Bobby Madley to referee Rochdale home clash

The West Yorkshire-based official will travel to the Sands Venue Stadium for his 26th game of the season and eighth involvement in Sky Bet League Two.

Formerly a Select Group One referee, he then began officiating in Norway, before accepting the opportunity to return as a National List official in 2020. The brother of now Premier League referee Andrew, Bobby made his Premier League debut in April 2013 and went onto officiate 92 top flight encounters issuing 305 yellow cards and nine reds.

His last game involving the Iron was way back in February 2017 at Roots Hall when a Murray Wallace early goal was cancelled out by three from the Shrimpers to take all three points. Seven cautions, including yellow cards for Wallace, Stephen Dawson, Duane Holmes and Ivan Toney, were shown, while Neal Bishop was shown a straight red card - a decision that was later rescinded on appeal. He had been due to take charge of the Papa John's Trophy Group Stage match against Doncaster Rovers earlier in the season, but withdrew hours before kick-off through illness.

Prior to that encounter against Southend, you have to go back to 2011-12 when he last middled a Scunthorpe game. Ironically the 10-year anniversary of that fixture came on Monday when he oversaw a 1-0 win for the Iron against the same opponents as this weekend, with Garry Thompson netting the winner. In total, across three games refereeing United, he's issued 12 yellow cards and two reds.

He's officiated just nine Rochdale matches in the past, with the last coming just over 10 months ago. The game that will stick out from a Rochdale fans' perspective is the 2-2 draw at Spotland in the FA Cup against Tottenham, with the side winning just one of the nine games with Madley in charge - and that was the first back in 2011. Across all nine games, he's issued 27 yellow cards and three reds.

Last season, he took charge of 36 matches, issuing 119 yellow cards and five red. So far in 25 games this season, he's given out 83 yellow cards and three reds.

On Saturday, he will be assisted by Bradley Hall and Stephen Finch, while Alan Clayton has been appointed as the fourth official.

PAST SCUNTHORPE UNITED ENCOUNTERS

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