Thomas Kirk Appointed Referee for Hull City vs Ipswich Town

Thomas Kirk will be the man in the middle when Hull City host Ipswich Town in the Premier League. The Manchester-based official takes charge of his first Premier League game of the season, according to kingsofanglia.com. Here are the key facts on his record with both clubs and his 2026/27 statistics.

  • Fixture: Hull City vs Ipswich Town, Premier League
  • Date: Tomorrow (as reported by kingsofanglia.com)
  • Referee: Thomas Kirk (Manchester)
  • Assistant referees: Akil Howson and Andrew Dallison
  • Fourth official: Tony Harrington
  • VAR: Neil Davies; Assistant VAR: Nick Greenhalgh

Referee Thomas Kirk: Career and Record

Thomas Kirk is a Manchester-based referee who made his Premier League debut last season. He has officiated five Ipswich Town games in total, with the most recent being the 2-2 away draw with Southampton in the Championship at the end of last season. Jack Clarke scored a late equaliser for Kieran McKenna's side at St Mary's Stadium to take their automatic promotion push to the final day.

Kirk's other Ipswich games include the 3-3 draw away to Stoke City in March 2026 in the Championship, where he awarded Stoke a penalty. He also took charge of the 3-1 defeat at Leicester City in December 2025 and the 3-1 win over Norwich City in October 2025, both in the Championship. His first Ipswich game was the 2-1 win at Morecambe in October 2022 in League One, where he awarded Town two penalties.

Regarding Hull City, Kirk has overseen four fixtures previously. His last was the 2-2 draw away with Leicester City in the second tier last season. He awarded the Foxes a penalty in that game, with current Ipswich star Abdul Fatawu winning the spot kick after being fouled in the box by Lewis Koumas. Hull have won just once when Kirk has been in charge, drawing one and losing the other two.

Thomas Kirk's 2026/27 Season So Far

Kirk has taken charge of seven games in all competitions this term. His last was Bradford City's 2-0 home win over Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup last 16 on Tuesday evening. In total, he has handed out 31 yellow cards and one red this season, but is yet to award a spot kick. This will be his first Premier League match of the season.

What This Means for Hull City

Hull City will be hoping to improve their record under Thomas Kirk, having won just once in four previous games with him in charge. The Tigers have drawn one and lost two of the other three. Kirk's tendency to avoid awarding penalties this season – none in seven games – could be a factor, though he has awarded spot kicks in past Hull and Ipswich matches.

For Ipswich, Kirk's record is mixed: two wins, two draws and one defeat in five games. The most recent meeting was the dramatic 2-2 at Southampton, where Jack Clarke's late equaliser kept their promotion push alive. Ipswich will be familiar with Kirk's officiating style, having had him in charge five times since 2022.

The appointment of Kirk for this Premier League clash signals his first top-flight game of the campaign. With 31 yellow cards and one red in seven games, players can expect a strict approach, though he has yet to point to the spot this season. Both teams will need to adapt to his leniency in the box.

Talking points

  • Thomas Kirk takes charge of his first Premier League game of the season, having officiated seven games in all competitions in 2026/27.
  • Hull City have won just once in four previous matches under Kirk, drawing one and losing two.
  • Kirk has awarded penalties in past games involving both clubs, including two for Ipswich at Morecambe and one for Leicester against Hull.

What happens next

Hull City and Ipswich Town meet at the MKM Stadium tomorrow, with Thomas Kirk as referee. The match is a Premier League fixture. Following this game, Kirk's next appointment will be confirmed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

Frequently asked questions

Who is the referee for Hull City vs Ipswich Town?

Thomas Kirk will referee the Premier League match between Hull City and Ipswich Town. He is a Manchester-based official who made his Premier League debut last season.

What is Hull City's record under Thomas Kirk?

Hull City have won just once in four games refereed by Kirk, drawing one and losing two. Their last match under him was a 2-2 draw away at Leicester City in the Championship last season.

How many cards has Thomas Kirk issued this season?

In the 2026/27 season, Kirk has handed out 31 yellow cards and one red in seven games across all competitions. He has not awarded a penalty this season.

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