Oxford is a city known for being a seat of learning, its dreaming spires and Inspector Morse, so it is perhaps fitting that Saturday’s referee is a senior police officer!

STEVEN COPELAND is the man in the middle for Dale’s first competitive game against Oxford City and he will also be making the trip down the M6 and M40 from his base in Wallasey on Merseyside.

Mr Copeland has worked in the Merseyside Police Force for the last 13 years and is now a Police Detective.

This is his fifth season at National League level and Saturday will be his first appointment of this campaign.

Last term he oversaw 18 National League fixtures, showing 62 yellow cards and one red.

Photo: Action Images

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