RUFC - Tonight's Ref

The man in charge of Rotherham United`s last friendly at their New York Stadium tonight against Sheffield United is Howard Webb, MBE.

Howard, who is an honorary ambassador to the club, will (probably!) not let the fact that he is an avid Millers fan reflect in his performance this evening - though I do expect us to win!!! He is known to have been very disappointed not to referee the first ever game at the new stadium, which he was given the honour of naming, but he was away on official duties at the time.

Last season Howard was in charge of fifty-one games which included three in the European Championships and also the FA Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane where Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed with cardiac arrest. Last season he showed one hundred and sixty-seven yellow cards and five red cards.

Howard was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 New Years Honours for services to football and in June of the same year he was made President of the Baris Northern Counties East Football League. A month later he received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Bedfordshire and in November he gained a Honorary Degree as a Doctor of Health Sciences from York St John University.

I am sure Howard will get a resounding cheer from all the fans at the New York Stadium this evening.