Dale head to Bradford this Tuesday evening, and we take a look at the man in black.

David Foster took charge of his first Football League game at Spotland on the opening day of the 2006/07 season when Dale faced Walsall. It was a drab affair for Mr Foster and for us as well as the Saddlers won 1-0.

His first season at league level was very low key and he only refereed matches in the bottom two divisions, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and the FA Cup.

That FA Cup tie was memorable for all Dale fans as it saw bury win 3-1 at Chester before being chucked out of the competition.

David then missed the first month of the 2007/08 season through injury, but appeared at Spotland at the start of November for our 1-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge.

He was then injured again at the start of last term and didn’t referee a game until the first week of October.

Two months later, on Boxing Day, he was back at Spotland for Dale’s 2-1 defeat of Shrewsbury in which Lee McEvilly scored twice after Grant Holt had put the visitors ahead with League Two’s Goal of the Season.

Dave’s last Bradford game was in April when they drew 1-1 at home with Brentford.

REFWORLD PROFILE: http://www.refworld.com/referee/168/1

5 famous Daves/Davids

• Dave Spikey
• Dave Butterworth
• Dave Esser
• Dave Felgate
• Rodney Trotter

5 famous Fosters

• Lager
• Brendan Foster
• Neil Foster
• Dr Foster
• Foster Square Station

Photo: Action Images via Reuters