Essex-based referee Fred Graham is the man in charge of Dale’s trip to Peterborough on Saturday.
We last saw Mr Graham in August 2013 when he refereed Dale’s 1-1 draw at Oxford in the embryonic stages of our promotion campaign.
The season before that Fred was in the middle for an embarrassing 4-2 defeat at Aldershot (for whom Peter Vincenti scored), while ten months earlier he was in the middle for our excellent 1-1 draw at League One champions-elect, Charlton.
His full list of Dale games is:
Oct 06 Lincoln v Rochdale L 1-7
Sep 07 Barnet v Rochdale D 0-0
Oct 09 Burton v Rochdale L 0-1
Mar 10 Rochdale v Grimsby W 4-1
Feb 12 Charlton v Rochdale D 1-1
Dec 12 Aldershot v Rochdale L 2-4
Aug 13 Oxford v Rochdale D 1-1
Fred’s league career, which is rumoured to be coming to an end at the conclusion of this season, has been rather chequered.
He was promoted to the Football League list in 2004, but only lasted one season before returning to the Conference and reserve team matches.
However, Mr Graham must have done well in 2005/06, because he was immediately promoted back again.
Fred has since been a stalwart Football League official and has refereed over 300 games in all three divisions and the various cup competitions.
This season he has also taken charge of matches at Burnley, Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Accrington and Wigan, which, given his Essex roots, suggests Fred has asked the appointments secretary to allow him to referee at every Football League ground.
His most recent fixture was Bristol Rovers v Crawley last Saturday and in total this term, Mr Graham has refereed 28 matches, showing 109 yellow cards and one red.