# Richard Beeby

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English football referee

Richard Beeby Full name Richard J Beeby Born (1962-01-11) 11 January 1962 (age 64) Northampton, Northants, England Domestic Years League Role 1999– Football League Referee International Years League Role 2005–2007 UEFA Fourth official

**Richard J. Beeby**[1] (born 11 January 1962 in [Northampton](/source/Northampton), [Northants](/source/Northants)[2]) is an [English](/source/England) [association football](/source/Association_football) [referee](/source/Referee_(association_football)) who operates in [the Football League](/source/The_Football_League), and has also previously handled [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) games.

## Career

Beeby began his refereeing career in the local Northampton leagues, eventually attaining [Football League](/source/The_Football_League) status in 1999.[2]

His first ever match as a Football League referee was the 2–1 home win by [Southend](/source/Southend_United_F.C.) over [Plymouth](/source/Plymouth_Argyle_F.C.) in the old [Third Division](/source/Football_League_Third_Division) on 7 August 1999, and resulted in him having to dismiss a player, [Mick Heathcote](/source/Mick_Heathcote) of Plymouth.[3]

During the [Second Division](/source/Football_League_Second_Division) match played between [Colchester](/source/Colchester_United_F.C.) and [AFC Bournemouth](/source/AFC_Bournemouth) at [Layer Road](/source/Layer_Road) on 2 September 2000,[4] Beeby was surrounded by away side players following a decision in their 3–1 defeat. This resulted in a £2,500 fine for the [Dorset](/source/Dorset) club, due to "a failure to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".[5]

In 2004, he took charge of the [old First Division Play-off Semi-final](/source/Football_League_Championship_playoffs#2004), first leg, between [Crystal Palace](/source/Crystal_Palace_F.C.) and [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) at [Selhurst Park](/source/Selhurst_Park) on 14 May 2004,[6] and was then appointed to control the [old Second Division Play-off Final](/source/2004_Football_League_Second_Division_play-off_Final) between [Brighton & Hove Albion](/source/Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_F.C.) and [Bristol City](/source/Bristol_City_F.C.)[2] at the [Millennium Stadium](/source/Millennium_Stadium), [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff), on 30 May 2004, when a late [Leon Knight](/source/Leon_Knight) [penalty](/source/Penalty_kick_(association_football)) secured promotion for the South coast team.[7]

On 26 October 2005, Beeby handed out the fastest red card in [Old Trafford](/source/Old_Trafford) history to [Barnet](/source/Barnet_F.C.) goalkeeper [Ross Flitney](/source/Ross_Flitney) after 80 seconds in their 4–1 [League Cup](/source/EFL_Cup) defeat to [Manchester United](/source/Manchester_United_F.C.). The decision was criticised by both managers.[8] The red card was later rescinded as Flitney's handball was not denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.[9]

Although not on the [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) list of referees, Beeby was given a "trial run" in that league on 7 May 2005, when he was man-in-the-middle for the [Aston Villa](/source/Aston_Villa_F.C.) versus [Manchester City](/source/Manchester_City_F.C.) tie at [Villa Park](/source/Villa_Park), which ended 2–1 to City.[10] In that year, he was also given the honour of being the referee for the [FA Vase](/source/FA_Vase) Final. This was played on 14 May 2005 at [White Hart Lane](/source/White_Hart_Lane) in [London](/source/London), between [A.F.C. Sudbury](/source/A.F.C._Sudbury) and [Didcot Town](/source/Didcot_Town_F.C.).[11] He also handled a Semi-final second leg in the [Football League Championship Play-offs](/source/Football_League_Championship_playoffs#2005), when [Preston](/source/Preston_North_End_F.C.) drew 0–0 at [Derby](/source/Derby_County_F.C.) to ensure their place in the Final, thanks to a 2–0 first leg victory.[12]

Despite having already refereed his first Premier League match, and subsequently being given two more fixtures in that league during the [2005–06](/source/2005%E2%80%9306_in_English_football) season,[13] Beeby has since been confined to operating in the three divisions of the Football League. Incidentally, on 28 December 2005, he should have taken up his next Premiership appointment at [Craven Cottage](/source/Craven_Cottage), when [Fulham](/source/Fulham_F.C.) met Aston Villa,[14] but he suffered an injury in the "warm-up", and was replaced by [fourth official](/source/Fourth_official) [Andy D'Urso](/source/Andy_D'Urso).[15]

