Referee: Carl Brook
Assistant Referees: Ciaran Barlow, David Middleton
Fourth Official: James Tewson
Carl Brook has taken charge of several Lincoln City matches across different competitions and divisions, stretching back to the National League promotion season.
The earliest meeting came in the 2016/17 National League campaign, when we travelled to Boreham Wood. On that occasion, the hosts came out on top, securing a 2-0 victory against Danny Cowley’s side during the latter stages of what would eventually become a memorable promotion-winning season for the Imps. Interestingly, Bruno Andrade scored against City that day.
Lincoln next encountered the same official during the 2020/21 League One season, a campaign in which City were pushing towards the top end of the table under Michael Appleton. However, the match itself did not go Lincoln’s way, with Portsmouth winning 3-1 at Sincil Bank in a game where the visitors proved clinical. Brook gave just three yellow cards in a decent display.
A year later, during the 2021/22 League One season, the referee oversaw Lincoln’s trip to AFC Wimbledon. This time the Imps produced a strong away performance and returned to Lincolnshire with all three points thanks to a 2-0 win, a result that helped steady the side during a challenging campaign. Brooke Norton-Cuffy was sent off by Brook that day, but the decision was later overturned.
The following meeting came in the 2022/23 FA Cup, when Lincoln travelled to National League South side Chippenham Town in the first round. It proved to be a difficult afternoon for City, who were knocked out of the competition after the hosts claimed a 1-0 victory, producing one of the surprises of the round.
Our next match with this official arrived late in the 2023/24 League One season, when Leyton Orient visited Sincil Bank. On this occasion, City secured a narrow but valuable 1-0 win, keeping the points at home in what proved to be a tight contest. His next game involving us was not tight: Brook took charge of last season’s away trip to Crawley Town. That fixture proved frustrating for City, who were beaten 3-0 by the Sussex side on a difficult night away from home.
The most recent Lincoln fixtures involving this referee came this season. He sent off Brendan Wiredu and gave us a penalty as we beat Plymouth 3-2 at the Bank earlier in the season, and we last saw him when the Imps travelled to Wigan Athletic a few weeks ago. It was a successful afternoon for City, who left the DW Stadium with a 1-0 victory, continuing their strong form in the division.
Brook appears run-of-the-mill when it comes to fouls, giving 22.27 per game, which leaves him 39/65 in the division, below halfway. He gives 0.70 fouls per tackle, which is a little more lenient than some in the division, with him coming 47/65. Even his yellow card ratio is consistent, 38/65, while his two red cards in the division see him ranked 20/65.
He has sent off 11 players across 29 games this season in all competitions: two in Chelmsford v Weston-super-Mare in the FA Cup, two as West Ham U21s beat Swindon 3-2 in the EFL Trophy, and two as Grimsby put seven goals past Cheltenham in September.
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