David Roland Elleray is a former English FIFA grade referee, who managed games in the Football League, the FA Premier League and the World Cup.
Elleray is a career geography teacher, currently at Harrow School, where he is director of boarding and house master of Druries House. His teaching role entailed time conflicts with his role as a leading referee before his retirement.
One of the most recognisable figures in football, Elleray’s life featured in an award-winning documentary "The Man in Black" for Channel 4.
During his refereeing career, Elleray is remembered for a number of incidents:
- Failed to award Chesterfield a goal during the FA Cup semi final of 1997. A shot had hit the crossbar and then bounced over the line but was collected by the Middlesborough goalkeeper. Elleray and his officials failed to notice that a goal had been scored and play continued with the game ending 3-3 after extra time. Had the goal been given, the Spireites would have gained a 3-1 lead, and in his autobiography Elleray disputes the reason for disallowing the goal
- For sending off Roy Keane four times throughout his career. When Elleray retired, Keane jokingly wrote him a letter saying that it was about time he retired and sent him a signed shirt
- For being the referee when Ryan Giggs scored his ‘wonder goal’ at Arsenal, and the day when David Beckham scored from his own half against Crystal Palace F.C.
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