He was given further responsibility in the Play-offs in season [2006–07](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_in_English_football), when he took control of the [Football League Two Play-offs](/source/Football_League_Two_play-offs#2007) Semi-final, first leg, between [Bristol Rovers](/source/Bristol_Rovers_F.C.) and [Lincoln City](/source/Lincoln_City_F.C.) at the [Memorial Stadium](/source/Memorial_Stadium_(Bristol)) on 12 May 2007.[16]

Only fifteen minutes into his [FA Cup](/source/FA_Cup) appointment on 11 November 2007 at [Gainsborough](/source/Gainsborough_Trinity_F.C.), who were entertaining [Hartlepool](/source/Hartlepool_United_F.C.),[17] Beeby "had to go off with a [calf strain](/source/Calf_muscle#Calf_strain_(torn_calf_muscle)) and was replaced by [linesman](/source/Assistant_referee_(association_football)) [Michael Naylor](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Naylor_(referee)&action=edit&redlink=1) with the fourth official taking the flag".[18]

Beeby is also listed by the Football Association as their Northamptonshire fitness coach, based in [Kettering](/source/Kettering).[19]

### UEFA involvement

Since 2005, he acted as [fourth official](/source/Fourth_official) in European club matches under the jurisdiction of [UEFA](/source/UEFA),[20] until his compulsory retirement from that activity at the age of 45 in 2007.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Middle initial](http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ListOfOfficialsDetail/0,,10794~684504,00.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080323074714/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ListOfOfficialsDetail/0,,10794~684504,00.html) 23 March 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine): [the Football League](/source/The_Football_League) official website. Retrieved 23 March 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-flprofile_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-flprofile_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-flprofile_2-2) [Birthdate confirmation and profile](http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0,,10794~628215,00.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080417072957/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0,,10794~628215,00.html) 17 April 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine): the Football League official website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [First ever Football League match in charge](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=264425), Southend v. Plymouth, 1999: [soccerbase](/source/Soccerbase).com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Colchester v. Bournemouth](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=290581), Second Division, 2000: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Cherries charged over player 'conduct'"](http://www.bournemouthdailyecho.co.uk/display.var.2060286.0..php). [Bournemouth Daily Echo](/source/Newsquest). Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Crystal Palace v. Sunderland](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=427728), First Division Play-off Semi-final, first leg, 2004: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Brighton v. Bristol City](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=427734), Second Division Play-off Final, 2004: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Flitney's red mist clears way for United"](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/oct/27/match.barnet). The Guardian. 26 October 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Barnet goalkeeper Flitney handed red card reprieve"](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/oct/29/newsstory.barnet). The Guardian. 29 October 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [First ever Premier League match](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=451711), Aston Villa v. Man. City, 2005: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [FA Vase Final 2005](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=451280), referee: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Derby v. Preston](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=452099), Championship Play-off Semi-final, second leg, 2005: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Two more Premier League matches in 2005-06](https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=283&season_id=135), then no more since: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Fulham v. Aston Villa](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=474024), Premier League, 2005 (injured): soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [D'Urso replaces Beeby due to injury](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4537622.stm), Fulham v. Aston Villa, 2005: from a match report at the [BBC.co.uk](/source/BBC.co.uk) website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Bristol Rovers v. Lincoln](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515676), Football League Two Play-offs Semi-final, first leg, 2007: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Gainsborough v. Hartlepool](http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=534340), FA Cup, 2007: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Injury after 15 minutes](http://lincoln.thisisfinesse.co.uk/football/gainsborough_trinity/news/displayarticle.php?ID=1809), Gainsborough v. Hartlepool, 2007: from an article at the [Lincolnshire Echo](/source/Lincolnshire_Echo) website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [Fitness coach](http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsOld/GrassRootsNews/Postings/2003/05/47466.htm) ([Kettering](/source/Kettering), [Northants](/source/Northants)): TheFA.com official website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [Fourth official in Europe](http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Refereeing/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/11/Referee_teams_in_Europe.htm), 2005: TheFA.com official website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

## External links

- [Richard Beeby Referee Statistics](https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=283) at [Soccerbase](/source/Soccerbase).com

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Richard Beeby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Beeby) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Beeby?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.