Referee for Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at Fir Park will be Bobby Madden.
It will be only be Bobby’s second ever Motherwell game. His first came back in January of this season as the Steelmen slipped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Inverness; Grégory Tadé grabbing the game’s only goal.
The 33-year old has been fourth official on a number of occasions, including Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup last month and the Semi Final with St Johnstone at Hampden last April.
The whistler has taken charge of games in all four domestic divisions this campaign and both Cup competitions, the most notable being Celtic’s 2-1 win over Dunfermline and Rangers’ victory over Inverness by the same scoreline.
His most recent SPL appointment came at the start of April as Hibs took all three points against Inverness in the Highlands, winning 3-2.
Madden himself was at the centre of controversy at the turn of the year when he was forced to cancel a game between Dunfermline and Kilmarnock at East End Park due to thick fog. Unfortunately, at kick-off, the worst had cleared and he was on the end of some severe, and, it has to be said, over-the-top criticism from some quarters when it was an extremely difficult and unpredictable call.
He was also in charge for the entertaining UEFA U21 Qualifying clash between Albania and Moldova in Korçë back in September. The home side won 4-2 with the Moldovans reduced to ten men courtesy of a late red card to midfielder Mihail Platica.
He has also refereed a fixture in the UEFA Champions League when he was appointed to the First Round Qualifier between Birkirkara FC and FC Santa Colomo in July of 2010.
His domestic card count record is encouraging too. Of the 27 matches he has handled this term; only 74 cautions have been dished out (2.5 per match) with only two ordered off.
Bobby will be ably assisted by Brian McGarry and Gary Sweeney with Calum Murray on fourth official duties.