Dale’s game at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday will be refereed by JAMES DURKIN.

The Dorset-based official is the son of former Premier League and FIFA referee Paul Durkin, who retired in 2004.

Paul refereed at France ‘98 (his solitary game was Italy v Austria), having taken charge of the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Newcastle in the same year.

James has been refereeing in the National League since the 2019/20 season, when his first game was Sutton United v Barnet.

He has been a regular on the appointments list since then and this term has been part of the newly-aligned group of officials who referee in League One, League Two and the National League.

His only National League match this season was Dale’s 2-0 win at Aldershot in September, but James has taken charge of 11 games in the EFL, most recently Stockport v Mansfield a fortnight ago.

We saw him at Spotland early last term for Dale’s 4-2 win over Barnet.

Mr Durkin was also appointed to a number of League Two fixtures towards the end of last term, before his biggest achievement came when he refereed the National League play-off final at Wembley between Bromley and Solihull Moors.

Photo: Action Images

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