Dale will meet a new match official on Boxing Day when their second visit of the campaign to AFC Fylde is refereed by ELLIOTT SWALLOW.

Now based in Cardiff and working for Transport for Wales, Elliott is originally from the Lancaster area and has no doubt requested a game in the North-West as he returns home for the Christmas period.

With an MSc in Sustainable Water Management from Lancaster University, the 30-year-old is probably one of the most educated referees on the circuit.

He has been around the National League for a number of seasons, with his first game being Barnet v Dover back in August 2019.

This term has seen him referee seven matches in the National League before the holiday period, with the most eventful coming at Aldershot v Wealdstone last month, where the home side had two players sent-off in the final nine minutes in their 2-0 defeat.

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls