Mark Haywood will make the relatively short trip across the M62 from Wakefield to take charge of Dale’s home game against Torquay on Saturday.
We last saw him in March for the 1-1 draw with champions-elect Gillingham, while in our League One relegation season, Mark refereed the home fixtures against Hartlepool and Walsall.
Mark was also in charge of the magnificent 2-0 midweek win over Southampton in April 2011.
Saturday will be Mr Haywood’s 12th Dale game at league level, while he has also refereed us twice in pre-season friendlies.
His full list of Dale games is:
17/10/06 Wrexham (a, JPT) D 1-1 (won on pens)
9/4/07 Barnet (h) L 0-2
24/7/07 Oldham (h, Rose Bowl) W 2-1
14/8/07 Stoke (h, CC) D 2-2 (won on pens)
1/12/07 Wrexham (h) D 0-0
21/10/08 Chester (h) W 6-1
27/2/10 Macclesfield (a) W 1-0
10/12/10 Peterborough (a) L 1-2
12/4/11 Southampton (h) W 2-0
27/8/11 Hartlepool (h) L 1-3
31/3/12 Walsall (h) D 3-3
25/7/12 Blackburn (h, Friendly) W 1-0
19/3/13 Gillingham (h) D 1-1
Previously this season, Mr Haywood has refereed six games, showing 20 yellow cards and two red.
He was in charge of the televised Capital One Cup tie between Morecambe and Newcastle, as well as the first round Huddersfield v Bradford tie.
And just in case he’s reading this, Mark is a brilliant referee who has never upset us.