Dale fans will hope history doesn’t repeat itself when Tony Harrington referees Tuesday’s night’s match against Sheffield United.
The Hartlepool-based official last took charge of a game at Spotland in November 2013 when Scunthorpe were the visitors. Fans will recall The Iron won 4-0 and Dale ended the evening with only nine men on the pitch!
Olly Lancashire and Jack O’Connell were the two players sent-off, although to the chagrin of many, both decisions were probably correct.
Ironically, Tony was also the referee when we visited Scunthorpe as recently as Boxing Day, but his performance wasn’t even commented on as Dale went down to a 2-1 defeat.
The PE teacher actually refereed his first Football League game at Spotland on the opening day of the 2012/13 season against Northampton.
He officiated in the bottom two divisions throughout that campaign, but has picked-up more Championship and cup appointments in the last term and a half, including Nottingham Forest v Blackpool on the opening day of this season, the recent Derby v Bolton fixture and the FA Cup third round tie between Cambridge and Luton last month.
In total this season, Tony has refereed 22 games, showing 61 yellow cards and no red.