Ballymena United v Crusaders

MATCH OFFICIALS

Words Nigel Tilson

Tim Marshall Referee

Tim began refereeing in 2001 at the age of 13 after he completed a refereeing beginners course at the Bawnacre Centre in Irvinestown. His first ambition was to be a better referee than his father, Basil, who is also heavily involved in refereeing. The international referee - he has been a FIFA official since 2015 - has made more than 260 senior appearances as a ref within Northern Ireland, with his Premiership debut dating back to 2011; it was a fixture between Portadown and Lisburn Distillery. To date Tim has officiated in 28 different countries across Europe and Asia. He refereed the NIFL League Cup Final in 2018 and European Play-Off Final in 2021. And this will be Tim's second Irish Cup Final as he took charge of the showpiece match between Glentoran and Ballymena United in 2020.

The Fermanagh man explained: "Refereeing is a huge part of my life. I live and breathe refereeing and couldn't imagine life without it. Days like today make all that hard work worthwhile. “To referee an Irish Cup Final is what every local referee aspires to do at some stage in their career, and for me personally to referee the final for a second time makes me extremely proud. “The moment I lead out both sets of teams to the field of play will be a moment I will always remember. And to have my family in the stands watching the game makes it that extra bit special for me.”

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