The FA have announced this morning the match officials for the FA Cup final being held at Wembley on Saturday 17th May.

The officials will be:league_cup_refs_feat

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Assistant Referees: Jake Collin (Liverpool) and Mick McDonough (Northumberland)
Fourth Official: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire & Rutland FA)
Reserve Assistant referee Simon Bennett (Staffordshire FA).

It will be Probert’s 3rd time at Wembley having been involved at the 2010 FA Trophy Final and was wembley_thumbalso the  fourth official for the 2011 FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Stoke City. Probert said on his appointment:-

To be given the opportunity to walk out as the referee for an FA Cup Final is the highest accolade in English football.

It’s a massive honour and I am absolutely delighted. It still hasn’t really sunk in to be honest. When I got the phonecall, I have to say I did shed a tear and look to the sky.

The first person I thought about was my dad who I lost six years ago. He was always there to support me throughout my career and it’s payback for all his hard work, taking me here, there and everywhere, encouraging me to never give up. When I walk out on 17 May, I know he’ll be chuffed to bits.runners_up_wembley

My dad always said to me ‘don’t ever look back and wonder what you could have achieved. If you have an ambition, go and give it 100 per cent and you’ll achieve your goals’.”

The FA Cup Final is the pinnacle of English football and I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity by The FA.

Chairman of The FA Referees’ Committee, David Elleray, said-

Lee’s appointment as the 2014 FA Cup Final referee represents the highlight of his distinguished refereeing career and The FA Referees’ Committee was unanimous in deciding that he was the ideal referee for this much-anticipated Final.wembley_arch_thumb

Lee has a wealth of domestic and international experience which he will bring to the match and we are very confident that he and his colleagues will work hard to contribute to what we hope will be an exciting and entertaining match.

A referee only does The FA Cup Final once so this is a very special appointment for all five officials and I have no doubt that everyone in football will wish Lee, Jake, Mick, Kevin and Simon and enjoyable and successful Final.

Arrangements for the final were outlined at http://www.exeweb.com/2014/04/14/the-fa-cup-final-details/

 

By Hants