Kevin Friend started refereeing at age thirteen within his home county of Leicestershire. His route was via the Leicester Senior League and Midland Football Alliance before being promoted to the National List of Referees in 2003. His first game was on 9 August 2003 between Scunthorpe and Bristol Rovers with the visitors winning 2-1.
In addition to being appointed as 4th Official at a U-21 International, he has also been appointed to the FA Vase Final and Football League Trophy Final.
The 2009/10 season saw him move to the Select Group of Referees
His first Premier League fixture was on 20 September 2009: a 2–1 victory for Wolves over Fulham; he showed two yellow cards during his debut appointment in England's top-flight. His first Premier League red card was on 15 December 2009 to Sunderland captain Lorik Cana for a second bookable offence in his team's 2–0 defeat to Aston Villa.
He refereed the 2009 FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium on 10 May between Whitley Bay and Glossop North End, won 2–0 by the Bay.
He took charge of the 2012 FA Community Shield, played on 12 August at Villa Park.
Chelsea were defeated 3–2 by Manchester City. Branislav Ivanović was sent off for the Blues for a high challenge towards the end of the first half. Ivanović did not serve any subsequent suspension, however, after FA rule changes regarding pre-season fixtures.
He also refereed the 2013 League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 24 February. Swansea won the final 5–0 against Bradford City. An incident early in the second-half, when the Premier League side was already 3–0 up, saw him adjudge Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke to have committed a professional foul. The official dismissed Duke and awarded Swansea a penalty kick, which was converted.
On 18 April 2016 he was supposed to referee Stoke vs Tottenham, but will instead took charge of Newcastle vs Manchester City 24 hours later. The game finished 1-1 with Sergio Aguero’s scoring his 100th Premier League goal, although his assistant missed that he was offside. Preston referee Neil Swarbrick officiated at the Britannia.
The change happened after Spurs fans took to social media to point out Kevin Friend, a Bristol City fan, lives in Leicestershire and has attended Foxes matches in the past.
Refereeing Record:
|
Season: |
Matches: |
Yellow Cards: |
Red cards: |
|
2015/16 |
28 |
86 |
6 |
|
2014/15 |
35 |
141 |
5 |
|
2013/14 |
31 |
98 |
1 |
|
2012/13 |
35 |
128 |
4 |
|
2011/12 |
30 |
103 |
4 |
|
2010/11 |
33 |
116 |
7 |
|
2009/10 |
34 |
133 |
7 |
|
2008/09 |
46 |
124 |
6 |
|
2007/08 |
41 |
100 |
11 |
|
2006/07 |
34 |
87 |
6 |
|
2005/06 |
21 |
45 |
2 |
|
2004/05 |
37 |
107 |
7 |
|
2003/04 |
27 |
98 |
4 |
Kevin Friend & PNE:
|
Date: |
Match: |
PNE Goalscorers |
Total Cards |
PNE Cards: |
|
05/12/2015 |
Burney 0 PNE 2 |
Keane; Johnson |
5 Y |
Vermijl; Cunningham; Keane |
|
28/04/2012 |
PNE 2 Charlton 2 |
Hunt; Alexander |
3 Y |
Hunt; Alexander |
|
18/02/2011 |
Watford 2 PNE 2 |
St.Ledger; Clarke |
4Y |
Gray; Tracey; Barton |
|
11/09/2010 |
Burnley 4 PNE 3 |
Barton; Tracey; Parkin |
4Y/1R |
Jones; Morgan; St.Ledger – Jones (Red) |
|
30/11/2010 |
Blackpool 1 PNE 1 |
Wallace |
4 Y |
Jones; Wallace |
|
14/03/2009 |
PNE 2 Coventry 1 |
Turner (og); Parkin |
3 Y |
Parkin |
|
26/11/2008 |
PNE 2 Derby 0 |
St.Ledger; Parkin |
1 Y |
St.Ledger |
|
24/11/2007 |
PNE 0 Charlton 2 |
None |
2 Y |
McKenna |
|
16/12/2006 |
PNE 3 Plymouth 0 |
Pugh; Ormerod; Alexander (pen) |
4 Y |
Hill |
|
17/04/2008 |
PNE 2 Wolves 0 |
Neal; Ormerod |
None |
Nil |
His assistants are Richard West from East Riding and Marc Perry from West Midlands. The fourth official is Andrew Madley who was the referee in the in the Lilywhites 1-0 win at MK Dons on 15 August 2015 when Jordan Hugill was sent off with 7 minutes to go.