Dale will meet a new referee on Saturday when Charles Breakspear takes charge of their game at Colchester.

The Surrey official is in his second season on the referees’ list and although he has officiated Colchester several times before, this is his first Rochdale match.

Mr Breakspear was promoted from the Conference list at the end of the 2012/13 season having refereed Wrexham v Kidderminster in the play-off semi-final.

His first Football League game was York v Northampton on the opening day of last season and he spent the majority of that campaign in League One and League Two.

The only exception was the Championship fixture between Ipswich and Bolton, a couple of FA Cup ties and Colchester’s trip to Dagenham in the JPT.

Charles’ first appointment of this season was Charlton v Colchester in the Capital One Cup, while his most recent game was Crewe v Doncaster a fortnight ago.

In total this term he has refereed 14 games, showing 41 yellow cards and six red.

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls