Meet The Vertu Trophy Ref - Latics v Salford

Latics kick off their Vertu Trophy campaign on Tuesday evening with a home tie against League Two club, Salford City, Derby based official, Richard Eley is scheduled to be in charge.

The 28 year old is in his 2^nd season as an EFL referee but he is still dipping his toe back into the National League, his four games so far this season have been split evenly between League Two and The National League.

Previous Games

Richard Eley has refereed the Latics once previously, last season’s League One away day at Crawley, a 1:1 draw on a cold Tuesday in February, Dale Taylor with the goal, Owen Dale and Jensen Weir picking up yellows

Eley was also the 4^th official for our opening game of last season, our 0:1 home defeat to Charlton in August 2024.

This will be the Derby based official’s first game involving Salford City.

Richard Eley Previous Latics Game

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
18 Feb 2025	League One	Crawley Town 1:1 Latics	2Y

Richard Eley Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 4

Yellows –17

Reds – 0

Penalty Awards – 0

Wigan Athletic v Salford City
Referee – Richard Eley
Assistants – Adam Burgess and Tom Harty
Fourth Official – Matt Malton

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Latics podcast featuring a preview of the Salford game.

Meet The Ref - Latics v Stockport Pt 2

Saturday sees us welcome Stockport County back to the Brick Community Stadium for Part 2 of this week’s serial, the referee for this game is scheduled to be Cleveland official, Ross Joyce.

The 37 year old from Eston near Middlesbrough began refereeing as a punishment, let me explain, Joyce was sent off in a youth team game for a tirade of foul language aimed at the match official, as part of his punishment he was ordered to attend a six week refereeing programme.

Ross says - "It was a one-off, a cup game, which was important, and I lost my temper, got a bit upset and swore at the referee, so he sent me off for it

"The club I was playing for recommended I did the course and it went from there.

"I love being a referee. It's very enjoyable and exciting as every game brings a new challenge. It's a great way to be involved in the game and although it takes a lot of commitment, it's definitely worth it come a Saturday afternoon."

Ross Joyce was promoted to the National List of ref’s for the 2015/16 season, he has now got over 300 games in League Football under his belt.

Previous Games

The first of Joyce’s 11 Latics’ games was our 3:1 home win over Chesterfield in his first season officiating in the League, he had one Latics’ game last season, our rearranged home fixture with Huddersfield in February which we won 2:1.

Joyce works as a sports development coach in his day job.

Ross Joyce’s Last Six Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
25 Feb 2025	League One	Latics 2:1 Huddersfield	1Y
14 Nov 2023	EFL Trophy	Tranmere 0:0 Latics	3Y
12 Aug 2023	League One	Latics 2:1 Northampton	2Y
16 Apr 2022	League One	Latics 1:2 Cambridge	2Y
04 Jan 2022	EFL Trophy	Oldham 0:6 Latics	0
02 Nov 2021	League One	Fleetwood 2:3 Latics	2Y

Ross Joyce Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 3

Yellows – 7

Reds – 0

Penalties – 1

Wigan Athletic v Stockport County

Referee – Ross Joyce

Assistants – Ashley Allen & Matt Parry

4^th Official – Elliott Swallow

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Stockport game.

Meet The Carabao Cup Ref Latics v Stockport

 Latics are back at the Brick Community Stadium on Tuesday, a 2^nd round Carabao Cup tie against fellow League One side Stockport County, the referee for the game will be Birmingham based official, Tom Reeves. 

On the National List since the 2021/22 season, Reeves, a graduate of Warwick University, spent five years as a PE Teacher before joining Coventry City’s Community team in 2018.

He is currently the PL Sport Manager working alongside former Sky Blues centre back and Head of Community, David Busst.

Previous Games

Tom Reeves has refereed the Latics five times previously, two of those games were against Crewe, a 2:0 defeat in the Pizza Trophy at Gresty Rd in October 2021, and a 2:0 win over the Railway Men in a League 1 fixture that same season, that game came in February 2022.

Back in August 2023, Tom, along with the Latics enjoyed a visit to the Toughsheet Stadium in Horwich a customary four goals to nil victory for the Latics that day.

Reeves’ latest two Latics games both came last year, both ended one nil in our favour. Our home win over Reading in January, followed by an away win at Oakwell in November against Barnsley.

Tom Reeves 5 Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
23 Nov 2024	League One	Barnsley 0:1 Latics	3Y
20 Jan 2024	League One	Latics 1:0 Reading	2Y
19 Aug 2023	League One	Bolton 0:4 Latics	1Y
15Feb 2022	League One	Latics 2:0 Crewe	1Y
05 Oct 2021	EFL Trophy	Crewe 2:0 Latics	3Y

Tom Reeves Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 3

Yellows – 11

Reds – 0

Penalties – 0

 Barnsley v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Tom Reeves

Assistants – Graeme Fyvie & Lewis Raper

4^th Official – Simon Mather

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Stockport game

Meet The Ref - Rotherham v Latics

Another away day for the Latics on Saturday, a lunch time kick-off against Rotherham United at the New York Stadium, the referee for the game is scheduled to be West Midlands based official, Oliver Langford.

Langford joined the National List of referees in the 2008/09 season. His first game, coming on the 16th August, it was a League Two affair at Spotland, Rochdale running out 2:1 winners over Barnet. Since that first game, impressively, Langford has clocked up over 600 games, issued 1724 yellow and 92 red cards whilst awarding an equally impressive 147 penalties. Previous Games This will be Langford’s 15th Latics game, his last one came on Boxing Day 2023 a 4:1 Championship defeat by Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, memorable for Charlie Hughes making his league debut for the club. Oliver Langford has a previous Latics v Rotherham meeting under his belt, back in February 2019, a 1:1 draw at the New York Stadium, Josh Windass scoring  the Latics goal with Kipre, Pilkington and Windass all picking up yellow cards. Part of the Select Group 2, Langford now mainly officiates in the Championship. Ollie Langford’s Last Six Latics Games Date Competition Result Latics Cards 26 Dec 2023 Championship Middlesbrough 4:1 Latics 0 05 Mar 2022 League One Latics 1:0 AFC Wimbledon 2Y 11 Feb 2020 Championship Latics 2:2 Middlesbrough 6Y 1R 09 Feb 2019 Championship Rotherham 1:1 Latics 3 Y 17 Oct 2020 League One Charlton 1:0 Latics 4 Y 22 Apr 2017 Championship Latics 0:0 Cardiff City 0 Oliver Langford Card Watch 2025/26 Games – 3 Yellows – 7 Reds – 1 Penalties – 1 Rotherham United v Wigan Athletic Referee – Oliver Langford Assistants – Mark Dwyer & Matt McGrath 4th Official – Aaron Jackson Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Rotherham United game.