Refwatch v Wycombe
Thursday, 21st Feb 2008 15:20

TVOS gives us an insight on the referee for Saturday's clash against Wycombe Wanderers...

Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear)

Saturday’s referee is one of the Football League’s most experienced officials. Graham Laws joined the league list in time for the 1996/97 season, meaning this is his 12th campaign at this level.

We haven’t seen him for almost three years, though, as his last Dale game was in March 2005 when Scunthorpe drew 0-0 at Spotland.

Fans may recall that he failed to send-off Peter Beagrie in that match, after the diminutive winger had head-butted Grant Holt’s chest!

In total, Graham has refereed Dale 12 times, producing the following results:

24 August 1996 Rochdale v Colchester U D 0-0

4 February 1997 Rochdale v Scarborough D 3-3

25 October 1997 Rochdale v Rotherham U L 0-1

7 February 1998 Hull C v Rochdale W 2-0

26 March 1999 Scarborough v Rochdale L 0-1

28 August 1999 Rochdale v Exeter C L 0-2

13 January 2001 Rochdale v Halifax T L 0-1

30 March 2002 Rochdale v Leyton Orient W 3-0

17 September 2002 Rochdale v Cambridge U W 4-3

13 December 2003 Bury v Rochdale W 2-1

29 January 2005 Rochdale v Rushden & D W 2-0

19 March 2005 Rochdale v Scunthorpe U D 0-0

The majority of Graham’s games this season have been in the Championship and last Friday night he was in the middle for Stoke v Scunthorpe. He has only refereed two League Two fixtures – Bradford v Hereford over Christmas and Grimsby v Bury at the end of January.

His 22 matches have produced 54 yellow cards and one red, which was shown to Crystal Palace’s Tom Soares in their 1-1 draw at Blackpool in October. Mr Laws has also refereed in the play-offs in each of the last four seasons.

Some famous Grahams

Jimmy Graham

Billy Graham

Graham Gooch

Graham Barrow

George Graham

Some famous Laws

Brian Laws

The Offside Law

Denis Law

Law of the land

Lawrie McMenemy