Career
Probert began refereeing in 1986, in leagues local to Bristol, and later in the Football Conference South. He was promoted to the assistant referees' list for the Football League in 1998, and made the step up to referee in the League five years later.
He refereed his first FA Cup match on 17 November 2001, taking charge of a first-round tie between Dagenham & Redbridge and Southport, which was settled for the home side by a Mark Stein penalty on 26 minutes.
His first match after elevation to the League list of referees was a League 2 encounter on 9 August 2003 between Northampton Town and Torquay United, with Jason Fowler scoring the only goal for visiting Torquay.
On 19 May 2007, Probert refereed a League 1 play-off semi-final second-leg which saw Blackpool defeat Oldham Athletic 3-1.
On 26 July 2007, a press release from the Professional Game Match Officials Board, which employs Premier League referees full-time, stated that Probert had been included in the Select Group of 19 referees for the 2007-08 season. Prior to this, he had been trialled in the top-tier during the previous season, being appointed a fixture between Sheffield United and Portsmouth on 13 January 2007 which ended in a 1-1 draw.
On 8 May 2010 Probert was the referee for the 2010 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium between Barrow and Stevenage Borough. He was appointed fourth official for the 2011 FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Stoke City.
Read more about this topic: Lee Probert
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