Dale will meet a new referee at a new venue on Saturday when Ben Speedie takes charge of our first-ever visit to Sutton United.

The Liverpool-based official is in his second season on the National List, although he is yet to referee a Dale game.

He was due to officiate our match away to AFC Wimbledon just over a year ago, but that game was postponed and Carl Brook refereed the rearrangement.

However, Ben has been involved in a more recent Dale match as he was the fourth official at last week’s 1-1 home draw with Port Vale.

Mr Speedie made his EFL debut at Carlisle v Fleetwood in the Papa John’s Trophy in September 2020, while his first league appointment was Scunthorpe v Newport.

Ben refereed 29 matches last season and has already added a further 30 this term.

He was most recently at Burton v Shrewsbury last Saturday and his 30 games have yielded 87 yellow cards and four reds.

Photo: Action Images

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