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Referees could probably hold their own Family Fortunes. Against Brentford at the weekend we had one half of the Madley brothers, Andy, take charge. Against Rotherham, Graham Salisbury will take charge, whose son Michael is also a ref, but primarily a Premier League linesman. Salisbury junior has bragged to his dad how he officiated at Wembley before him (after running the line in the 2010 Conference Play-off final), yet Graham will referee in New York on Tuesday for a fourth time, so there.*
It will also be his 10th ever Reading fixture (W4 D2 L3 of the previous), with the latest coming on Boxing Day when we let a two goal lead slip at Brighton.
As for the whole of 2014-15, the Lancashire official has taken charge of 34 games, handing out 132 yellows and 8 reds, averaging 4.1 yards per game. He has given two red cards on two different occasions this season, taking no prisoners. Salisbury has also given a relatively high ten penalties this season, but just six have been scored.
Although Reading won’t be asking any favours of him, Rotherham will certainly be hoping to have a few words in Salisbury’s ear before the match, with survival on the line for the Millers.
*Don’t worry, Graham did get to referee at Wembley in the end, taking charge of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final in 2011.