Meet The Ref - Latics v Port Vale

Latics face Port Vale at the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday, in a League One fixture, scheduled to take charge of the game is Gloucester based referee, Ross Martin.

Ross Martin, made the step up from the National League to the National List and reffing in the EFL this season, another inexperienced official for the Latics to endure, this will be Martin’s first time at League One level with just four League Two games under his belt this season.

Following a comedy of errors from match officials so far this campaign, hopefully Mr Martin can buck the trend and put in a consistent performance.

Previous Games

Saturday will be the first time that Ross Martin has taken charge of either a Latics or Port Vale game, though he was on 4^th Official duties for Port Vale on their 2:3 home defeat to Orient back on the 6^th September, coincidentally Vale’s last League defeat.

Ross Martin Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 9

Yellows – 38

Reds – 2

Penalty Awards – 2

Wigan Athletic v Port Vale
Referee – Ross Martin
Assistants – Ashley Allen and Bradley Hall
Fourth Official – Melissa Burgin

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

Laticafe – The Community Drop-In

Every Thursday morning, there is a gentle buzz evident around the Brick Community Stadium.

Adjacent to the Club Shop in the Player’s Lounge, a community is growing in a safe, warm and welcoming space, people are gathering, enjoying a chat, a cuppa and a biscuit.

Laticafe, a PWU Podcast initiative, has grown into a self organising event with community at its heart. The initial objective was for it to eventually become autonomous and that has been quickly achieved.

A regular attendance of 40+ each week, spread over the two hours opening time, is testament to the growing success with a wide range of demographics attending, in what is a very friendly and supportive environment.

Brews, like the biscuits are free, no charge, and as a community our aim is to provide for each other. 

The 2^nd October session was dedicated to the Macmillan Coffee Morning event with cakes baked and supplied by our community; we raised the fantastic sum of £265:60 for a very worthy cause.

We have no association to any particular group or organisation and our community offers a warm, friendly, supportive and caring welcome to all.

Why not pop down on any Thursday, you are guaranteed to be made welcome, stay for the full 2 hours or just enjoy a coffee or tea with us for 20 minutes or so.

Free parking directly in front of the venue, access via Stadium Way, WN5 0UN

Meet The Ref - Latics v Wycombe Wanderers

Latics face Wycombe Wanderers at the Brick Community Stadium for the second time in a fortnight on Saturday. The first game was a Carabao Cup tie, which Wycombe won, this encounter is a League One fixture, scheduled to take charge of the game is Northants based referee, Andy Humphries.

 
28 year old, Humphries, a schoolteacher by trade, has shot through the ranks, making the step up from the National League to the EFL refereeing list last season having had a one game taster back in March 2024.

Andy Humphries had the privilege of refereeing last season’s FA Youth Cup Final, between Aston Villa and Manchester City

Previous Games

Saturday will be the first time that Andy Humphries has taken charge of either a Latics or Wycombe game, though he has been on 4^th Official duties for both clubs, those fixtures came last season. Wycombe’s home 2:0 win over Bristol Rovers in February and Ryan Lowe’s first game in charge of the Latics away at Charlton in March where we went down by 2 goals to one.

Andy Humphries Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 11

Yellows – 32

Reds – 3

Penalty Awards – 2

Wigan Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Referee – Andy Humphries
Assistants – Adam Burges and Wayne Grunnill
Fourth Official – James Bancroft

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

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