Meet the referee: Portsmouth v Boro

Last updated : 30 January 2007 By Reggie Holdsworth
Lee Mason (Lancashire) (changed to Dermot Gallagher)
b. 29/10/1971

Mr. Mason takes charge of his second Boro game this season, the first being the 0-0 draw against Liverpool at the Riverside back in November when he kept his notebook in his pocket.

He has been refereeing in the Championship and Football League since 2002 and only made his Premier League debut last season, at the Riverside, for the unforgetable 4-0 thrashing by Aston Villa.

At 35-years-old he is one of the youngest referees on the circuit.

Last season he officiated in 37 games showing the yellow card on 90 occasions but only using the red card three times. So far this season he has been in charge of 21 games showing the yellow card 51 times and the red three.