25-year-old Stuart Attwell to become youngest Premier League referee

The Football Association's Respect campaign will take on a new meaning next season when Stuart Attwell makes the giant leap from Sunday league to Super Sunday next season.

It will be more of a case of 'respect your youngsters' after 25-year-old Attwell was promoted to the Premier League's select group of referees.

Nuneaton-based Attwell will be the youngest ever official to reach English football's top tier and beats the previous mark set by Mark Clattenburg, who was 29 when he made the grade in 2004.

His rise to the top is a marked contrast from the NIC Nuneaton Sunday League where he has been officiating since his teenage years and had earned his respect amongst Warwickshire officials.

He moved to the Midland Combination, Southern League and Nationwide Conference before securing his status in the Football League last season, as one of nine referees who were added.

His debut came last August in a match featuring Hereford and Rotherham and ended with the League Two play-off final between Rochdale and Stockport at Wembley.

It was interspersed with an April clash between Barnsley and Hull when Dean Windass came on as a substitute and scored within a minute.

It was also to be his first glimpse of refereeing a Premier League side, albeit with an ageing striker in their ranks.

Attwell should be well versed when it comes to feigned injuries and experienced Premier League stars looking to get out of a booking. He has a degree in sports science and also works for UK Sport.

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Rookie ref Attwell secures shock promotion to the Premier League

The Premier League will have the youngest referee in its history next season.

At just 25, little-known Stuart Attwell is also thought to be the youngest ever official to reach the top flight of English football.

It is a meteoric rise for the Warwickshire referee in that it comes after just one season in the Football League.

Attwell's shock promotion was confirmed to Sportsmail last night by Professional Game Match Officials as he joins Keith Hackett's select group for the new season.

He is the new record holder by the considerable margin of four years. Mark Clattenburg was 29 when he become the previous youngest in 2004.

Hackett has long been committed to bringing officials through earlier, effectively lengthening a career that lasts only to the age of 48 but also allowing referees to operate at a high level when their fitness is at its peak.

Hackett also wants a balance between experience and youth. Michael Jones � a second League referee promoted for Premiership duty yesterday � is a seasoned campaigner of 40.

But the spotlight will fall on Nuneaton-based Attwell. He made his League debut on August 11 last season at Edgar Street for a League Two game between Hereford and Rotherham and ended the campaign by taking charge of the League Two play-off final at Wembley between Rochdale and Stockport.

Attwell has a degree in sports science and works for UK Sport.

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