Tony Harrington to referee Harrogate home clash

Tony Harrington has been appointed as the man in the middle of the Iron's home league encounter against Harrogate Town this Saturday.

The Hartlepool-based official will travel to the Sands Venue Stadium for his 20th game of the season and first in Sky Bet League Two.

Harrington was promoted to Select Group One in June 2021, meaning he is eligible to take charge of Premier League fixtures, and has thus far officiated in one. He oversaw Brighton's 1-0 home defeat to Wolves in December, issuing two cautions.

He's predominantly officiated in the Championship this season, as he has done for the previous six seasons, first taking charge of Blackburn's home defeat to West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the season, while his latest game was last weekend as he took charge of Luton Town's 3-1 away win at Hull City. He had been a Select Group Two official since 2016.

Harrington began refereeing in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance aged 14, after completing a refereeing course as part of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

After four years as an EFL assistant referee and four years as a National League referee, he was appointed to the National List in 2012-13. With football pedigree in the family, he is the grandson of Hartlepool United legend Tommy McGuigan, who is in the Pools record books for top 10 number of appearances and goals for the club.

He's taken charge of the Iron on four previous occasions, including twice against Rochdale. The last encounter came in November 2015 when Luke Williams' late free-kick was enough to take the points at Bury. Across the four games, he's issued 10 yellow cards and two reds, both of which coming in the first Rochdale encounter, with the hosts reduced to nine men at Spotland.

He's yet to take charge of Harrogate competitively.

So far this season, in 19 games, he's issued 63 yellow cards in one red. Last season, he showed 97 yellow cards and five reds in 36 games.

On Saturday, he will be assisted by Harry Lennard and Matthew Wilkes, while Sebastian Stockbridge has been appointed as the fourth official.

PREVIOUS SCUNTHORPE UNITED ENCOUNTERS

DATE	COMP	MATCH	Y	R
Nov 24, 2015	LG 1	Bury 1-2 Iron	3	0
Sep 5, 2015	LG 1	Iron 0-1 Blackpool	3	0
Dec 26, 2014	LG 1	Iron 2-1 Rochdale	2	0
Nov 26, 2013	LG 2	Rochdale 0-4 Iron	2	2

PREVIOUS HARROGATE ENCOUNTERS

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