Meet The Vertu Trophy Ref - Latics v Wolves U21s

Latics are in Vertu Trophy action on Tuesday, we face Wolves U21s at the Brick Community Stadium, the referee for the game will be Northumberland based official, Zac Kennard-Kettle. 

Kennard-Kettle, is a 24 year old protégé and is in his second season on the National List having risen through the local and non-league ranks at a rapid rate of knots since 2020. He is the son of former EFL referee, Trevor Kettle.

Previous Games

Zac Kennard-Kettle has taken charge of one Latics previously, our FA Cup tie away at Cambridge United last season, a 1:2 win after extra time, Thelo Aasgaard and Jonny Smith grabbing the goals with Maleace Asamoah picking up a yellow card.

Zac Kennard-Kettle’s Latics Game

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
30 Nov 2024	FA Cup	Cambridge Utd 1:2 Latics	1Y

Zac Kennard-Kettle Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 9

Yellows – 30

Reds – 2

Penalties – 2

Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s

Referee – Zac Kennard-Kettle

Assistants – Thomas Cooke & Matt Parry

4^th Official – Anthony Moore

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Vertu Trophy game

Meet The Ref - Plymouth Argyle v Latics

Latics are on the road for some League One action on Saturday with a long trip down to Home Park, Devon, to face Plymouth Argyle, the referee for the game will be Cheshire based official, Ben Atkinson.

 

Atkinson is in his third season as a National List ref, having been promoted during the summer of 2023.

 Previous Games

This will be the Ben Atkinson’s second Wigan Athletic game, he was in charge of our 0:2 away win, coincidentally also down in Devon, over Exeter City back in October 2023, booking Tom Pearce, Scott Smith and Martial Godo.

When not blowing his whistle, Ben Atkinson can be found in his Dental Surgery, yes, Ben is a dentist by trade.

According to one recent assessor’s report “Ben Atkinson is well drilled, good at rooting out potential trouble and filling in his note book, but does appear to like an extraction with a red card every other game and I was a little perplexed when he requested kick off to be moved to 2:30 (tooth hurty)”

Ben Atkinson’s Latics Game

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
21 Oct 2023	League One	Exeter 0:2 Latics	3Y

 

Ben Atkinson Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 8

Yellows – 31

Reds – 1

Penalty Awards – 2

Plymouth Argyle v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Ben Atkinson
Assistants – Richard Morris and Declan O’Shea
Fourth Official – Elliott Swallow

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

Latics Cult Heroes - Dave Shearer

David Shearer suggested by Phil Winstanley

Qualifying for cult status:- 9 goals in 11 games during a 6 week loan spell in March 1980

Born in Inverness, Scotland in October 1958 - Dave Shearer signed for Wigan Athletic from Middlesbrough on loan on the 17^th March 1980 and made his Latics debut two days later in an away evening game at Halifax Town which ended goalless.

Matches where coming thick and fast and Shearer made his home debut the following Saturday in another goalless draw, Tranmere Rovers providing the opposition.

The next game, Wednesday 26^th March, saw the young striker find his shooting boots with a seven minute hat-trick against Port Vale in a 3:1 win for the Latics.

Shearer went on to score a further six goals for Ian McNeill’s side that campaign, rounding off with a brace against Aldershot on the final day of the 1979/80 season and ending his Latics career with 9 league goals from just 11 matches.

Dave Shearer went on to have a very good career and scored against the Latics on two separate occasions whilst playing for Gillingham, a hat-trick in May 1985 and the Gills goal in a 1:1 draw at Springy in August 1988.

Sadly David Shearer passed away in 2022 aged 63.

Thanks to Jeff Rourke for the player stats and info.

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Podcast featuring a short piece on David Shearer

Meet The Ref - Latics v Cardiff City

Latics are back at in action on Saturday, high flying Cardiff City visit the Brick Community Stadium in a League One fixture, Lincolnshire based official, Darren Drysdale is scheduled to be in charge.

The 54 year old referee is a sergeant in the RAF and currently based at RAF Waddington. So he’ll be used to handing out the ‘marching orders’ if any player steps out of line, he does have a bit of a reputation as a tough man too.

A veteran of over 550 games, Drysdale is a vastly experienced referee.

Previous Games

This will be the 10^th Latics game for Drysdale, the last two coming last campaign, back in February, our 0:2 home defeat to Stockport County, Scott Smith picking up a yellow card at the end of April a 1:1 draw away at Burton, no bookings in that game but a goal from Ronan Darcy giving is a share of the spoils.

Darren Drysdale’s Last Six Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
29 Apr 2025	League One	Burton 1:1 Latics	0
15 Feb 2025	League One	Latics 0:2 Stockport	1Y
29 Mar 2024	League One	Latics 1:1 Burton	1Y
29 Dec 2023	League One	Latics 2:0 Carlisle	3Y
26 Jan 2021	League 1	Latics 0:5 Blackpool	1Y
01 Dec 2017	FA Cup	AFC Fylde 1:1 Latics	0

Darren Drysdale Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 7

Yellows –20

Reds – 2

Penalty Awards – 1

Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City
Referee – Darren Drysdale
Assistants – Alex Gray and Matt Sowerby
Fourth Official – James Oldham

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Latics podcast featuring a preview of the Cardiff City game.

Cult Heroes - Pasquale Bruno

 

Pasquale Bruno suggested by Adam Conroy

Qualifying for cult status:- Pasquale Bruno played for Juventus and Turin rivals Torino, as well as Fiorentina, known as an absolute nutter on the pitch, physicality, combative and tenacious are his quoted attributes, joined the Latics from Hearts in 1997/98 season and so much was expected, played 45 minutes at Springfield Park and subsequently left for Cowdenbeath

Pasquale Bruno was inaugurated into the Tornio Hall of Fame in 2019.

Pasquale Bruno signed for Wigan Athletic from Hearts on a monthly contract on the 9^th February 1998 and made his Latics debut five days later on Valentine’s Day in a 0:3 defeat to Grimsby Town at Springfield Park.

Following the game, Pasquale told manager John Deehan he was so demoralised that he would never play for the club again, stating he “had achieved many things in football and did not want to end his career at Springfield Park”

 

He left the Latics on 15^th February 1998 and joined Cowdenbeath FC in the Scottish 2^nd Division, where he ended his playing career. He is now a football analyst for Italian TV.

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Podcast featuring a short piece on Pasquale Bruno 

Meet The Carabao Cup Ref - Latics v Wycombe

Latics are back in action at the DW Stadium on Tuesday when Wycombe Wanderers will be the visitors for a 3^rd round Carabao Cup tie, the referee for the game will be Preston based official, Ed Duckworth.

 

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. He was promoted to the National List of Referees in August 2023.

 Previous Games

This will be the Ed Duckworth’s second Wigan Athletic game having been in charge of our 3:0 home win over Fleetwood Town back in November 2023

In that game Duckworth booked Latics striker, Josh Stones along with four Fleetwood players, plus he brandished a red card to the Cod Army’s defender Josh Earl right on half-time..

Ed Duckworth’s Latics Game

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
28 Nov 2023	League One	Latics 3:0 Fleetwood Town	1Y

 

 

Ed Duckworth Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 9

Yellows – 31

Reds – 1

Penalty Awards – 1

Wigan Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Referee – Ed Duckworth
Assistants – Danny Jarvis and Danny Guest
Fourth Official – Scott Oldham

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Latics podcast featuring a preview of the Wycombe game