Referee Dean Whitestone will take charge of a Rochdale league game for the first time in almost two-and-a-half years when we visit Bristol Rovers on Monday.

Although he refereed the pre-season friendly against Preston at Spotland in July, we last saw the Northamptonshire-based official in a league game when Dale were beaten 3-0 at Sheffield United in December 2011.

Three months before that, Dean was in the middle for a 2-0 defeat at Notts County, which in itself was the first time we had seen him since the 2-1 loss at Port Vale in December 2008 when he gave Dale a penalty and sent-off the home side’s Danny Glover.

Mr Whitestone also featured in another meeting with Notts County as earlier in 2008 he refereed the fine 4-2 home win over The Magpies as we closed in on the League Two play-offs.

Twelve months earlier Dean was in the middle for the tempestuous final home game of the season against Hartlepool which Dale won 2-0, although three red cards, two penalties and a mass brawl kept the referee on his toes.

We also saw Dean for Dale’s 2-1 win at Grimsby in October 2007 and the 1-1 draw at Cheltenham in February 2006.

Before Saturday, when he was due at Torquay v Dagenham, Mr Whitestone had refereed 31 games this tem, showing 81 yellow cards and four red.

His recent appointments include the Championship fixture between Burnley and Middlesbrough and Southend v Oxford which was broadcast live by Sky.

Photo: Action Images

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