Steve Tanner (referee)

Steve Tanner
Personal information
Full name Stephen J Tanner
Born 21 October 1970 (1970-10-21) (age 41)
Somerset, England
Domestic
Years League Role
? -2002 Southern League Referee
2002-2003 Conference South Referee
1998-2003 Football League Assistant referee
2003-2007; 2009- Football League Referee
2007-2009 Premier League Referee
International
Years League
2008-2009 FIFA

Stephen J. Tanner[1] (born 21 October 1970, Somerset[2]) is an English association football referee who operates in The Football League. He was a FIFA listed referee between 2008-2009.

Contents

Career

He began refereeing in 1987, eventually officiating in the Southern League until 2002, during which he was promoted to the list of Football League assistant referees (in 1998).

He was a referee in the Football Conference South from 2002 to 2003.

As an assistant referee, Tanner officiated in the 2003 FA Trophy final.[2] In the same year, he progressed to the National List of Football League referees, taking control of his first match on 9 August 2003, between Football League Third Division sides Kidderminster and Mansfield Town, the home side winning 2-1.[3]

He took charge of the Championship play-off semi-final second leg between Watford and Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road on 9 May 2006, which ended 0-0.[4]

Tanner was promoted to the PGMO Ltd Select Group of referees at the start of the 2007-08 season.[5] He had already refereed three Premier League games in the previous season as 'trial' matches, the first of which was the encounter between Reading and Everton at the Madejski Stadium on 23 December 2006, with the away side winning 2-0.[6] However, the second of those appointments, Watford against Wigan Athletic, was abandoned by him after 10 minutes due to heavy rain, and subsequently struck from Premier League records.[7]

On 13 May 2007, Tanner was man-in-the-middle for the Championship play-off semi-final first leg between Wolves and West Bromwich Albion at Molineux, which finished in a 3-2 away win.[8] On 1 January 2008 he was added to the FIFA list of referees, replacing Graham Poll, allowing him to referee in international and continental competitions.[9]

Tanner had his place on the select group of referees relinquished, along with Keith Stroud, in November 2009, and has therefore also lost his place on the international list for 2010. [10]

Career statistics

Season Games Total per game Total per game
2002/2003 5 13 2.60 1 0.20
2003/2004 28 107 3.82 10 0.36
2004/2005 33 91 2.76 9 0.27
2005/2006 37 129 3.49 9 0.24
2006/2007 35 93 2.66 3 0.08
2007/2008 34 103 3.02 3 0.08
2008/2009 37 116 3.13 8 0.19

References

  1. ^ Middle initial: the Football League official website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  2. ^ a b Profile: the Football League official website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  3. ^ First ever Football League match, Kidderminster v. Mansfield, old Third Division: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  4. ^ Championship Play-off Semi-final 2nd leg, Watford v. Crystal Palace, 2006: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  5. ^ Premier League Press Release 26 July 2007: PDF file at the Premier League official website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  6. ^ First ever Premier League game, 'trial' match, Reading v. Everton, 2006: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  7. ^ "Rain ends Watford v Wigan match": report from the BBC Sport website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  8. ^ Championship Play-off Semi-final 1st leg, Wolves v. West Brom, 2007: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 23 March 2008.
  9. ^ Added to FIFA list: FIFA official website. Retrieved on 31 January 2008.
  10. ^ PGMOL statement at refwrold.com

External links