Will Finnie will referee Dale’s first away game of the season on Saturday when we make the long trip to Gillingham.
This is only the third time Mr Finnie has taken charge of a Dale match, with the most recent being the 1-0 home defeat to Oldham Athletic last September.
Will’s other Dale appointment was at Plymouth in December 2020, where a stunning Dale performance saw them return north with a 4-0 win.
The Kettering-based official is in only his fourth season on the National List and last term he refereed 36 games, showing 83 yellow cards and four reds.
Saturday is his first match of this new campaign.