Community Shield in August, confirming his rise to the very top rank of the refereeing pyramid, and has shown himself to be highly competent while not throwing cards around like some of his more obtrusive colleagues.

His 1st United game was our 1-0 FA Cup win over Southampton in February, followed by the 0-0 bore draw at Birmingham in April. He then came to St James’ on the opening day of the campaign to oversee our only home win so far, 2-1 against Wigan, before taking charge of our 1-0 “derby” defeat to Middlesbrough last month as a late replacement for fellow West Yorkshireman Mike Riley.