With little chance of the game being called off due to the weather, resident referees expert TVOS takes a look at ref Neil Swarbrick of Preston who will be in charge of this game.
Neil Swarbrick referees Dale in a Lancashire derby match for the second season running and let’s hope we see the same outcome as last time.
The Preston-based official was in the middle at Accrington last season, when he sent-off David Perkins in the first half as Dale went in 1-0 down at the interval.
However, Kallum Higginbotham and Glenn Murray struck after the break to give ten-man Dale three vital points.
Mr Swarbrick’s previous Dale game before that was one of the most memorable in living memory, as he was the referee in January 2007 when we thrashed MK Dons 5-0 at Spotland, with new loan striker Adam Le Fondre scoring twice.
He was also the man-in-the-middle in January 2006 when Jermaine Easter’s spectacular goal gave Stockport a 1-0 win at Spotland.
This is Neil’s fourth season on the referees’ list and this term he has been involved in two FA Cup giant-killings.
He was the referee when Blyth defeated Shrewsbury 3-1 in round one and followed that up with Histon’s defeat of Leeds three weeks later.
Altogether, in 22 games this season Neil has shown 51 yellow cards and four red.
REFWORLD PROFILE: http://www.refworld.com/referee/174/0
Some famous Neils
2 famous Swarbricks