Dale’s game at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday will be refereed by JAMES DURKIN.
The Dorset-based official is the son of former Premier League and FIFA referee Paul Durkin, who retired in 2004.
Paul refereed at France ‘98 (his solitary game was Italy v Austria), having taken charge of the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Newcastle in the same year.
James has been refereeing in the National League since the 2019/20 season, when his first game was Sutton United v Barnet.
He has been a regular on the appointments list since then and this term has been part of the newly-aligned group of officials who referee in League One, League Two and the National League.
His only National League match this season was Dale’s 2-0 win at Aldershot in September, but James has taken charge of 11 games in the EFL, most recently Stockport v Mansfield a fortnight ago.
We saw him at Spotland early last term for Dale’s 4-2 win over Barnet.
Mr Durkin was also appointed to a number of League Two fixtures towards the end of last term, before his biggest achievement came when he refereed the National League play-off final at Wembley between Bromley and Solihull Moors.