Refereeing history to be made at Sixfields when Cobblers take on Hartlepool

A slice of refereeing history will be made at Sixfields this weekend when Sunny Singh Gill becomes the first British South Asian since his dad Jarnail more than 10 years ago to take charge of an EFL fixture.

The 38-year-old was promoted to the Football League earlier in the summer and will oversee Northampton’s Sky Bet League Two clash with Hartlepool United on Saturday.

Jarnail Singh was the first turbaned referee in the history of English league football and took charge of more than 150 games across the divisions between 2004 and 2010. He now advises the Football Association.

Sunny is one of five referees promoted to the EFL this season, joining Martin Woods and Thomas Parsons who refereed Northampton’s opening two league games.

Sky Sports are reporting that Jarnail Singh will be in the stands at Sixfields on Saturday to watch his son make his EFL debut.

"To follow in my father's footsteps and become the next South Asian, and Sikh-Punjabi, to be promoted as an EFL referee is a proud moment," he told Sky Sports News. "A decade on from my dad refereeing in the EFL, I have achieved my dream and followed in his footsteps.

"It's been a lot of hard work this year training away from the pitch, improving in every department with the help of the PGMOL and my coaches. I now want to set more goals and fulfil my dream of becoming the first South Asian Premier League referee."