Career
Graham Laws progressed through the lower leagues to referee in the Northern Premier League, before being appointed to the Football League list of referees in 1996.
He has been fourth official for Eddie Wolstenholme twice in big games, firstly for the FA Vase Final at Villa Park on 6 May 2001, and then in the Football League Second Division playoff Final in Cardiff on 27 May 2001.
He has been required, from time to time, to fulfil the role of fourth official in the Premier League, such as during the Newcastle versus Wigan match at St James' Park on 19 August 2006, when Martin Atkinson was the match referee.
Laws has also handled important matches involving the England national youth football team, such as their fixture against Scotland youth on 22 December 2004 at Victoria Park, Hartlepool, which finished 1–0 to England, courtesy of a David Wheater goal in the 27th minute.
On 28 April 2002, he was appointed to referee a Second Division playoff semi-final first leg match between Huddersfield and Brentford, which finished 0–0. This was followed on 2 May 2002 by a semi-final second leg tie between Millwall and Birmingham in the First Division playoffs. Birmingham won 1-0 to confirm their place in the Final, and subsequently the Premiership. Then, on 11 May 2002, he refereed the Second Division playoff Final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, when Stoke City beat Brentford 2–0 to gain promotion to the First Division.
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