Dale’s trip to Highbury Stadium to take on Fleetwood Town on Saturday will be refereed by ALEX CHILOWICZ.

This is the second time Mr Chilowicz has refereed Dale, with the previous game being our 1-1 draw at Oldham in March 2025.

As written at the time, that appointment not only made Alex the first non-British referee at a Dale match, but he was also the first American.

After spending six years refereeing in the MLS in the USA, Mr Chilowicz relocated to England in the autumn of 2023 and joined the National List, with his first game being Sutton United v Mansfield Town.

This came two months after his final MLS match at Philadelphia Union v Atlanta United.

He has refereed extensively in the EFL since then, travelling all over the country from his London base. If nothing else, it has allowed him to learn where towns and cities are in England!

The 38-year-old’s most recent game in the middle was Crewe v Shrewsbury last Saturday, one of five appointments this season, which have yielded 21 yellow cards.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters