Meet The Ref - Latics v Hull City

Latics entertain Hull City at the DW Stadium on Tuesday, hopefully we can put Saturday’s disappointment behind us and get back to winning ways, keeping the players under check will be 39 year old Lancashire based referee and avid Sunderland fan, former Wearsider David Webb.

Webb has been in charge of ten Latics games previously, including last season’s game at Doncaster where we wrapped up the League 1 title.

Webb took to officiating from the very young age of 14 because he was fascinated with ‘that side of the game’, says it all really, but he had to pack it all in after just one year, because he couldn’t get to the games and he was 20 years old before he was back blowing his whistle in the Wearside League

Webb’s ambition is to make it all the way to the top and he hopes to become a Select Group referee before too long, Webb says – ‘It’s everyone’s long-term aim to get in to the Select Group’

‘In any job, you hope to get as far as you can. You just knuckle down and work hard.’

David’s ‘other’ job is working for a charity that supports adults with learning difficulties and mental health problems, he says – ‘It’s very rewarding’

‘The man-management skills needed are not that different from refereeing. It’s all about building relationships – with the vulnerable or with the players. And I’ve found, very much so, that each job can help the other.’

David Webb Card Watch 2018/19

Games – 6

Yellows – 14

Reds - 0

Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Referee – David Webb
Assistants - Steve Meredith, James Wilson
Fourth Official - Ross Joyce