Tony Harrington is an English football referee who referees in the English Premier League. Harrington was promoted to Select Group 1 in June 2021. [1]
Harrington began refereeing in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance aged 14, after completing a refereeing course whilst at school as part of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. [2]
After four years as an EFL assistant referee and four years as a National League referee, Harrington was appointed to the EFL Referees List at the start of the 2012–13 season. [3]
Harrington was promoted to a Select Group 2 referee in 2016. [4]
On 22 May 2021, Harrington refereed the 2021 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium. Only eight days later, Harrington was back at Wembley when he officiated the 2021 EFL League One play-off final between Blackpool and Lincoln City. [5]
After becoming a Select Group 1 referee in June 2021, Harrington officiated his first Premier League game on 16 December 2021. [6]
Harrington attended Manor Community Academy for secondary school and English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College for sixth form. [7] He is a fan of his hometown team Hartlepool United. [8]
He is the grandson of former Hartlepool United player Tommy McGuigan. McGuigan is in the club's record books for being in the top 10 of the all time top goal scorers list. [9]
Prior to becoming a full-time referee, Harrington worked as a PE teacher at North Shore Academy. [10]
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