I will start the first Refwatch of the season with what I wrote about James Durkin for the Barnet Refwatch last September: It is easier to find more information about the father of Saturday’s referee than the referee himself!

Saturday’s man in the middle for Dale’s first fixture of the 2024/25 season is ZAC KENNARD-KETTLE, son of the ever-popular Trevor Kettle, who retired from the National List two years ago.

Zac is based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne after studying at university there and has progressed through the ranks to become a member of the newly-formed Development Group of referees for this season.

This basically means he will be refereeing across League One, League Two and the National League, as well as the various cup competitions.

The young official made his National League debut in February, refereeing Hartlepool v Boreham Wood, and went on to take charge of three more fixtures at that level before the end of the campaign.

He then refereed Boston’s National League North play-off semi-final at Scunthorpe, which The Pilgrims won on penalties on their way to promotion to the fifth tier.

Photo: Action Images

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