Dale’s home local derby against Oldham Athletic on Saturday lunchtime will be refereed by STEPHEN PARKINSON.

The Watford-based official earned a mid-term promotion to the National League list of referees in 2022/23 and has since progressed to the list that covers League One, League Two and the National League.

A former German teacher who now works in health and well-being, Stephen mainly refereed in League One and League Two last season, with his 35 games producing 124 yellow cards and two red cards.

This term has seen him in the middle in six games to date, the most recent being Colchester v Crewe last weekend.

Saturday will see Mr Parkinson appearing at Spotland for the first time, although he has refereed us in three away games.

In August 2023, he was in the middle for our 3-2 defeat at Woking, while in November 2024, Stephen officiated a 2-0 loss at Wealdstone. Two months later, he refereed Dale’s 2-1 win at Worthing in the FA Trophy.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters