Ref Watch – Millers v Shrews

Rotherham United take on Shrewsbury Town at the New York Stadium on Saturday when Anthony Backhouse from Cumbria has the whistle.

Anthony began his refereeing at the tender age of fourteen in Cumberland rising to officiating in the Blue Square Premier League in 2012, being promoted to the National List of Referees for the start of the 2017/18 season.

It was earlier this season, again at the New York Stadium, that the Millers and Anthony met when Portsmouth were in town. Rotherham went in at half-time one up thanks to a twenty-ninth minute goal from Michael Smith. Pompey equalised four minutes into the second half but another goal from Smith and one each from Richard Wood and Ben Wiles gave the Millers a four-one win. Anthony booked four players that day, two for the visitors and Michael Ihiekwe and Ollie Rathbone of the Millers.

An FA Cup tie at the New York Stadium in January 2020 when Hull City were the visitors also saw Anthony in charge. Former Miller Tom Eaves scored a hat-trick for the visitors in a three-two win where Michael Smith and a stunning goal from Kyle Vassell were the scorers for the hosts.. Rotherham went down to ten men on twenty-four minutes when Mr Backhouse sent off Adam Thompson on just twenty-four minutes for a lunge.

Earlier that season Anthony had been in the middle for a Millers game at the Greenhous Meadow in the August in the EFL Cup which saw a four-nil victory for the Millers over Shrewsbury. Matt Crooks and Kyle Vassell put Rotherham two up in three minutes with Freddie Ladapo adding a third on the stroke of half-time and Richard Wood scoring another six minutes from time.

Before this Anthony had twice been in charge of Millers firstly in our Checkatrade Trophy game when a Manchester City U21 side came to the New York Stadium which saw David Ball put the Millers ahead only for a Benjamin Garre goal sending the tie to penalties in the last minute of the game. The young City side won the shoot-out four-two. The other being the only time that Anthony and Rotherham have met in the league which was on Boxing Day in 2017 when the Millers travelled to Gigg Lane to take on Bury. David Ball put the visitors in front on five minutes with Lee Frecklington doubling the score five minutes later. Will Vaulks gave the Millers a three-nil away win with seven minutes to go. Anthony showed yellow cards to Anthony Forde and Ryan Williams that afternoon as well as two Bury players.

So far this season Anthony has been in the middle for twenty-nine games and has shown ninety-six yellow cards and two red.

Running the line on Saturday we have Paul Stonier and Paul Graham and the Fourth Official will be Simon Clayton.