Dale’s game at Eastleigh on Saturday will be refereed by AARON FARMER.
In a quirk of the appointments, the Essex official, who works as a Bids & Operations Manager at Grant Thornton UK LLP, also refereed Dale on the same weekend last season, when they came from behind to win 2-1 at Dorking with two very late goals.
Aaron is in his second season officiating in the National League, but Saturday is only his second game of this campaign.
However, last term he oversaw 18 National League fixtures, including bizarrely (on geographical grounds) Eastleigh's trips to Hartlepool and Oldham.
Away from the National League, Mr Farmer also officiates in Premier League 2, which is the reserve league for Premier League clubs.