Jarnail Singh (referee)

Singh took up refereeing in 1985, after taking his exam in order to improve his frequent outings as club linesman for the youth team he managed. He progressed through lower leagues in the Wolverhampton area and then into the Conference South regionally,[https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=810&season_id=133 Conference South referee], until 2004 season: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 24 March 2008. before being appointed as a Football League assistant referee in 1999. Whilst still a Conference referee, he was put in charge of an FA Vase semi-final first leg tie, between Oadby Town and Brigg Town on 22 March 2003,[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=385317 FA Vase semi-final first leg], 2003: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 24 March 2008. and, shortly before his elevation to Football League referee for the 2004–05 season, he was appointed to the middle for the Football Conference Playoff semi-final first leg between Aldershot Town and Hereford United on 29 April 2004.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=421701 Football Conference Playoff semi-final first leg], 2004: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 24 March 2008.

His first match after his promotion was the Football League Two encounter between Bristol Rovers and Bury at the Memorial Stadium on 10 August 2004, in which he sent off Colin Woodthorpe of Bury in the 65th minute.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=427811 First ever Football League match as referee], Bristol Rovers v. Bury, 2004: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on 24 March 2008.

His final match before retirement was on 1 May 2010, refereeing a League One game between Yeovil Town versus Oldham Athletic at Huish Park in Yeovil. Before the match he was unusually signing autographs and having photos taken with fans.{{cite web |url=http://www.yeovilexpress.co.uk/sport/8133322.Yeovil_Town_thank_referee_Jarnail_Singh/ |title=Yeovil Town thank referee Jarnail Singh |publisher=Yeovil Express |date=3 May 2010 |accessdate=9 December 2017 }}

He has refereed at international level taking charge of a friendly game between China and UAE in October 2011.{{cite web | url=http://www.worldfootball.net/referee_summary/jarnail-singh/3/1/freundschaft-2011/ | title=Jarnail Singh | publisher=worldfootball.net | accessdate=27 March 2015}}

As a role model, The FA acknowledged the importance of his visibility.{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmcumeds/89/89we03.htm |title=Culture, Media and Sport Committee - Racism in Football. Written evidence submitted by The Football Association (The FA) |website=publications.parliament.uk |accessdate=30 March 2015}} In 2012, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the first Asian Football Awards supported by the Football Association and the anti-discrimination organisation, Kick It Out.{{cite press release | url=http://www.thefa.com/news/governance/equality/2012/aug/asian-football-awards-2012 | title=Asian stars rewarded at Wembley | publisher=The Football Association |date=5 August 2012 |accessdate=26 March 2015}}

Singh is employed by the Metropolitan Police as a Police Community Support Officer in London, and is married with two children, Sunny and Bhupsy Gill, who are now also qualified referees.{{Cite web |url=http://www.refworld.com/referee/167/1 |title=refworld.com |access-date=2 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529032249/http://www.refworld.com/referee/167/1 |archive-date=29 May 2010 |url-status=dead }} On 13 August 2022, Sunny became the first British South Asian to referee an EFL fixture, since his father, for over a decade.{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2022/august/sunny-singh-gill-to-become-first-south-asian-to-referee-an-efl-fixture-in-over-a-decade/ |title=Sunny Singh Gill to become first British South Asian to referee an EFL fixture in over a decade|publisher=EFL |date=11 August 2022 |accessdate=14 August 2022}} On 9 March 2024, Sunny became the first British South Asian to referee a Premier League match, blowing his whistle in the game between Crystal Palace and Luton Town.{{cite news |last=Sanghera |first=Mandeep |title=Sunny Singh Gill: Ex-referee father's pride at son's Premier League debut |work=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68479151 |access-date=9 March 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Soccerbase referee|810}}
• {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529032249/http://www.refworld.com/referee/167/1 |date=29 May 2010 |title=National Group Profile - Jarnail Singh at refworld.com}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Jarnail}}

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Punjab, India

Category:Indian emigrants to the United Kingdom

Category:English football referees

Category:People from Hounslow

Category:Sportspeople from the London Borough of Hounslow

Category:Sportspeople from Wolverhampton

Category:British people of Punjabi descent

Category:English people of Indian descent

Category:British police officers