Referee Thomas Kirk will take charge of only his third game at National List level when Dale host Grimsby Town on Saturday.

The Altrincham-based whistler was promoted to the list this summer and has so far refereed Carlisle v Crawley on the opening day of the campaign and Harrogate v Stockport in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

However, he has already appeared at the Crown Oil Arena, as the man in the middle for Dale’s pre-season friendly versus Port Vale.

Thomas was promoted to referee in the National League midway through last term and finished the season by overseeing Solihull Moors v Chesterfield in the play-offs.

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