On Sunday Nick Walsh will referee a Glasgow derby for the first time.
With Bobby Madden doing the last two Ibrox clashes between the clubs the SFA have decided to bring in a new official to their most high profile clash. Alan Mulvanny and Calum Spence are the assistant referees.
Walsh took charge of his first professional match in 2013 and has quickly worked his way through the ranks, joining the elite FIFA list in 2018 when Craig Thompson retired on age grounds.
His last Celtic match was the 6-0 win over Livingston earlier this month, in March he refereed Hungary’s 3-0 World Cup win away to San Marino. Last Saturday he issued five yellow cards at the Ayr United v Queen of the South, Championship match.
According to Wikipedia Walsh is a Partick Thistle fan who works as a PE teacher at Uddingston Grammar, Willie Collum will be the fourth official.
With all of the honours decided Sunday’s match is mainly of academic interest but it will give the rookie referee the chance to get on the circuit for next season’s Derby matches.
Earlier this season Collum and Beaton were given Derby matches but Kevin Clancy will be concerned at being overlooked for a new entrant to that fixture.
Nathan Patterson and four team-mates are suspended for Sunday’s match and the two remaining SPFL fixtures of this season.