Merseyside referee STEVEN COPELAND will take charge of Dale for the second time this season when we host Gateshead on Tuesday night.
The Wallasey-based police detective refereed our first away game of the campaign at Oxford City in August, which Dale won 1-0 courtesy of Ian Henderson’s second half goal.
He has since overseen a further seven matches this term, including Port Vale v Crewe in the Papa John’s Trophy as part of a development programme.
Steven’s eight games this season, his fifth in the National League, have seen him show 29 yellow cards and two reds.