Meet The Ref - Latics v Huddersfield Town

The first game of 2025 sees us welcome high flying Huddersfield Town to the Brick Community Stadium, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Cleveland official, Ross Joyce.

The 36 year old from Eston near Middlesbrough began refereeing as a punishment, let me explain, Joyce was sent off in a youth team game for a tirade of foul language aimed at the match official, as part of his punishment he was ordered to attend a six week refereeing programme.

Ross says - "It was a one-off, a cup game, which was important, and I lost my temper, got a bit upset and swore at the referee, so he sent me off for it

"The club I was playing for recommended I did the course and it went from there.

"I love being a referee. It's very enjoyable and exciting as every game brings a new challenge. It's a great way to be involved in the game and although it takes a lot of commitment, it's definitely worth it come a Saturday afternoon."

Ross Joyce was promoted to the National List of ref’s for the 2015/16 season, he has now got over 300 games in League Football under his belt.

Previous Games

The first of Joyce’s 10 Latics game was our 3:1 home win over Chesterfield in his first season officiating in the League, he had two Latics’ games last season, our first home game of the campaign against Northampton and an EFL Trophy away day at Tranmere.

Joyce works as a sports development coach in his day job.

Ross Joyce’s Last Six Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
14 Nov 2023	EFL Trophy	Tranmere 0:0 Latics	3Y
12 Aug 2023	League One	Latics 2:1 Northampton	2Y
16 Apr 2022	League One	Latics 1:2 Cambridge	2Y
04 Jan 2022	EFL Trophy	Oldham 0:6 Latics	0
02 Nov 2021	League One	Fleetwood 2:3 Latics	2Y
27 Mar 2021	League One	Latics 0:0 Ipswich	3Y

Ross Joyce Card Watch 2024/25

Games – 13

Yellows – 67

Reds – 1

Penalties – 0

Wigan Athletic v Huddersfield Town

Referee – Ross Joyce

Assistants – Adam Burgess & Declan Ford

4^th Official – Will Davis

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Huddersfield game.

Meet The Ref - Wrexham v Latics

Latics are back on the road again on Sunday, a trip to North Wales for a League One fixture against Wrexham, the referee for the game is scheduled to be West Yorkshire based official, Tom Nield.

Tom Nield was appointed to the National List back in the 2017/18 season, his first game being Cambridge United 1:2 Carlisle United.

Nield, who is also a senior nurse with the Mid Yorkshire NHS, has taken charge of 220 games since making his EFL debut, issuing 726 yellow and 19 red cards, he has awarded 40 penalties.

Previous Games

Tom Nield has five Latics games under his belt so far, four have come at home, just the one away, before Sunday’s trip to North Wales that is, that was a short jaunt down the M6 to Stoke. 

Tom Nield’s Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
11 Apr 2023	Championship	Stoke 0:1 Latics	2Y
12 Feb 2022	League One	Latics 1:0 Charlton	1Y
11 Sep 2021	League One	Latics 2:1 Doncaster	4Y
05 Apr 2021	League One	Latics 0:1 Portsmouth	3Y
19 Sep 2020	League One	Latics 2:3 Gillingham	2Y

Tom Nield Card Watch 2024/25

Games – 17

Yellows – 72

Reds – 0

Penalties – 2

Wrexham v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Tom Nield

Assistants – Jacob Graham & Joe Petitt

4^th Official – Elliot Bell

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Wrexham game.