Jonny Rotten?

If, like us, you're a regular reader of .com, you'll have noticed in their preview of tomorrow night's game against Blackpool some interesting comments on the man in the middle, Jonathan Moss:

"First time in charge of a competitive Newcastle game, but was the referee for our pre-season friendly clash at Huddersfield, which included on-pitch flare-ups at the end of both halves.

Both incidents were included in his report, but the FA later deemed that neither side had any case to answer.

Further details of Moss have now come to light, with his Leeds-based home a result of studying there and later working in the area as a school head teacher.

Originally from North Tyneside, he began refereeing in local junior Sunday football, having failed to make the grade as a schoolboy player....at the Mackems. We have it on good authority that he is a lifelong red & whiter."

Well, to whatever good authority Biffa and Niall are citing you can add our own here at Black & White & Read All Over: occasional contributor Tim, who's an old schoolfriend of Moss and can vouch for his allegiance to the Great Unwashed.

Let's just say that Mr Moss's performance is going to come under particularly close scrutiny from those in the away end. And chances are that if Tim, currently walking the length of the Thames from source to mouth for charity, manages to find a way to follow the game, he'll have some comments of his own...