Meet the Referee – James Linington

Each week we take a close look at the referee assigned to the Swans game and look at their previous record when officiating our beloved Swansea City.

This week’s referee spotlight focuses on James Linington, who was appointed the referee for the Coventry City v Swansea City Championship game on Saturday, 21 September 2024.

James Linington

Referee Linington was assisted by James Wilson and Hristo Karaivanov, with Matt Corlett the 4th Official for the game.

Name: James Linington
Born: 1979
Birthplace: Newport, Isle of Wight

Background:
James Linington can claim to be a referee for whom every match in the EFL is an overseas appointment, as it requires a journey from his home on the Isle of Wight!

Linington started referring in the Football League in October 2008, taking charge of the Yeovil Town v Crewe League One game.

The first game he officiated in the Championship was Watford v Burnley in January 2009.

Swans related Fact(s):
Some Swans fans will probably remember James Linington from when he sent off three (yes three!) Swans players during a League Cup game against Scunthorpe in August 2009.

Garry Monk, Gorka Pintado and Angel Rangel, were all given their marching orders in a farcical game that saw the Swans lose 2-1 after extra time. Stephen Dobbie went off injured, with the Swans having no substitutions left.

The Swans were then reduced to six players when Besian Idrizaj went off injured, with referee Linington accused of forcing the Austrian back onto the pitch in order to avoid abandoning the game, leaving Swans boss Paulo Sousa fuming.

Here are the all important facts and figures for each game that he has been a referee for a Swansea City game:

Date
Competition
Home Team
Score
Away Team
21-Sep-24ChampionshipCoventry City1:2Swansea City
27-Apr-24ChampionshipNorwich City2:2Swansea City
05-Aug-23ChampionshipSwans1:1Birmingham City
27-Dec-22ChampionshipReading2:1Swans
17-Oct-21ChampionshipSwans3:0Cardiff City
16-Mar-21ChampionshipAFC Bournemouth3:0Swans
30-Jun-20
Championship
Millwall
1:1
Swans
18-Jan-20 Championship Swans
2:1
Wigan Athletic
14-Sep-19 Championship
Swans
0:1
Nottingham Forest
9-Apr-19
Championship
Swans
3:1
Stoke City
29-Dec-18 Championship
Swans
2:2
Wigan Athletic
28-Nov-18
Championship
Swans
1:2
West Bromwich Albion
11-Aug-18
Championship Swans 1:0 Preston North End
22-Sep-15
League Cup 3rd Round
Hull City
1:0
Swans
25-Apr-11
Championship Swans
4:1
Ipswich Town
25-Aug-09 League Cup 2nd Round
Swans
1:2 AET Scunthorpe United

In summary, James Linington’s record for Swansea City games is as follows:

Home Games
P10 W5 D2 L3

Away Games
P6 W1 D2 L3

Overall Record
P16 W6 D4 L6

This referee has a Swans Love Factor of 63%

Let us know what you think of this referee via our Swansea City Forum.

You can also browse more information and stats about other referees who have officiated Swansea City games.