Graham Poll - Tring, Hertfordshire
Graham Poll was a mere whipper-snapper when he joined the Premier League list, back in 1993.
The previously self-employed sales consultant began refereeing in 1980, joining the football league list in 1991 and gaining FIFA approval in 1996. His career highlights include the 1998 Charity Shield and 2000/01's FA Cup final. When the F.A. introduced "professional" referees Poll was a founder member.
Having been made an official FIFA referee, Poll has been in charge of Euro 2000 matches, officiated between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League final of the same year and for games in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
Last season Mr Poll whistled a little more frequently than his mates but dished out marginally fewer bits of paper.
Remembered by Fulham fans last season for his poor performance in Fulham's 3-2 victory over Liverpool.
2002/
2003
stats
|
Mr. Poll's score sheet |
Av Premiership Ref score sheet |
|
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
23 |
|
16 |
|
| Fouls |
672 |
29.22 |
447 |
28.23 |
| Penalties |
5 |
0.22 |
4 |
0.24 |
| Yellows |
64 |
2.78 |
48 |
3.02 |
| Reds |
2 |
0.09 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Fouls per Yellow |
10.5 |
|
9.4 |
|
Fulham related comments
2002/2003
07-04-2003 Premier Fulham
0-4 Blackburn 3y 0r
Bookings: Neill, Short, Tugay (Blackburn)
Mr Poll's performance was of no interest to Fulham fans as this was the first game after Jean Tigana got canned.
16-02-2003 FA Cup Fulham
1-1 Burnley 1y 0r
Bookings: West (Burnley)
Sean Davis had claims for a penalty soon after, teaming up with Malbranque for a neat one-two and going down under Graham Branch's challenge in the area Referee Poll, much to the derision of the home support, ignored the claims and awarded a free-kick to the Clarets.
Poll continued to officiate in a onesided fashion in favour of Burnley indulging their crude physicality as if they were children playing grown-ups
23-11-2002 Premiership - Fulham
3-2 Liverpool 3y 1r
Bookings: Brevett , Goma (sent off 70 for second yellow) (Fulham) Traore (Liverpool)
Poll reffed the Fulham v Liverpool game, 23/11/02, which Fulham won 3-2 despite Poll consistently giving decisions against Fulham and failing to punish Liverpool players in similar situations. Liverpools first goal came from a free kick given for shirt tugging by Finnan on a Liverpool player uninvolved in an attack that Van der Sar made a save on. Poll called the play back to outside our area and gave a freekick from which Liverpool scored. Liverpool's second goal came from Baros after he poleaxed Rufus in the area and Poll extraordinarily failed to spot the event even though everyone else saw it. To finish off his unhelpful performance Poll sent Goma off in the 70th minute for a second yellow.
2001/2002
14-04-2002 FA Cup - Fulham
0-1 Chelsea 4y 0r
Bookings: Boa Morte, Finnan (Fulham) Ferrer, Gronkjaer (Chelsea)
02-12-2001 Premiership - Fulham
0-0 Leeds 3y 0r
Bookings: Legwinski (Fulham) Seth Johnson, Smith (Leeds)
30-09-2001 Premiership - Fulham
1-1 Chelsea 5y 1r
Bookings: Sean Davis (Fulham) Desailly, Gallas, Jokanovic (sent off 81 for second yellow), Terry (Chelsea)
2000/2001
Not seen by Fulham