Refwatch Preview: Macclesfield (h)
Saturday, 5th Dec 2009 07:27

Macc come to Spotland this afternoon, and here's our lowdown on the man in black.

Steve Cook will make his first ever visit to Spotland when he takes charge of Saturday’s game with Macclesfield.

The 25-year old referee is listed as being based in Surrey, but recent weeks have seen him referee games at Bradford and Accrington, in-between matches in the south.

Mr Cook has some history with Dale, as well as with this particular fixture.

He was the man in the middle when we won 4-3 at Shrewsbury in September 2007, a game that was his first in the Football League.

Some of his decision-making bordered on the farcical that afternoon when he looked out of his depth and incapable of officiating at this level.

He showed seven yellow cards in a match that was never dirty; it just appeared as though his card was his only method of trying to take control.

Three months later he was back for our match at Macclesfield and this time he was much-improved and got through the game with the minimum of fuss.

Fans may recall getting soaked to the skin that day as Dale came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, with Glenn Murray heading a last-minute equaliser.

It’s just over 12 months since we last saw Steve at a Dale game, although the number of Dale fans who will remember it are few and far between.

That’s because he was the referee for our 1-1 draw at Gillingham last November, when the Football League’s fixtures computer decided to send us on our longest trip of the season on a Tuesday night!

REFWORLD PROFILE: http://www.refworld.com/referee/130/1

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