David Elleray

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David Roland Elleray (born 1955), is a former English FIFA grade referee, who managed games in the Football League, the FA Premier League and around the World.

Elleray began refereeing in 1968 at the age of 13 in Dover where he regularly attended meetings of the Dover Branch of the Referee's Association. While at University of Oxford, he was promoted through the Hellenic, Isthmian and Panel Leagues to become a Football League referee in 1983^[1]. In 1986 Elleray was appointed to referee on the Football League and he remained there until his inclusion on the original Premier League Referees’ List in 1992. He stayed with the Premier League until retirement in 2003.

Elleray is a career geography teacher, currently at Harrow School, where he is director of boarding and house master of Druries House. His teaching role entailed time conflicts with his role as a leading referee before his retirement. Elleray was a FIFA Referee from 1992 until 1999 and officiated in 78 International matches in 35 different countries. He officiated at Wembley Stadium 13 times but was unable to officiate at World Cup Finals in France in 1998 due to commitments at Harrow School.

One of the most recognisable figures in football, Elleray’s life featured in an award-winning documentary "The Man in Black" for Channel 4.

During his refereeing career, Elleray is remembered for a number of incidents:

Failed to award Chesterfield a goal during the FA Cup semi final of 1997. A shot had hit the crossbar and then bounced over the line but was collected by the Middlesbrough goalkeeper. Elleray and his officials failed to notice that a goal had been scored and play continued with the game ending 3-3 after extra time. Had the goal been given, the Spireites would have gained a 3-1 lead, and in his autobiography Elleray disputes the reason for disallowing the goal
For sending off Roy Keane four times throughout his career. When Elleray retired, Keane jokingly wrote him a letter saying that it was about time he retired and sent him a signed shirt
For being the referee when Ryan Giggs scored his ‘wonder goal’ at Arsenal, and the day when David Beckham scored from his own half against Wimbledon.

In 2002 Elleray was voted onto the FA Council as the member for Independent Schools, in 2004 accepted the position as Honorary President of The Board of the Referees’ Association of England for three years^[2], and is a FIFA and UEFA referee assessor and instructor.