Meet The Ref - Stevenage v Latics

The Latics travel down to Hertfordshire to face Stevenage at the SPORTA Arena on Saturday in a League One fixture, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Suffolk whistle blower, Abigail Byrne.

 

34 year old Byrne, who hails from Bury St Edmunds, has been part of the PGMOL since 2016, but she’s officiated primarily in the Women’s Super League and had the honour of refereeing the 2019 Women’s FA Cup Final between Manchester City and West Ham United at Wembley and the 2024 Women‘s League Cup Final at Vicarage Road, Watford.

Abigail Byrne is also a UEFA Category 1 referee and a listed FIFA official.

So far in her career, Byrne has taken charge of 8 League One and 18 League Two games, with MK Dons v Huddersfield and the fourth tier Grimsby/Exeter and Barnet/Cheltenham games coming this season.

With a reputation for being consistent in her decision making, technically excellent and highly regarded by her peers, hopefully Abigail Byrne will prove to be an improvement on the shambolic refereeing displays of the past three seasons down at Stevenage from Messrs Young, Miles and Russell respectively.

Abigail Byrne Card Watch 2026/27

Games – 5

Yellows – 16

Reds – 0

Penalty – 1

Stevenage FC v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Abigail Byrne

Assistants – Mark Dwyer & Steve Finch

4^th Official – Andy Aylott

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

Meet The Trophy Ref - Latics v Blackpool

Latics face Blackpool at the Brick Community Stadium on Tuesday in the EFL Trophy, which is soon to be known as the Jersey Mike’s Butty Shop Cup, the referee for the game is scheduled to be East Ridings very own whistle blower, Gareth Rhodes.

 

Rhodes, who hails from York, played youth football with Leeds United, York City & Doncaster Rovers but was released at 16. He signed for Tadcaster and then played for Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League, semi pro.

An injury though, playing 5-a-side with Selby Fire Station, in 2008, put paid to his football career and he ended up out of the game. Subsequently, Rhodes took up refereeing and from the York Sunday League he worked his way up to National League level.

Rhodes has also dipped his toe in the EFL and so far he’s also had 3 League Two games spread over two seasons (24/25 & 25/26) and 5 games in the EFL Trophy.

The Latics v Blackpool game will be Rhodes second EFL Trophy game this campaign having been in charge of the York City 1:3 Newcastle United U21s group game last week.

 

Gareth Rhodes Card Watch 2026/27

Games – 5

Yellows – 13

Reds – 1

Penalty – 1

 

Wigan Athletic v Blackpool

Referee – Gareth Rhodes

Assistants – Jordan Brooks & Alex Gray

4^th Official – Jake Topp

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

Meet The Ref - Latics v Wycombe Wanderers

The Latics are back at the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday, Wycombe Wanderers in town for a League One fixture, the referee scheduled to take charge of the game is Northants official, Dean Whitestone.

Whitestone has been around for quite a while, he started refereeing in the EFL back in 2005. The serving Met Police Officer is a veteran of over 650 games, 248 of those coming at Championship level.

 Previous Games

Dean Whitestone has taken charge of eight Latics games previously, of which we have won 3, drawn 2 and lost 3. The last of which came away at Pompey on the 20^th April, 2024. 

A 1:2 win for the Latics in our final away game that season, Luke Chambers and Josh Magennis on target and Charlie Hughes picking up a yellow card.

Whitestone’s last Wycombe game came last season away at Kenilworth Rd, a 4:0 drubbing by Luton on Boxing Day.

Dean Whitestone’s Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
20 Apr 2024	League One	Portsmouth 1:2 Latics	1Y
19 Dec 2022	Championship	Latics 1:2 Sheffield United	1Y
22 Oct 2022	Championship	QPR 2:1 Latics	2Y
26 Nov 2019	Championship	Millwall 2:2 Latics	1Y
13 Aug 2019	EFL Cup	Latics 0:1 Stoke	1Y
21 Apr 2018	League One	Fleetwood 0:4 Latics	0

Dean Whitestone Card Watch 2026/27

Games – 5

Yellows – 16

Reds – 2

Penalties – 3

 Wigan Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers

Referee – Dean Whitestone

Assistants – Joe Larkin & Harley McKittrick

4^th Official – Paul Marsden

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

 

Meet The Ref - Sheffield Wednesday v Latics

The Latics take a trip over the Pennines to Hillsborough on Saturday where we will face top of the table Sheffield Wednesday in a League One fixture, the referee scheduled for the game is Tyneside official, Seb Stockbridge.

The 42 year old has been a National List referee since the 2013/14 season and he is no stranger to Wigan Athletic, nor controversy. 

Previous Games

In Seb Stockbridge’s previous 13 Latics games there have been many a head scratching moments, perfectly good goals ruled out, red cards for who knows what and poor officiating performances galore.

Last season is a case in point, in his two Latics games, Mansfield Town away in October, disallowing a Will Aimson goal for who knows what, Chris Saydee, Matt Smith and Fraser Murray all picking up yellow cards and Bradford away on Boxing Day, two red cards Jensen Weir and Callum Wright plus four yellow cards and a winner for Bradford that came way into stoppage time. Hopefully a better performance from Seb this weekend.

Stockbridge loves a Latics one-one draw, four of his last six games featuring our heroes have ended one-apiece.

Seb Stockbridge’s Last 6 Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
26 Dec 2025	League One	Bradford City 2:1 Latics	4Y 2R
25 Oct 2025	League One	Mansfield 1:1 Latics	3Y
29 Mar 2025	League One	Latics 1:1 Barnsley	3Y
01 Jan 2024	League One	Barnsley 1:1 Latics	2Y
26 Aug 2023	League One	Latics 0:2 Barnsley	1 R
23 Apr 2022	League One	Latics 1:1 Plymouth	3 Y

 Seb Stockbridge Card Watch 2026/27

Games – 4

Yellows – 18

Reds – 1

Penalties – 3

 Sheffield Wednesday v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Seb Stockbridge

Assistants – Dan Woodward & Bradley Hall

4^th Official – Jamie Robinson

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Sheffield Wednesday game