The Premier League's Andre Marriner has expressed his joy at being named the referee for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on May 11.
Marriner will be joined by assistant referees Stephen Child and Simon Long on the pitch, with Anthony Taylor rounding out the crew as the fourth official.
And now the former Birmingham Amateur Football League man, who began his career as a referee by chance in 1992, has spoken of the appointment as the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
"It's a great honour to be asked to referee the 2013 FA Cup Final especially as it coincides with the 150th anniversary of The Football Association," he told the Premier League's official website on Wednesday.
"To be involved in the FA Cup final is ultimately every schoolboy's dream, and, as an occasion, they don’t come much bigger.
"I'll approach the Cup Final as I would any other fixture but obviously the whole event is on a completely different scale as it is the biggest club game in world football. The FA Cup is revered around the world because of the importance and history of the competition."
General Manager of Professional Game Match Officials Limited Mike Riley lauded Marriner in a statement of his own.
"It is a richly deserved appointment for Andre who has been at the very top of his game both domestically and internationally this season. It is also recognition for over two decades of fantastic service to refereeing," he said.
