Lee Mason

Lee Mason

Mason issues a red card during a match in 2010
Full name	Lee Stephen Mason
Born	(1971-10-29) 29 October 1971 (age 45) Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Domestic
Years	League	Role
1992–1996	North West Counties League	Assistant referee
1996–1998	North West Counties League	Referee
1998–2000	Football League	Assistant referee
2000–2002	Premier League	Assistant referee
2002–2006	Football League	Referee
2006–	Premier League	Referee

Lee Stephen Mason (born 29 October 1971) is an English professional football referee from Bolton, Greater Manchester. Since 2006, Mason has been on the list of Select Group Referees who officiate in the Premier League.

Mason is a former chairman of the Bolton Referees' Society and is associated with the Lancashire County Football Association. His younger brother, Andy Mason, is a former professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers, among others.

Mason attended the Liverpool Institute of Higher Education between 1990 and 1993, living in Newman Hall, where he gained his degree. Whilst there he played for his college football team as well as being a regular compere, hosting a variety of social events at a students' union club.

Mason took up the whistle in 1988, officiating in the Bolton Boys' Federation League. He previously worked in the car rental industry. In 1992, he was added to the North West Counties Football League assistant referees' list, and progressed to referee in that league four years later. He was included on The Football League list of assistant referees in 1998, and was added to the Premier League assistant referees' list in 2000.

In 2002, he was promoted to referee in the Football League, and his first match at that level was a Third Division match between Shrewsbury Town and Exeter City in August 2002, won 1–0 by the home side.

Also in 2002, he took charge of that year's FA County Youth Cup final between Birmingham and Durham, which Birmingham won 2–1.