▁Edinburgh ' s ▁Award ▁and ▁became ▁an ▁assistant ▁ref eree ▁in ▁the ▁Northern ▁League ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 8 , ▁later ▁ref ere eing ▁in ▁that ▁league . ▁He ▁became ▁both ▁a ▁Football ▁Conference ▁ref eree ▁and ▁a ▁Football ▁League ▁assistant ▁ref eree ▁in ▁the ▁year ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁but ▁was ▁rapidly ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁National ▁List ▁of ▁Football ▁League ▁ref ere es ▁in ▁the ▁year ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁He ▁had ▁served ▁only ▁one ▁year ▁as ▁an ▁assistant ▁– ▁a ▁record ▁shared ▁with ▁Steve ▁B aines ▁– ▁but ▁his ▁promise ▁led ▁to ▁quick er ▁promotion . ▁His ▁debut ▁Football ▁League ▁match ▁( at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁just ▁ 2 5 ▁– ▁a ▁one - time ▁post - W ar ▁record ) ▁was ▁between ▁Ch ester field ▁and ▁York ▁City ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁with ▁Ch ester field ▁winning ▁ 4 – 1 . ▁Cl atten burg ▁was ▁then ▁fourth ▁official ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 1 – 0 2 ▁Division ▁Three ▁play - off ▁final ▁and ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 – 0 3 ▁FA ▁Tro phy ▁final . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 – 0 3 ▁season , ▁Cl atten burg ▁was ▁chosen ▁to ▁ref eree ▁two ▁play - off ▁semi - final s ▁– ▁the ▁Division ▁One ▁first - leg ▁ 1 – 1 ▁draw ▁between ▁Not ting ham ▁Forest ▁and ▁She ff ield ▁United ▁at ▁the ▁City ▁Gr ound ▁on