Nigel Miller will make his 11th and possibly final visit to Spotland on Tuesday for Dale’s game with Portsmouth.
The County Durham official was thought to be retiring from duty last season and was rewarded for his services by being appointed to the JPT Final between Crewe and Southend.
In the event he was handed an extension into this campaign, but didn’t referee until late-November due to fitness issues.
He’s appeared regularly in the middle since then, so maybe Nigel’s extension will go on longer than first thought.
We last saw Mr Miller a year ago when he refereed the 1-1 home draw with Aldershot. That stalemate ended a run of five consecutive defeats with Nigel as the referee, as this list shows:
Dec 2003 v Boston (h), W 1-0
Oct 2004 v Yeovil (h), W 2-1
Nov 2005 v Chester (h), D 2-2
Apr 2007 v Macclesfield (h), W 5-0
Mar 2008 v Stockport (a), L 0-2
Oct 2008 v Carlisle (h, JPT), D 2-2
Nov 2009 v Notts Co (h), W 2-1
Aug 2010 v Colchester (h), L 1-2
Mar 2011 v Huddersfield (a), L 1-2
Aug 2011 v Sheffield Wed (a), L 0-2
Mar 2012 v Tranmere (h), L 0-2
Oct 2012 v Morecambe (h), L 1-2
Mar 2013 v Aldershot (h), D 1-1
So far this season, Nigel has refereed 15 games, showing 27 yellow cards. His most recent appointment as the man in the middle was at Accrington v Morecambe last Tuesday, while on Saturday he was fourth official at Manchester City v Fulham.