Scott Tallis will make his EFL debut on Tuesday when he referees Dale’s home game versus Tranmere Rovers.
The Coventry official is presumably in line for promotion for next season and is one of several similar referees who have been appointed to League Two fixtures in recent weeks.
Moreover, Scott was the man in the middle for the big National League encounter between Wrexham and Notts County on Easter Monday.
Mr Tallis has refereed in the National League for the last three seasons and ended last term with Halifax v Chesterfield in the play-offs.
In addition to his fifth tier games, Scott has also refereed Walsall v MK Dons in the Papa John’s Trophy and Shrewsbury v York in the FA Cup this season. He also regularly takes charge of matches in Premier League 2, which is essentially the U21 league for Premier League clubs.
Mr Tallis’s 14 appointments in the National League this term have seen him show 48 yellow cards and two reds.