Referee STUART MORLAND will officiate at Spotland for the first time when he takes charge of Dale’s televised home fixture against Southend United on Saturday.

The Liverpool official is in his first season refereeing in the National League and Saturday will be his fourth appointment of the campaign at this level.

He started with York v Boston on August Bank Holiday Monday and has since taken charge of Ebbsfleet v Halifax and Hartlepool v Dagenham & Redbridge.

Mr Morland also regularly referees in Premier League 2 and was also in the middle a couple of weeks ago at Oldham v Stoke U21 in the National League Cup.

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls