Kidderminster Harriers’ first visit to Spotland in 19 years on Saturday will be refereed by GARRETH RHODES.
Based in Selby, this will be Mr Rhodes’ second Dale game of the season as he was in the middle for our opening day encounter against Ebbsfleet.
He was also due to referee the home fixture versus Altrincham in November, but was replaced by Andrew Miller.
An Operations Manager for a construction company, as a youngster, Garreth had trials with professional clubs and represented West Riding County FA at U18 level.
He didn’t make it into the professional game, but went on to play for Tadcaster Albion and Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League.
Injuries brought Mr Rhodes’ playing career to a premature end and he started refereeing in 2008. After 10 years he reached his current level of Panel Select referee and is in his sixth season at National League level.
Before the Christmas programme, Garreth had refereed ten National League fixtures this term, as well as Northampton Town v Oxford United in the EFL Trophy and Curzon Ashton v Barnet in the first round of the FA Cup.
Those appointments yielded 54 yellow cards and five reds.