Keith Stroud first took up refereeing in 1988. He progressed via the Wessex League becoming a National List assistant referee in 2000 and a Select Group assistant referee in 2002.
Also in 2002, he was an assistant referee for the old Division Three play-off final between Cheltenham and Rushden. The following year was appointed as one of the assistant referees to Graham Barber during the FA Cup Final 2003 between Arsenal and Southampton.
He was promoted from the Conference to the National List of referees in 2004, and became a FIFA assistant referee in the same year. His first League match as referee was between Cheltenham and Scunthorpe on 10 August 2004. Also in that year, he was in charge of the Conference play-off final which saw Shrewsbury beat Aldershot on penalties
The season 2006/07 saw him 'trialled' for the Premier League, being given the match on 17 March 2007 between Middlesbrough and Manchester City. The following season saw him being included in the Select Group of 19 referees and stepped down from the FIFA list of assistant referees.
It was confirmed in May 2009 that h had been dropped from the Select Group of referees, along with Steve Tanner and Uriah Rennie. Kevin Friend was promoted to replace him. However, in July 2009, it was reported in The Times that Keith Stroud, along with Tanner, had been reinstated as it found out his demotion breached regulations.
He alsoofficiated the match between Sheffield United and Notts County, kicking off the 125th year of the Football League on 2 August 2013. The Blades won 2-1 and the visitors were reduced to ten men with the dismissal of Gary Liddle on 13 minutes.
His first Premier League match since then was the 2-0 home victory for Crystal Palace against Leicester on 27 September 2014.
Keith Stroud also took charge in Bradford 3-0 victory over Northampton in the League Two Play-Off Final on 18 May 2013 at Wembley as well as the Preston’s League One second leg Play Off Semi-Final defeat to Rotherham in 2014.
His last match was a 2-1 win for Wycombe at Dagenham & Redbridge on 9 February, two red cards were produced double figures in sending’s off.to before the first Football League referee this season to reach,
In the 1-1 draw between Sheffield Wednesday and Hull on 17 October 2015 he was forced to hobble off the pitch as the clock ticked over into injury time when he was unceremoniously poleaxed by Hull striker Chuba Akpom.
With the ref’s back turned, the 20-year-old forward ‘accidentally’ steamed into the referee and left him in a crumpled heap on the floorA medical team then came on to assist a limping referee off the pitch, with fourth official Darren Handley standing in for the final few minutes.
He has refereed the most maches, yellow and red cards this season. Although his last red card was 7 matches ago at Deepdale when the Owls Fernando Forestieri received a second yellow card of the match.
His last Brum match was a 1-0 home win over Cardiff on 18 December 2005, with is last game being Middleborough 2-1 victory at Bolton on 16 April
Season’s Record
Season |
Matches |
Yellow Cards |
Red Cards |
2015/16 |
41 |
176 |
11 |
2014/15 |
41 |
183 |
7 |
2013/14 |
38 |
168 |
7 |
2012/13 |
39 |
160 |
10 |
2011/12 |
39 |
131 |
6 |
2010/11 |
33 |
125 |
9 |
2009/10 |
27 |
108 |
10 |
2008/09 |
32 |
110 |
6 |
2007/08 |
36 |
117 |
7 |
2006/07 |
38 |
96 |
3 |
2005/06 |
39 |
139 |
9 |
2004/05 |
30 |
113 |
1 |
Keith Stroud and Preston.
Date: |
Teams: |
PNE Goalscorers: |
Cards: |
PNE Cards: |
20/02/16 |
PNE 1 Sheffield Wed. 0 |
Garner |
6 Y / 1 R |
Cunningham, Woods; Wright |
02/05/15 |
Colchester 1 PNE 0 |
None |
2 Y |
Johnstone |
24/01/15 |
PNE 1 Sheffield United 1 |
Gallagher |
4 Y |
Gallagher |
15/05/14 |
Rotherham 3 PNE 1 |
Gallagher |
5 Y |
Wright; K.Davies; Gallagher |
14/01/14 |
PNE 3 Ipswich 2 |
Garner 3 |
5 Y |
Hayhurst |
25/09/12 |
PNE 1 Middlesbrough 3 |
King |
3 Y |
Huntington |
18/04/09 |
PNE 6 Cardiff 0 |
Mellor 2; Parkin; Kennedy (og); Brown; Williamson |
3 Y |
Williamson; Parkin |
29/01/08 |
PNE 2 WBA 1 |
Mawene / Hawley |
3Y / 2R |
Y - Brown; Mawene – Mawene & Brown both red carded |
03/04/07 |
QPR 1 PNE 0 |
|
3Y |
St. Ledger |
25/02/06 |
Reading 2 PNE 1 |
Davidson |
3Y |
Davis; Hill; O’Neil |
20/08/05 |
Sheffield United. 2 PNE 1 |
McKenna |
5Y |
Alexander; Davis; Jones; Lucketti; Mears |
His assistants are Declan Bourne from Notts and Paul Graham from Manchester The fourth offical is referee Chris Sarginson whose last P from Staffordshire, whose last Lilywhite match was a 1-1 draw at Deepdale against Yeovil on 20 January 2015.