Community Shield: Mark Clattenburg to Ref Man United vs Wigan

The English FA has given the honour of officiating the Sunday, August 11, 2013/2014 season Community Shield between Manchester United and Wigan Athletics to Mark Clattenburg.

English FA Cup winners, Wigan Athletics travel to Wembley for the third time in four months on Sunday to face Premier League Champions, Manchester United in this seasons Community Shield, traditionally the season curtain raiser.

Never in the history has a Championship club been involved but Wigan having got their topflight return bid off to a flyer last weekend will trade tackle with Premier League champs, Manchester United only start their campaign the following weekend.

Clattenburn, a Consett born and bred official also, like the Latics, finds himself at Wembley for the third occasion in a short space of time, he refereed twice in the Olympic games last summer at the National Stadium.

On being named as the referee for the Community Shield 2013, Clattenburg commented – ‘I’m hoping that the Community Shield will be a really good spectacle for everyone because it sets the standard for the season ahead.

‘The players can get everyone excited about the year ahead and hopefully we can do our bit in getting referees across the game looking forward to another exciting football season.’

A bit of trivia, Clattenburg comes from Consett, where’s that? I hear you cry, well say Consett in a Geordie accent and you’ll not be too far off, (again in a Geordie accent) it’s in County Durham, like.

For the Manchester United v Wigan Athletic game, Centre Referee Mark Clattenburg will be assisted by the duo of Mike Mullarkey and Scott Ledger and Michael Oliver with the Fourth Official role.