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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Richard Forrester

Bristol City fan retires from top-flight officiating to take up Championship role

Experienced referee and Bristol City supporter Kevin Friend will retire from officiating to take up a new role in the Championship.

Friend, 50, is the fourth Premier League referee to hang up the boots this summer after Mike Dean, Jon Moss and Martin Atkinson. He will step into a management role, a newly-created post leading the "Select Group 2" referees - meaning officials who take charge of Championship matches.

His departure has led to concerns over the lack of experienced referees in the Premier League with the quartet boasting 63 years of collective officiating between them. Tom Bramall, who officiated three City matches last season, will make the step up to the top flight while Bobby Madley will return to the Championship.

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