Meet The Ref - York City v Latics

 

FA Cup round 2 is upon us and the Latics travel east to face National League side, York City, in a televised game set to be broadcast live on BBC2, this Friday evening, the referee for tie is Manchester official, Tom Kirk.

 

Tom Kirk

The 32 year old is in his second season as an EFL referee, promoted to the National List in the summer of 2022, Kirk previously spent three seasons officiating in the National League North and one season in the National League.

An Estate Agent by day, the former Trafford College student will be hoping that there won't be too many bookings this weekend.

 Previous Games

This will be the Tom Kirk’s first Wigan Athletic game, but he has refereed York City on three occasions, all of which came in the National League North, the last one being the Minstermens 4:2 defeat away at Bradford Park Avenue back in December 2020.

Since becoming a National List official, Tom Kirk has clocked up 46 games, issued 190 yellow cards, 3 reds and awarded 13 penalties over the 2 seasons that he has been active.

Tom Kirk’s last game in charge was in League Two on Saturday 18th November, Mansfield Town 2:0 Newport County. 

Last Saturday, 25^th November, Kirk found himself as the 4^th Official for the Millwall 0:3 Coventry City game in the Championship.

Tom Kirk Watch 2023/24

Games – 14

Yellows – 63

Reds – 1

Penalty Awards – 2

York City v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Tom Kirk
Assistants – Paul Newhouse and Steve Durnall
Fourth Official – Matt Corlett

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Latics podcast featuring a preview of the York City FA Cup tie.

Meet The Ref - Latics v Fleetwood Town

Latics are back in action at the DW Stadium on Tuesday when Fleetwood Town will be the visitors in a League One fixture, the referee for the game will be Preston based official, Ed Duckworth.

 

Ed Duckworth

Ed Duckworth is in his first season as an EFL referee, though he did take charge of one League Two game last season, Hartlepool’s 1:1 draw with Leyton Orient in March, the powers that be obviously liking what they saw and subsequently promoted Ed in the summer.

A graduate of Myerscough College, Ed has also held positions with the Cheshire FA as their Referee Development Officer and National Referee Manager for the Football Association.

 Previous Games

This will be the Ed Duckworth’s first Wigan Athletic game and his second time in charge of a Fleetwood match, having refereed the Cod Army’s 3:2 defeat away at Port Vale in the EFL Cup back in August.

Since becoming a National List official, Ed Duckworth has clocked up 17 games, issued 79 yellow cards, 2 reds and awarded 3 penalties over the 5 seasons that he has been active.

Ed Duckworth’s last game was in League One on Saturday 25 November, Peterborough 4:0 Burton Albion.

Ed Duckworth Watch 2023/24

Games – 16

Yellows – 76

Reds – 2

Penalty Awards – 3

Wigan Athletic v Fleetwood Town
Referee – Ed Duckworth
Assistants – Wayne Grunnill and Ravel Cheosiaua
Fourth Official – Johnathon Bickerdike

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

Meet The Ref - Leyton Orient v Latics

Latics are back in action on Saturday following the international break with a trip to East London to face Leyton Orient in a League One fixture, the referee for the game will be London based official, Sam Purkiss.

 

Sam Purkiss

Sam Purkiss is in his fifth season as an EFL referee, a graduate of Cambridge University the 35 year old is working as a Senior Associate at law firm Harbottle & Lewis in London, where he specialises in regulatory matters relating to sport, sponsorship, the exploitation of intellectual property and publishing. Hmm better be careful what I write here.

Sam is an ex pupil of Queen Elizabeth’s High School in Gainsborough and originally hails from the Lincolnshire town.

 Previous Games

This will be the third Wigan Athletic game that Sam Purkiss has been in charge of, both of the previous two ended in defeat for the Latics, away at Lincoln in our administration season and the home defeat to Sunderland in February 2022.

Purkiss took charge of just the one Leyton Orient game last season, their London ‘derby’ EFL Trophy win over Charlton back in November 2022

Since becoming a National List official, Sam Purkiss has clocked up 136 games, issued 458 yellow cards, 41 reds and awarded 35 penalties over the 5 seasons that he has been active.

Sam Purkiss Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
26 Feb 2022	League One	Latics 0:3 Sunderland	4Y
01 Dec 2020	League One	Lincoln 2:1 Latics	1 Y

Sam Purkiss Card Watch 2023/24

Games – 15

Yellows – 69

Reds – 8

Penalty Awards – 6

Leyton Orient v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Sam Purkiss
Assistants – Steve Brown and Ryan Whittaker
Fourth Official – Shaun Farrer

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

 

WIgan Athletic Supporters Brick Appeal

The Brick Project Wigan is a charity that I have supported over the years and the work that they carry out around the Borough cannot be underestimated. They offer help and services to individuals and families that are in extremely vulnerable situations and phases of their lives, importantly, they support them through this and are there as lives are rebuilt. 

 

With both Wigan Athletic Official Supporters Club and the Latics Community Trust launching initiatives to support the Brick Christmas Food and Gift Appeal, I thought it would be a good idea to speak to a representative from the charity to find more about the work that they are doing at the moment.

I am very pleased to say Emma Shaw, Food Community Manager, based at St George’s in the town centre, joined me for a chat on a podcast special, we talk about the Christmas Appeal, the Wrap Up Wigan this Winter Appeal but more importantly the current and ongoing struggles that many across Wigan and Leigh are facing now and in the immediate future.

 

 

Meet The Ref - Tranmere v Latics

Latics travel over to the Wirral on Tuesday for the final group game in the EFL Trophy, having already qualified for the knockout stage, the opponents are League 2 strugglers, Tranmere Rovers, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Manchester based official, Simon Mather.

 

Simon Mather

Simon Mather is currently in his 3^rd season on the National List, with just 77 games under his belt, Mather has issued an impressive 346 yellow and 24 red cards as well as awarding 19 penalties.

 Previous Games

This will be the first time that Simon Mather has been in charge of a Wigan Athletic fixture.

Mather has previously taken charge of four Tranmere games, the most recent of which came last season, a 2:0 defeat away at Bradford in February.

Simon Mather Card Watch 2023/24

Games – 13

Yellows – 66

Reds – 8

Penalty Awards – 2

Tranmere Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Simon Mather
Assistants – Grant Taylor and Chris Ward
Fourth Official – Melissa Burgin

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Latics podcast featuring a preview of the Tranmere Rovers EFL Trophy tie.