Michael Oliver will take charge of the 2014 FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday 10 August.
The Northumberland County FA official will oversee the prestigious annual fixture, in which last season's FA Cup winners Arsenal take on Premier League champions Manchester City.
Arsenal v Manchester City
The FA Community Shield
3pm, Sunday 10 August 2014
Wembley connected by EE
Live on BT Sport
Making up Oliver’s team of match officials on the day will be assistant referees Stuart Burt [Northamptonshire FA] and Darren England [Sheffield & Hallamshire FA], fourth official Jon Moss [West Riding FA] and reserve assistant referee Harry Lennard [Sussex FA].
It will be the fifth time that the 29-year-old has refereed at Wembley Stadium, the last occasion being in April for The FA Cup Semi-Final between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic.
He said: "I was delighted to be told I’d been chosen to referee this year’s FA Community Shield. It’s a game I’ve followed for many years both as a fan and as a referee. It’s still a competitive fixture and everyone, from the fans and players involved, look forward to this fixture at the start of the new season.
"For me, Wembley is up there in the top two or three best places in the world to referee. It’s our national stadium and where we have all our major finals and where England play but also when you travel around the world, it’s a stadium that everyone knows. It has a great atmosphere and is a great place to officiate.
Oliver has been keeping a close eye on the World Cup this summer
"I’m sure there will be a cross between nerves and excitement which I guess is the same for everyone involved in an occasion there. Certainly, a game at Wembley adds that extra excitement and enjoyment for everyone."
And with the 2014 World Cup currently going on in Brazil, Oliver described how seeing Howard Webb and his team of English match officials playing their part in such a magnificent occasion was a huge boost to the English game.
He added: "I’ve watched the games Howard and his team have officiated in and it’s great to see those who you spend a lot of time with back home out there representing The FA and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, but on top of that doing a good job as well.
"Refereeing at a World Cup is certainly something I’d like to consider being a long-term aim of mine but that doesn’t happen by fluke and it takes a lot of hard work over a number of years but it’s certainly something I’d be aiming for."
