Mark Clattenburg has been selected to referee next month's FA Cup final for the first time, as Crystal Palace meet Manchester United at Wembley.
Clattenburg, 41, said that his previous Wembley experience will be a help for the game at the national stadium on May 21, having been in charge for the 2012 League Cup final, won by Liverpool against Cardiff City
The Gosforth-based official was also in the middle for the Gold Medal match at the 2012 London Olympics football final, when Mexico defeated Brazil.
His most recent match was Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first leg tie between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Mark Clattenburg 'honoured' after being appointed to referee 2016 #EmiratesFACup Final https://t.co/EeOhrojYMx pic.twitter.com/3IgMAT3pTP
- The FA (@FA) April 28, 2016
"It came out of the blue," Clattenburg said. "These days you get told of what games you're doing by text, but when you see a call coming in from the FA referees' department you know it's important.
"I think every referee who hasn't refereed the [FA] Cup final works hard every season to hopefully referee one of the most prestigious and important cup finals in the world.
"You set yourself goals at the start of the season, and mine was to referee in the FA Cup final. It's an honour and a massive achievement.
"One of the positives is that I have been at Wembley on quite a few occasions. To referee at Wembley for the first time is quite an experience but once you've done it a few times you become a little bit more appreciative to try to enjoy the experience."
At Wembley, he will be joined by assistant referees John Brooks and Andrew Halliday, fourth official Neil Swarbrick, and reserve assistant referee Michael Salisbury.
It is also not the first time that United and Palace have met each other at Wembley, having done so in 1990. The FA Cup final was decided by a replay, after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the original tie. The replay was decided in United's favour by a Lee Martin goal.
Clattenburg said: "I remember watching Manchester United and Crystal Palace. The tradition of these two teams 26 years ago and that famous game -- it's amazing how these games relive. Hopefully it will be as good as it was all those years ago."