Dale’s first-ever game against Brackley Town on Saturday will be refereed by a new face in ISAAC SEARLE.

The Canterbury-based official, who received a mid-season promotion to the National List last January, has never refereed a Dale game before.

Isaac started last season refereeing in National League South, before taking charge of his first National League game in February at Yeovil v Wealdstone.

He continued to referee in the fifth tier for the remainder of the campaign and was then appointed to the National League North play-off final between Scunthorpe and Chester, a game in which Mr Searle remarkably showed 16 yellow cards!

Isaac’s only appointments to date in this campaign are Braintree v Halifax on the opening day and Woking v Wealdstone on Tuesday.

Photo: Action Images

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