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Match officials confirmed for final game of 2022
The match officials for Newcastle United's New Year's Eve clash with Leeds United have been announced, with Simon Hooper set to take charge.
Saturday 31st December
Newcastle United vs Leeds United
St. James' Park
Kick-off 3pm GMT
Ticket details
The 40-year-old is midway through his fifth campaign as a regular top flight referee, having been promoted to Select Group 1 at the beginning of 2018/19. Born in Swindon and affiliated with the Wiltshire FA, Hooper joined the National List of officials in 2008 and progressed through the English football pyramid before reaching the EFL.
Having been appointed for the League One play-off final between Bradford City and Millwall in 2017, Hooper went on to referee two United fixtures in 2018 - the home draw with Burnley in January and the victory at Leicester City in September - meaning that two of his first three Premier League outings came in matches involving the Magpies.
Hooper didn't oversee a single United game last term, but was the referee on the opening day of the current campaign when Eddie Howe's side beat Nottingham Forest 2-0. He showed three yellow cards, but none of them were to Newcastle players, while he has yet to send a player off this season.
2022/2023 stats
Games (all competitions): 12
Yellow cards issued: 32
Red cards issued: 0
Assistants
Assistant referees: Adrian Holmes, Mark Scholes
Fourth official: Craig Pawson
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR: James Mainwaring