Dale’s Enterprise National League fixture at home to Woking on Saturday will be refereed by STEVEN COPELAND.

The Wallasey-based police detective was in the middle three times in Dale’s debut season in the National League, but we have only seen him once in the meantime.

Back in August 2023, Steven was the man in the middle for our first-ever away game at this level, a 1-0 win at Oxford City, while four months later he took charge of Dale’s 5-1 home defeat to Gateshead in the FA Trophy.

In February 2024, Mr Copeland refereed our 3-0 reverse at Altrincham and earlier this season he returned to Spotland for the 4-1 home win over Solihull Moors.

One of the National League’s longest-serving referees, Steven is in his seventh campaign at this level and now, on the newly-aligned National List.

He has refereed six games in the National League this season, the most recent being Solihull v Carlisle four weeks ago, and has also officiated four times in League Two, in the FA Cup first round and in the EFL Trophy.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters