Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Meet The Ref - Doncaster Rovers v Latics


Latics are on the road to South Yorkshire on Saturday, a six pointer down in the bottom reaches of League One against Doncaster Rovers, the referee for this vital game will be Hertfordshire official, David Rock. 

 


Rock is in his seventh season as a National List official, taking charge of his first game on August 10th 2019 at Vale Park, Port Vale and Northampton drawing 1:1 in a League Two encounter.

Previous Games

David Rock has refereed the Latics six times previously, three away days and three times at the Brick Community Stadium, Baba Adeeko has picked up a yellow in two of the last three games that Rock refereed the Latics.

The last time Rock was in charge of a Latics game was April last season, a 1:1 away draw at Exeter, Dale Taylor putting the Latics ahead from the penalty spot.

Joining Adeeko in the ref’s book that evening, Jensen Weir and Scott Smith.

Rock was last in charge of a Donny game earlier this season, their 2:1 League One away defeat at Lincoln back in November.

Away from football, Rock works as a PE Training and Development officer for a sports education company.

David Rock’s Latics Games

Date

Competition

Result

Latics Cards

08 Apr 2025

League One

Exeter City 1:1 Latics

3Y

23 Feb 2024

League One

Latics 1:1 Cheltenham

1Y

24 Oct 2023

League One

Latics 2:0 Oxford Utd

1Y

08 Dec 2021

League One

Latics 2:1 Shrewsbury

2Y

20 Apr 2021

League One

Shrewsbury 1:2 Latics

2Y

02 Feb 2021

League One

Swindon 1:0 Latics

3Y

 

 David Rock Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 24

Yellows – 109

Reds – 2

Penalties – 4

 Doncaster Rovers v Wigan Athletic

Referee – David Rock

Assistants – Drew Dutton & Tyler Dutton

4th Official – Wayne Cartmel

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

 

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Meet The Ref - Latics v Bolton

Latics are back in League One action on Saturday, an early kick off, 12:30, at the Brick Community Stadium for a derby day encounter with Bolton Wanderers, Staffordshire based official, Steve Martin is scheduled to be in charge of the fixture.

 

Martin was promoted to the EFL at the start of the 2012/13 season and he is now in his 13th campaign.

A veteran of 532 games, Steve Martin has issued 1495 yellow and 54 red cards, pointing to the penalty spot on 114 occasions.

Previous Games

Steve Martin has been a regular referee in Latics fixtures featuring as our referee on 17 occasions so far. His last appearance with the ‘tics coming in our home draw with Birmingham City in March 2023, Ashley Fletcher on the mark with our equaliser in that particular game, James McClean and Danel Sinani both picking up yellows.

Perhaps Steve Martin’s previous Latics game to stand out the most was our 0:3 away win at Shrewsbury on 30 April 2022 when we picked up the League One title, what a great day that was.

Steve Martin’s Last Six Latics Games

Date

Competition

Result

Latics Cards

04 Mar 2023

Championship

Latics 1:1 Birmingham

2Y

08 Nov 2022

Championship

Coventry 2:0 Latics

1Y

30 Apr 2022

League One

Shrewsbury 0:3 Latics

1Y

11 Jan 2020

Championship

Latics 0:1 Bristol City

1Y

14 Dec 2019

Championship

Latics 1:1 Huddersfield

1Y

27 Apr 2019

Championship

Birmingham 1:1 Latics

1Y

Steve Martin Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 16

Yellows – 70

Reds – 0

Penalty Awards – 4

Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers
Referee
– Stev Martin
Assistants – Darren Williams and Hristo Karaivanov

Fourth Official – Robert Massey-Ellis

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

Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Meet The FA Cup Ref - PNE v Latics


Another away day for the Latics on Friday, a short trip up the M6 for an FA Cup 3rd round tie at Deepdale for a Lancashire derby with Championship high flyers, Preston North End, 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 1781 yellow and 93 red cards whilst awarding an equally impressive 149 penalties.

Previous Games

This will be Langford’s 16th Latics game, his last one came early on this season back in August a 2:2 draw away at the New York Stadium, Paul Mullin scoring late on to grab a point, Francois, Wright and Costelloe all picking up yellows.

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

23 Aug 2025

League One

Rotherham 2:2 Latics

3Y

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

Oliver Langford Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 16

Yellows – 57

Reds – 1

Penalties – 2

Preston North End v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Oliver Langford

Assistants – Mark Stevens & Shaun Hudson

4th Official – Richard Eley

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

Friday, 2 January 2026

Meet The Ref - Cardiff City v Latics

Sunday sees Latics head off to South Wales to face Cardiff in our first away day League One clash of the New Year, the referee is scheduled to be Luton based official, Will Finnie.


31 year old Will Finnie was promoted to the Select Group 2 at the start of last season after making his debut on the National List in August 2019.

Previous Games

Finnie has taken charge of four Latics games previously, a 2:2 draw away at Portman Road in April 2022 and our 1:2 defeat at home to Portsmouth in September 2023, Charlie Wyke got his marching orders in that game and the Carabao Cup home defeat to Barnsley in a penalty shoot out with James Carragher picking up a yellow card.

The last Will Finnie game was our goalless draw away at Mansfield last season back in March, Ronan Darcy and Scott Smith both going in the book.

Finnie’s last Cardiff City game was their 4:2 defeat away at Norwich on the final day of last season.

Will Finnie’s Latics Games

Date

Competition

Result

Latics Cards

04 Mar 2025

League One

Mansfield Town 0:0 Latics

2Y

16 Jan 2024

EFL Cup

Latics 1:1 Barnsley (3:5)

1Y

30 Sep 2023

League One

Latics 1:2 Portsmouth

3Y & 1R

05 Apr 2022

League One

Ipswich Town 2:2 Latics

2Y

Will Finnie Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 9

Yellows – 26

Reds – 1

Penalties – 2

Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Will Finnie

Assistants – Mark Senior & Ciaran Barlow

4th Official – Steve Copeland

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