The man in the middle for Sunday’s League Two Play-Off Final between County and Carlisle United at Wembley will be referee Tom Nield.
The official was also the referee for our play-off semi-final first leg defeat away at Salford City just a fortnight ago – his first time refereeing County this season. The showpiece final will be the first time he has taken charge of a game involving Carlisle this season, last overseeing the Cumbrians in their 1-0 defeat at home to Exeter City in April of last season.
An EFL referee since 2017, Nield took charge of 28 first-team games across all competitions last season, the majority in League Two and League One, during which time he issued 111 yellow cards, three red cards and awarded six penalties.
So far this campaign he has refereed 34 games in all competitions, with the majority coming in League One as well as three in the Japanese Second Division. Across those games, he has shown 96 yellow cards, three red cards and given six spot kicks.
VAR will also be in operation for the final – our first experience of the technology since its introduction into English football. Former Premier League referee Neil Swarbrick will be in charge of VAR on the day, with Derek Eaton his assistant.
The assistant referees will be Alex James and Hristo Karaivanov, whilst Simon Mather will be on Fourth Official duties at Wembley.
