New season starts here . . . with Saturday’s Community Shield double header
LONDON: The new English season is already only days away – as the FA has reminded fans by naming he match officials for Saturday’s double-header FA Community Shield at Wembley.
First up will be the women’s Community Shield between the current Barclays FA WSL champions Chelsea and 2019 Women’s FA Cup winners Manchester City (12.30pm BST), with Durham-based referee Rebecca Welch taking charge.
She will be assisted by Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney (both Lancashire CFA), while Abigail Byrne (Suffolk CFA) will be fourth official and Cristiana Hattersley (Lancashire CFA) will be the reserve assistant referee.
Next up the men’s Community Shield will see Emirates FA Cup winners Arsenal face last season’s Premier League champions Liverpool (4.30pm BST), with Andre Marriner appointed to oversee that clash, his second appearance in the Shield.
His assistant referees will be Mark Scholes (Berks & Bucks) and Marc Perry (Birmingham), while fourth official is Andrew Madley (West Riding) and reserve assistant referee is Dan Robathan (Norfolk).
The video assistant referee for this game will be David Coote (Nottinghamshire) and assistant VAR is Dan Cook (Hampshire).
David Elleray. the FA referees committee chairman, said: “The FA Referees’ Committee has appointed two experienced teams of match officials for the double header of FA Community Shield matches, reflecting the importance of both matches.
“Andre Marriner will be officiating in his second Community Shield whilst the rest of his team and Rebecca Welch and her team will be experiencing a Wembley Community Shield for the first time.
“Both sets of officials will be mindful that their respective matches ‘kick-off’ the season and they thus have an important role in enforcing this year’s changes to the Laws of the Game which will be applied in the new season.
“The FA Referees’ Committee has every confidence that both sets of officials will work hard to enhance each match so that it is a memorable occasion for those taking part and those watching remotely.”
Women’s Community Shield: Chelsea v Manchester City
Referee: Rebecca Welch (Durham CFA)
Assistant referees: Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney (both Lancashire CFA)
Fourth official: Abigail Byrne (Suffolk CFA)
Reserve assistant referee: Cristiana Hattersley (Lancashire FA)
Men’s Community Shield supported by McDonald’s: Arsenal v Liverpool
Referee: Andre Marriner (Birmingham)
Assistant referees: Mark Scholes (Berks and Bucks) and Marc Perry (Birmingham)
Fourth official: Andrew Madley (W.Riding)
Reserve assistant referee: Dan Robathan (Norfolk)
VAR: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
AVAR: Dan Cook (Hampshire)
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