Dale’s first league game at Spotland in five weeks (weather permitting) will be refereed by West Yorkshire official David Coote.

The Halifax-based official is in his fifth season on the league list and Saturday will mark his first appearance at Spotland.

However, we have previously met Mr Coote in away fixtures, although at those times he was based in Nottinghamshire.

In February 2012 David refereed Dale’s rather dire 0-0 draw at Colchester, but ten men months later he took charge of a significantly more exciting game in which John Coleman’s team won 4-2 at Bradford.

Mr Coote spent most of his first season refereeing in League One and League Two, but has since progressed to take charge of more high profile matches, including many in the Championship.

However, these were surpassed last May when David was appointed as the referee for the League One play-off final at Wembley in which Rotherham came from 2-0 down to defeat Leyton Orient 3-2.

This season has seen him take charge of some more notable fixtures, such as Brentford v Fulham in the Championship and Wolves v Fulham in the FA Cup third round replay.

Mr Coote was also seen on BBC television in November as the man in the middle for Warrington v Exeter in the first round of the FA Cup.

In total this term, David had refereed 17 games, showing 73 yellow cards and two red.

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