The return of the Flood Warden

We've had some less than quiet moments with this referee, and probably the most memorable was on that ridiculously underwater pitch at Macclesfield in 1998 when he sent off Andy Cooke following an incident with Efe Sodje, an incident that infuriated Stan Ternent who accused the Macclesfield player of getting Cooke sent off.

He upset both managers after our draw at Vicarage Road early in the 2003/04 season, that night he handed out no fewer than seven yellow cards and one red, to Watford's Paolo Vernazza. He did seem to favour Burnley that night, Stan Ternent admitted that, but said it is not right and something needs doing.

That's all a few years ago now, it is three years since we've last seen him, and all I can say for sure is that no matter how much it rains the game won't be called off. Taking a look at his record this season, he's close to his century having handed out 99 yellow cards in 32 games. Of those cards, 41 have gone to home team players and 58 to away team players. To add to that he's sent off six players, four of them away team players, the last of whom was Bradford City's Kelly Youga in a recent 1-0 defeat at Gillingham.

Tonight he will be assisted by Paul Kettlewell (Lancashire) and Christopher Reeves (Yorkshire) and fourth official duties will be carried out by Jake Collin (Merseyside).

Previous Burnley games:

Season	Opps	V	Res	Y	R	Burnley players carded
a
2003/04	Norwich	h	3-5	3	0	.
2003/04	Watford	a	1-1	7	1	May I Moore Todd
2002/03	Ipswich	h	1-1	1	0	Diallo
2002/03	Rotherham	a	0-0	7	0	Taylor Briscoe Maylett Weller West
2002/03	Derby	a	2-1	6	0	Cox Grant I Moore McGregor
2001/02	Stockport	h	3-2	5	0	Weller
2000/01	Crewe	h	1-0	4	0	Ball
1998/99	Northampton	h	0-2	3	0	Ford
1998/99	Macclesfield	a	1-2	6	1	Armstrong Scott Cooke(Y+R) Little O'Kane
1997/98	Northampton	a	1-0	2	1	.