Meet The Ref - Stevenage FC v Latics

The Latics are back in League One action on Saturday, a trip to the Lames Stadium to face Stevenage FC, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Brighton, Jacob Miles. 

This is Miles’ second season on the National List, though he has been refereeing since he was a 13 year old, he graduated through the local leagues to make the National League during the 2020/21 season.

Jacob Miles also gained good experience around the world of football officialdom, working as the Sussex FA’s Referee Administrator and also their Referee Fitness coach.

 Previous Games

Jacob Miles has one previous Latics game, our 1:2 home defeat to Morecambe back in September in the EFL Trophy.

He has been involved in two other Latics games as the 4^th Official, both coming last season, our away defeat, on penalties, in the EFL Cup at Wrexham and our 1:2 away win at Fratton Park against Portsmouth in April.

Just the one previous Stevenage game for Jacob Miles, that came at the start of this season and saw the ‘Boro’ smash Barnsley 3:0 at the Lamex.

Jacob Miles Latics Game

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
03 Sep 2024	EFL Trophy	Latics 1:2 Morecambe	2Y

Jacob Miles Card Watch 2024/25

Games – 21

Yellows – 78

Reds – 1

Penalty Awards – 4

Stevenage FC v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Jacob Miles
Assistants – Andrew Aylott and Mike Webb
Fourth Official – Kirsty Dowell

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

Meet The FA Cup Ref - Mansfield Town v Latics

The Latics head off to Field Mill on Tuesday to face Mansfield Town in their rearranged 3^rd round FA Cup tie, the referee for the game is scheduled to be USA official, Alex Chilowicz. 

The 37 year old, relocated to the UK from the US in December 2023, Chilowicz spent six seasons officiating in the MLS and took charge of 237 games in the American top-flight, as well as stints as video ref (VAR) and 4^th official duties, including the MLS cup final in 2020.  

Chilowicz, became a National List official in December 2023, his first taste of the English whistle coming in the League Two encounter between Sutton United and Mansfield Town, the Stags winning 0:2 and just two yellow cards issued.

Previous Games

Alex Chilowicz’s has refereed one previous Latics game, our 1:2 home defeat to Exeter City last February, booking both Luke Chambers and Baba Adeeko.

Alex Chilowicz Latics Game

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
10 Feb 2024	League One	Latics 1:2 Exeter City	2Y

Alex Chilowicz Card Watch 2024/25

Games – 21

Yellows – 69

Reds – 5

Penalty Awards – 6

Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Alex Chilowicz
Assistants – Dan Woodward and Matt Sowerby
Fourth Official – Ollie Yates

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

 

Meet The Ref - Latics v Birmingham City

The Latics will be back at the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday, weather permitting, for our first game of 2025, highflying Birmingham City are the visitors, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Devon official, Lee Swabey. 

 

Lee Swabey, an experienced ref who has been around in the EFL since the 2015/16 season, he has clocked up 251 games, issuing 829 yellow cards, 51 reds and awarded 74 penalties.

Previous Games

Swabey has refereed the Latics twice previously, both away from home and both last season, Shrewsbury away in February, a solitary goal scored by Matt Smith settled that game in our favour, Sean Clare, Baba Adeeko and Jason Kerr all picking up yellow cards.

A Charlie Kelman double saw us pick up a point at Charlton in April, Cal McManaman receiving a yellow card in a 2:2 draw at the Valley.

Lee Swabey hasn’t refereed Birmingham previously.

Lee Swabey Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
09 Apr 2024	League One	Charlton 2:2 Latics	1Y
17 Feb 2024	League One	Shrewsbury 0:1 Latics	3Y

Lee Swabey Card Watch 2024/25

Games – 14

Yellows – 56

Reds – 1

Penalties – 6

 Wigan Athletic v Birmingham City

Referee – Lee Swabey

Assistants – Ceri Williams & Will Cavanagh

4^th Official – Aaron Jackson

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

https://www.buzzsprout.com/7167/episodes/16373388-birmingham-city-preview.mp3?download=true

Meet The Ref - Latics v Huddersfield Town

The first game of 2025 sees us welcome high flying Huddersfield Town to the Brick Community Stadium, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Cleveland official, Ross Joyce.

The 36 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 10 Latics game was our 3:1 home win over Chesterfield in his first season officiating in the League, he had two Latics’ games last season, our first home game of the campaign against Northampton and an EFL Trophy away day at Tranmere.

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

Ross Joyce’s Last Six Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
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
27 Mar 2021	League One	Latics 0:0 Ipswich	3Y

Ross Joyce Card Watch 2024/25

Games – 13

Yellows – 67

Reds – 1

Penalties – 0

Wigan Athletic v Huddersfield Town

Referee – Ross Joyce

Assistants – Adam Burgess & Declan Ford

4^th Official – Will Davis

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