SATURDAY'S Premier League clash between West Ham and Newcastle United will be refereed by the controversial Uriah Rennie.

Sheffield-based Rennie, 48, is one of the top-flight's most recognisable men in the middle.

He practices both kick-boxing and the martial art of aikido, has a Master's degree in Business Administration and Law and, away from football, is a magistrate in his home city.

His career in the Premier League began in 1997 - punctuated by a one-year drop down to the Football League in 2000/01 due to poor performance.

And during that 11-year period, Rennie has had run-ins with many managers and players, including Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan.

Speaking after his Manchester City side had lost an FA Cup tie to a disputed Liverpool penalty - given for handball by former West Ham midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe - in 2003, Keegan said; "I never talk about Uriah Rennie except to say I don't like him as a referee - never have, never will, end of story."

Keegan went on to describe Rennie as "a law unto himself".

Rennie has taken charge of one Newcastle game this season sending off Turkish midfielder Emre in the 4-1 FA Cup victory over Stoke City - ironically the night Keegan was unveiled as Toon boss for the second time.

In another coincidence, his last West Ham assignment came in the Irons' 2-2 Premier League draw at St James' Park last season, when he gave a controversial goal after James Milner's strike went through the legs of Scott Parker when the then-Newcastle midfielder was standing yards offside.

The South Yorkshire official has not been in the middle for any West Ham games this season, but he has taken charge of a total of four Premier League, nine Championship and eight other League One, Two and FA Cup matches.

He has dished out seven red cards and 59 yellows in the 21 matches he has refereed this term.