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

Meet The Ref - Latics v Stockport County

Latics are back at the Brick on Saturday for a lunch time kick off, Stockport County the visitors for a televised game, the referee for the match is scheduled to be Rochdale official, Tom Parsons. 

The 34 year old was promoted to the National List for the start of the 2022/23 season.

Previous Games

Tom Parsons has three Latics game under his belt, two of those came against Shrewsbury in the same season, 2024/25, two goals to the good with 20 minutes left, in the home fixture we contrived to hand a share of the spoils to the Shrews, a Will Aimson own goal and an 87^th minute equaliser saw victory snatched away, Baba Adeeko, Matt Smith and Dale Taylor all ending up in Tom Parson’s book.

The away day was slightly different, Dale Taylor with the only goal of the game giving us victory and all the points, Will Aimson picked up our solitary yellow in that game.

Boxing Day 2023 was the other occasion that Parson’s ref’d us, our 0:1 home defeat to Derby County, four Latics players found their way into the book that day, Liam Morrison, Baba Adeeko again, Sean Clare and Callum Lang.

Tom Parsons’ Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
18 Apr 2025	League One	Shrewsbury 0:1 Latics	1Y
21 Dec 2024	League One	Latics 2:2 Shrewsbury	3Y
26 Dec 2023	League One	Latics 0:1 Derby	4Y

Tom Parsons Card Watch 2026/27

Games – 5

Yellows – 19

Reds – 0

Penalties – 1

 Wigan Athletic v Stockport County

Referee – Tom Parsons

Assistants – Adam Nichol & Mike Robinson

4^th Official – Andy Miller

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

Wigan Athletic Community

LATICAFE

A weekly drop-in for Latics fans — come for a brew, stay for the football talk.

When Every Thursday, 10am–12noon

Where Whelan's Bar, Brick Community Stadium

Cost Free — everyone welcome

All refreshments free of charge

No need to book — just turn up. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided so no one is ever left out.