Dale will meet Dean Whitestone of Northampton for the second time this term when he takes charge of the rearranged game with Notts County.

He was in the middle at Grimsby in October when goals from Alfie and Glenn Murray gave Dale a 2-1 win.

However, to say his last appearance at Spotland was eventful would be a massive understatement.

The game in question was against Hartlepool at the back end of last season when the statistics read:

Result: Dale 2, Hartlepool 0

Penalties: Dale 2 (one scored), Hartlepool 1 (missed)

Red Cards: Dale 1 (Doolan), Hartlepool 2 (Barker & Monkhouse)

Yellow Cards: Dale 2 (Goodall, Murray), Hartlepool 2 (Liddle, Porter)

Dean’s only other Dale game came in February 2006 when he was still registered as a Conference official. It was decided to give the top non-league referees a few Football League matches to test them out and we saw Dean in the middle at Cheltenham.

Dale drew this match 1-1 thanks to a Rickie Lambert goal and Dean’s performance was, I seem to recall, fairly competent again.

Dean was also the man in charge of the Conference play-off final in 2006 when Hereford beat Halifax 3-2 at the Walker’s Stadium.

Some famous Deans

• Dean Saunders
• Pearl & Dean
• Peter Dean (Pete Beale from Eastenders)
• Dean Martin (crooner)
• Dean Martin (ex-Dale midfielder)
• Dean Jones (loose-lipped ex-Australian batsman)
• Brian Deane
• James Dean
• Hazel Dean

Photo: Action Images

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