1. Mark Clattenburg
Favourite club: Newcastle United
Mark Clattenburg is openly a huge Newcastle supporter, and his allegiances prevent him from refereeing their matches.
In the summer, he earned recognition as a ‘true Magpie’ after insisting that he would rather see the Toon in an FA Cup final than himself, and spoke of fulfilling his ‘boyhood dream’ in officiating Alan Shearer’s testimonial match at St James’ Park.
“I’d rather see Newcastle in it than me,” said Mark, as quoted by the Chronicle Live.
“Fingers crossed though, you never know, with a bit of luck and if they get the right draw they might make the semi or the final, and missing out wouldn’t disappoint me as a referee,” he added.
“I have done Newcastle friendly matches, charity matches, and testimonials. I think most people know that I’m a Newcastle fan and so Alan Shearer, for instance, asked me to referee his testimonial match. To have the opportunity to go out on to St James’ Park was a boyhood dream.”
