Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Premier League, Selhurst Park, Saturday 24 August 2024, 3pm BST
Referee: Rob Jones
Assistant Referees: Ian Hussin and Neil Davies
Fourth Official: Andy Davies
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Wade Smith
Rob Jones has been confirmed as the referee for West Ham United’s first London derby of the fresh 2024/25 Premier League season, away at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
A referee in the English Football League since 2016, the 37-year-old Merseysider took charge of his first top-flight clash in December 2019, and was promoted to Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) Select Group One ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
Jones has been the man in the middle at three finals during his career so far, the last of which was Wycombe Wanderers’ victory over Oxford United in the EFL League One Play-Off final in July 2020, little under a year after he refereed Oxford’s shock win over West Ham in the third round of the EFL Cup.
In total, Jones has held the whistle at six games involving the Hammers, most recently last term’s dramatic 4-3 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United at St James’ Park, in March 2024.
He has already overseen three matches in 2024/25, following up clashes in UEFA Champions League and Europa League qualifying by refereeing Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Fulham on Friday 16 August in the first match of the new Premier League campaign.
Also present at Old Trafford was assistant Ian Hussin, who will once again work with Jones at Selhurst Park this coming weekend, along with fellow flagman Neil Davies.
The pair run the line in the Premier League regularly, with Hussin and Davies having officiated at 25 and 18 West Ham fixtures respectively in all competitions.
Hussin has been a top-flight assistant referee since the 2014/15 campaign, and worked 20 matches in the division last term. He also served with Jones during international friendlies involving Austria and Moldova, and Scotland and Northern Ireland, in 2023/24.
Davies worked as an assistant at 24 Premier League games last season, and this Palace trip will be the first time he has officiated at an Irons clash since the 2-1 win at Luton Town in September 2023.
Andy Davies will serve as the fourth official on Saturday.
An experienced whistler across the EFL, Davies has worked as a fourth official in the Premier League 20 times throughout his career, including four matches featuring West Ham.
Finally, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties are set to be overseen by Paul Tierney. The 43-year-old refereed West Ham’s away games against Fulham and Luton Town last season.
