Bingo! Foxy debut for Linington

James Linington turned to refereeing at the age of fifteen when he was released from a club for not being strong enough. His initial aim was to return to playing as he got older and stronger but has remained as a referee.

He became a Select Group Assistant Referee in 2006 and during the same year was appointed as an Assistant Referee in the FA Challenge Vase Final and the League One Play Off Final between Swansea and Barnsley at the Millennium Stadium

He joined the National Group as a Referee in 2008 and made his debut in the 1-1 draw between Wycombe and Morecambe on 9 August 2008.

He had an eventful Carling Cup match last month between Swansea and Scunthorpe when Swansea were reduced to six players when Besian Idrizaj went off injured. But he advised the Swansea Manager Paulo Sousa for the Austrian to return to the field so the game could be concluded. He had already sent three Swans players off while Stephen Dobbie had gone off injured with no substitutions left.

His last game was on Saturday when Bournemouth beat Lincoln 3-1. This will be the first match he has officiated for either Leicester or Preston.

Career record:

His assistants will be Stephen Martin from Staffordshire and William Smallwood of Cheshire. The fourth official will be Guy Stretton of Leicestershire.