Dale’s game at Southend United on Saturday will be refereed by DECLAN BOURNE.

The Nottinghamshire police officer is in his fifth season on the National List and this will be his sixth Dale appointment, but the first for over two years.

We last saw Declan in December 2022 when he officiated the terrible 4-1 home loss to Harrogate Town in League Two.

In the previous April, Mr Bourne refereed a 0-0 home draw versus Swindon, while in October 2021 he was in the middle at Barrow where a mopping up operation by the Holker Street groundstaff allowed the game to take place, albeit after a 30-minute delay.

Dale won that match 2-1, as they did at Bristol Rovers in January 2021 in a behind closed doors fixture.

Two months before that game, Mr Bourne was at Spotland, where a customary injury-time goal for AFC Wimbledon gave them a 1-0 victory over Brian Barry-Murphy’s hapless Rochdale team.

Saturday will be Declan’s 18th appointment this season, but the first in the National League. His 17 matches to date have produced 68 yellow cards and two reds.

Photo: Action Images

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