Declan Bourne is the man in the middle for Dale’s home game versus Swindon Town on Saturday.

The Nottinghamshire police officer is in his second season on the National List and this will be his fifth Dale appointment, although one of the games never took place!

That was on New Year’s Day when Mr Bourne was appointed to our home fixture versus Mansfield, only for Covid to force a postponement.

When the match was rearranged, Seb Stockbridge stepped into the middle instead.

Back in October, Declan refereed Dale’s 2-1 win at Barrow, while in January 2021, he oversaw another 2-1 win, this time at Bristol Rovers.

Two months before that game, Mr Bourne had been at Spotland, where a customary injury-time goal for AFC Wimbledon gave them a 1-0 victory over Brian Barry-Murphy’s hapless Rochdale team.

Declan’s first match at EFL level was Port Vale v Tranmere in the Papa John’s Trophy in September 2020, before he refereed Oldham v Leyton Orient in his debut league fixture.

Saturday will be his 21st appointment this season, with the previous 20 producing 84 yellow cards and two reds. Mr Bourne’s last game was Harrogate v Walsall a fortnight ago.

Photo: Action Images

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