Matthew David Messias was born on 7 May 1964 and is an English former football referee, who operated in the Football League, the Premier League, and for UEFA and FIFA.
16 Facts About Matt Messias
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Matt Messias was first based in York during his time as an official, subsequently moving to Barnsley, in the county of Yorkshire.
3.
Matt Messias first took up refereeing in 1982, whilst still playing.
4.
Matt Messias's playing career ended after cartilage problems in 1984, and he became a PE Teacher at Filey School before taking up a post as head of PE in Thirsk.
5.
When Ipswich Town played Spurs in a Premier League match at Portman Road on 12 January 2002, Matt Messias failed to finish the game due to a calf injury, fourth official Rob Styles taking over from him.
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Matt Messias had recently married, and the couple had recently had a baby together.
7.
Matt Messias gained brief notoriety in August 2003 when, while refereeing a match between Newcastle United and Birmingham City, he accidentally struck Robbie Savage in the face while signalling for a free kick.
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Robbie Savage 8.
In November 2005, Matt Messias was rated fourth best referee in England by UEFA.
9.
On 19 January 2006, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited announced that by mutual consent Matt Messias would retire as a Select Group referee as of 1 February 2006.
10.
Matt Messias ran a business, Matt Messias Consultancy Limited, offering help in coping with stressful occupations similar to that of an active professional football referee.
11.
Matt Messias appears as a guest speaker at sporting events.
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Matt Messias was an adviser to the main Barnsley Football Club, and had become refereeing mentor to Ryan Newman from Barnsley, who had recently become a Conference North league referee.
13.
Matt Messias visited schools to pass on the benefit of his experience.
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Matt Messias continued his teaching career at Macleans College Auckland, where he taught physical education and coached the 1st XI Girls Football team until early 2011.
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Matt Messias then worked as a deputy principal at Howick College.
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Matt Messias started supply teaching for two days a week and works on his personal business to help people with mental health issues three days a week.