Ben Toner will travel from Darwen for Dale’s first visit to the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

The official is in his fourth season on the referees’ list and this will be his seventh appointment at a Dale game and the third this year!

In January, Ben refereed Dale’s Checkatrade Trophy tie versus Lincoln and a month later he was in charge of our League One fixture at Wigan.

Last December he was the fourth official at our 1-1 home draw with Walsall and just short of 12 months ago, Mr Toner was the man in the middle for the dramatic 2-1 win over Doncaster at the Crown Oil Arena.

In December 2016, Ben was in charge of Dale’s 3-2 home defeat of Scunthorpe and in March 2016 he officiated our 2-0 loss at Shrewsbury.

A 33-year-old science teacher in Fleetwood, Ben has refereed three games this term, showing five yellow cards.

His most recent match was Carlisle’s 2-1 home win over Port Vale last Tuesday, while in round one of the Carabao Cup he refereed Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday.

Photo: Action Images

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