Dale’s Easter Monday game at Hartlepool United will be refereed by DALE BAINES.

That’s right, Dale will be refereed by Dale!

The Liverpool official is in his third full season on the National List, meaning he referees in the National League, League One, League Two and the various cups.

His most recent game was Solihull Moors v Altrincham last Saturday, while his last Dale appointment was our 2-1 win at Tamworth in November.

He has already been to Hartlepool this season, overseeing their 2-1 loss to York in October.

Dale has previous history with this fixture having refereed Dale’s 3-2 win at Victoria Park in October 2023.

Later in that season, he was in the middle for our 1-0 home defeat of Maidenhead and then for another 1-0 home win just over a year ago against Gateshead.

Dale has significant footballing pedigree in that he is the brother of former Wigan and Everton defender Leighton Baines, who made 582 appearances at club level before retiring in 2020

Photo: Action Images via Reuters