Preston’s Edward Duckworth makes his Championship debut as a referee this Saturday as the R’s head to Bristol City.

Referee >>> Edward Duckworth (Preston), a first ever Championship appointment.

Assistants >>> Nigel Lugg (Surrey) and Richard Woodward (Cheshire)

Fourth Official >>> Sam Allison (Trowbridge)

History

First ever QPR appointment.

Stats

Having started in the Lancashire Sunday League, Duckworth joined the National League list in 2022/23. He was, at this point, the FA’s national talent manager for officials, but has stepped back from that role to focus on his own refereeing career and was promoted into the EFL to referee in Leagues One and Two the season after.

His first EFL season brought 138 yellows (4.18) and six reds from 33 appointments in the bottom two divisions and cup competitions. That was topped out by a chunky ten yellows and red in Cambridge 0-0 Burton in League One. There were two other ten-card hauls among his 2024/25 offering too – ten yellows at Tranmere 0-0 Salford and another ten at Bolton 2-1 Blackpool.

They’ve quickly pumped 11 fixtures into this guy in the first two months of this season which have produced 36 yellows (3.2) and one red. This Saturday’s game represents his first ever in the Championship.

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