Richard Beeby

Beeby began his refereeing career in the local Northampton leagues, eventually attaining Football League status in 1999.

His first ever match as a Football League referee was the 2–1 home win by Southend over Plymouth in the old Third Division on 7 August 1999, and resulted in him having to dismiss a player, Mick Heathcote of Plymouth.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=264425 First ever Football League match in charge], Southend v. Plymouth, 1999: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

During the Second Division match played between Colchester and AFC Bournemouth at Layer Road on 2 September 2000,[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=290581 Colchester v. Bournemouth], Second Division, 2000: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. Beeby was surrounded by away side players following a decision in their 3–1 defeat. This resulted in a £2,500 fine for the Dorset club, due to "a failure to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".[http://www.bournemouthdailyecho.co.uk/display.var.2060286.0..php "Cherries charged over player 'conduct'"]. Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

In 2004, he took charge of the old First Division Play-off Semi-final, first leg, between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at Selhurst Park on 14 May 2004,[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=427728 Crystal Palace v. Sunderland], First Division Play-off Semi-final, first leg, 2004: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. and was then appointed to control the old Second Division Play-off Final between Brighton & Hove Albion and Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on 30 May 2004, when a late Leon Knight penalty secured promotion for the South coast team.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=427734 Brighton v. Bristol City], Second Division Play-off Final, 2004: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

On 26 October 2005, Beeby handed out the fastest red card in Old Trafford history to Barnet goalkeeper Ross Flitney after 80 seconds in their 4–1 League Cup defeat to Manchester United. The decision was criticised by both managers.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/oct/27/match.barnet |title=Flitney's red mist clears way for United |publisher=The Guardian |date=26 October 2005}} The red card was later rescinded as Flitney's handball was not denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/oct/29/newsstory.barnet |title=Barnet goalkeeper Flitney handed red card reprieve |publisher=The Guardian |date=29 October 2005}}

Although not on the Premier League list of referees, Beeby was given a "trial run" in that league on 7 May 2005, when he was man-in-the-middle for the Aston Villa versus Manchester City tie at Villa Park, which ended 2–1 to City.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=451711 First ever Premier League match], Aston Villa v. Man. City, 2005: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. In that year, he was also given the honour of being the referee for the FA Vase Final. This was played on 14 May 2005 at White Hart Lane in London, between A.F.C. Sudbury and Didcot Town.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=451280 FA Vase Final 2005], referee: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. He also handled a Semi-final second leg in the Football League Championship Play-offs, when Preston drew 0–0 at Derby to ensure their place in the Final, thanks to a 2–0 first leg victory.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=452099 Derby v. Preston], Championship Play-off Semi-final, second leg, 2005: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

Despite having already refereed his first Premier League match, and subsequently being given two more fixtures in that league during the 2005–06 season,[https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=283&season_id=135 Two more Premier League matches in 2005-06], then no more since: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. Beeby has since been confined to operating in the three divisions of the Football League. Incidentally, on 28 December 2005, he should have taken up his next Premiership appointment at Craven Cottage, when Fulham met Aston Villa,[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=474024 Fulham v. Aston Villa], Premier League, 2005 (injured): soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. but he suffered an injury in the "warm-up", and was replaced by fourth official Andy D'Urso.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4537622.stm D'Urso replaces Beeby due to injury], Fulham v. Aston Villa, 2005: from a match report at the BBC.co.uk website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

He was given further responsibility in the Play-offs in season 2006–07, when he took control of the Football League Two Play-offs Semi-final, first leg, between Bristol Rovers and Lincoln City at the Memorial Stadium on 12 May 2007.[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=515676 Bristol Rovers v. Lincoln], Football League Two Play-offs Semi-final, first leg, 2007: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

Only fifteen minutes into his FA Cup appointment on 11 November 2007 at Gainsborough, who were entertaining Hartlepool,[http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=534340 Gainsborough v. Hartlepool], FA Cup, 2007: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. Beeby "had to go off with a calf strain and was replaced by linesman Michael Naylor with the fourth official taking the flag".[http://lincoln.thisisfinesse.co.uk/football/gainsborough_trinity/news/displayarticle.php?ID=1809 Injury after 15 minutes], Gainsborough v. Hartlepool, 2007: from an article at the Lincolnshire Echo website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

Beeby is also listed by the Football Association as their Northamptonshire fitness coach, based in Kettering.[http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsOld/GrassRootsNews/Postings/2003/05/47466.htm Fitness coach] (Kettering, Northants): TheFA.com official website. Retrieved 17 March 2008.

Since 2005, he acted as fourth official in European club matches under the jurisdiction of UEFA,[http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Refereeing/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/11/Referee_teams_in_Europe.htm Fourth official in Europe], 2005: TheFA.com official website. Retrieved 17 March 2008. until his compulsory retirement from that activity at the age of 45 in 2007.

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• [https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=283 Richard Beeby Referee Statistics] at Soccerbase.com

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Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Northampton

Category:English football referees

Category:English Football League referees