Meet The Ref - Latics v Shrewsbury Town

Following two cup games, it is back to League 1 action on Wednesday, when Shrewsbury Town are the visitors to the DW Stadium. The referee for the game will be Hertfordshire official, David Rock.

 

David Rock

This is Rock’s third season in the EFL, after coming through the ranks he was promoted to the National List in July 2019 and kicked off his career in the big time on the 10^th August with the League Two 1:1 draw between Port Vale and Northampton at Vale Park.

 

This will be Dave’s third Latics game, the other two both came this year, but last season, he was in charge of our 1:0 defeat away at Swindon back on the 2^nd February, he booked Latics players Jamie Jones and Chris Merrie during the game and also showed a straight red to Swindon defender Dion Conroy.

 

He followed that up by being the man in the middle for our away win at Wednesday night’s opponents, Shrewsbury, on the 20^th April, Keane and Lang, obviously, scoring the goals in the 1:2 victory with Funso Ojo and Dan Gardner picking up bookings.

 

David Rock has refereed just the one Shrewsbury game, the previously mentioned defeat to ourselves, he dished out three yellows to Shrews players that night.

 

Of his 20 games so far this campaign five have been in League 1, seven in League 2, four in the EFL Trophy and 2 each in the EFL Cup and FA Cup.

 

His last game was Saturday’s FA Cup round 2 tie between Cambridge and Exeter, he awarded two penalties, both a bit iffy but in fairness one to each side, booked five players and controversially, in the 88^th minute of the game, overruled an assistant who had flagged for offside, after Harvey Knibbs had headed home Wes Hoolahan’s cross, to award the goal to Cambridge which turned out to be the match winner following what appeared to be consultation with the Cambridge players!

Good job Jude Bellingham didn’t play in this game.  

 

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
02 Feb 2021	League 1	Swindon 1:0 Latics	2 Yellow
20 Apr 2021	League 1	Shrewsbury 1:2 Latics	2 Yellow

This referee has a ©Latics Love Factor of 50%

 

David Rock’s Card Watch 2021/22

Games – 20

Yellows – 74

Reds – 4

Penalty Awards - 8

 

Wigan Athletic v Shrewsbury Town
Referee – David Rock
Assistants – Billy Smallwood and Joe Clark
Fourth Official – Alan Clayton