RateTheRef

Many thanks for all your hard work in helping me to compile this list, which I have wanted to do for some time. I have incorporated the amendments and updates on the database and will publish a revised list at the end of the season to take account of any further updates or amendments before then. 

A couple of queries:

I always understood that Philip Don bowed out after refereeing Palace v Spurs in April 1995 but World Football shows that he refereed two further matches including Blackburn v Newcastle in May 1995 as his last:

Did Roger Gifford retire a season early? Upton's shows him on the list for 1995/6 but I can find no matches for him after the Arsenal v Wimbledon game in May 1995 and a Welsh FA website seems to confirm that he left the list in 1995. I had a feeling that his final game was as 4O at a Playoff Final at Wembley but cannot be sure of any details.

I don't recall attending any of the final games listed despite the presence of the Palace and Crewe. I wanted to see the Crewe v Coventry game in May 2005 which was Alan Kaye's last but failed to get a ticket for a game which Crewe had to win to stay in the Championship - and did, 2-1

Thanks again, AT

Philip Don's last domestic match was indeed Blackburn v Newcastle in May 1995 preceded by Coventry v Man Utd so he refereed the two Title contenders of the time in those final games. He departed years before the former retirement age, apparently to concentrate on his teaching career. I'm not sure if he knew he was standing down when taking charge of his final match or whether the decision came later - SuffolkRef may be able to shed light on that matter. Most referees will take charge of their last game knowing they are departing, e.g. due to retirement or scheduled resignation, but in some cases the departure is not anticipated at the time, e.g. linked to injury or change in circumstances.

As regards Rodger Gifford he did referee throughout the 1995-1996 season but all his games were outside the Premier League which isn't covered so much by Soccerbase before the 2000s. His final game in the middle was Plymouth v Hartlepool in May 1996 although he was fourth official for the Leicester-Palace play-off later that month.