Samuel Barrott will become the first ‘new’ referee at a Dale game this season when we travel to Morecambe in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
The Huddersfield official is in his debut season on the National List and this will be his first appointment at this level.
Mr Barrott spent last season refereeing in the National League, with his performances and assessments culminating in his appointment to the play-off semi-final between Notts County and Barnet in July.
He was also impressing earlier in the campaign, as shown by him receiving a game in the first-round proper of the FA Cup, Stourbridge v Eastleigh.
In total last term, Samuel refereed 17 matches in which he showed 44 yellow cards and two red.