Leslie Irvine (referee)

{{Short description|Northern Irish football referee (born 1958)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox football official

| name = Leslie Irvine
{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}}}

| image =

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| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|45|2003|12|23}}{{cite web|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/3344975.stm | website = BBC Sport | title = Referee Irvine to retire | date = 23 December 2003 | accessdate = 28 January 2025 }}

| birth_place = Derry, Northern Ireland

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| years1 = 1978–2004

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| league1 = First League

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| role1 = Referee

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| internationalyears1 = 1994–2003

| confederation1 = FIFA listed

| internationalrole1 = Referee

}}

Leslie John Raymond Irvine {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 23 June 1958 in Derry, Northern Ireland){{fact|date=January 2025}} is a former Northern Irish professional football referee. Previously working as a teacher with Limavady High School,{{cite web|url = https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/former-irish-league-referee-leslie-irvine-humbled-by-mbe-recognition-as-he-calls-on-more-respect-to-be-shown-to-match-officials-4461325 | work = The News Letter | title = Former Irish League referee Leslie Irvine 'humbled' by MBE recognition as he calls on more respect to be shown to match officials | date = 30 December 2023 | accessdate = 29 January 2025 }} he was a full international referee for FIFA until his retirement in 2003.{{Cite news |date=31 December 2003 |title=Leslie's final whistle! |work=Fermanagh Herald |url=https://archive-irishnewsarchive-com.rp.nla.gov.au/olive/APA/INA.Edu/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=FMH%2F2003%2F12%2F31&id=Ar03206&sk=9E7FB4AE&viewMode=image |access-date=2023-02-20}} He refereed four Irish Cup finals,{{fact|date=January 2025}} as well as several UEFA Cup and World Cup qualifying games.{{cite web|url = https://worldreferee.com/referee/leslie_irvine | website = worldreferee.com | title = Leslie Irvine - Football referee | accessdate = 28 January 2025 }}

Irvine was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to association football.{{London Gazette|issue=64269|supp=y|page=N21|date=30 December 2023}}{{cite web|url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/former-irish-league-referee-leslie-irvine-honoured-with-mbe/a2038437124.html | work = Belfast Telegraph | title = Former Irish League referee Leslie Irvine honoured with MBE | date = 29 December 2023 | accessdate = 28 January 2025 }}