David Roland Elleray started refereeing in 1968 at the age of 13. He became a Football League referee in 1983 and held his FIFA badge between 1992 and 1999. Ellery retired from the Premier League in 2003.
Merits:
1994: FA Cup Final: Manchester United and Chelsea.
1995: World Club Championship final; Ajax and Gremio in Tokyo.
1996: Nelson Mandela Inauguration Trophy in Johannesburg: South Africa and Brazil.
1996: EURO 1996 Final: Germany and Czech Repulblic.
1998: UEFA Super Cup Final: Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund.
1998:Brazilian Cup Final in Sao Paulo: Sao Paulo and Corinthians
World Cup
Considered the number one at that time, his nomination for the 1998 World Cup was a public secret. Elleray himself however wasn't sure he could make it, being in the run for a promotion to become school head-master, a long road filled with interviews that would end during the World Cup. He had to choose: if he was selected for France and he wouldn't be able to go, England wouldn't have a ref at the World Cup. Too late to assign another one.
Elleray declined before he got the nomination. And then he didn't get the job either. A classic lose-lose.
numbers
2195 matches: 1582 as a referee, 17 as a reserve ref, 596 on the line.
He sent off 201 players and booked 1592.
There were 64 international matches and he stood 10 times in Wembley.
After
After retirement Elleray became a FIFA and UEFA referee assessor and instructor.