Dale’s home game against Boston United on Tuesday will be refereed by ROBERT MASSEY-ELLIS.

This is the third time we have attempted to play this fixture and Robert becomes the third different referee appointed to it!

The Coventry-based official has never refereed a Dale game before and as such will be making his Spotland debut on Tuesday.

The husband (and Ellis part) of Premier League assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis, Robert has refereed in the National League since early in the 2020/21 season.

However, if Soccerbase is to be believed, this is his first middle assignment in Lancashire!

Aged a little over 40, Robert is an Executive Director of a Medical Centre. Indeed, whilst his wife was travelling the world officiating in all the top women’s tournaments, Robert has been engaged in all sorts of worthy activities, including Operations Manager for the RSPCA, Management in the British Red Cross and Medical Manager for the British Army.

This season has seen Mr Massey-Ellis referee 13 games in the National League, one of which was Boston’s 2-1 home defeat to AFC Fylde in October.

His last match was Aldershot v Gateshead just over a week ago and all told, his appointments have yielded 48 yellow cards and four red cards.

Photo: Action Images

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