Meet The FA Cup Ref - PNE v Latics

Another away day for the Latics on Friday, a short trip up the M6 for an FA Cup 3rd round tie at Deepdale for a Lancashire derby with Championship high flyers, Preston North End, the referee for the game is scheduled to be West Midlands based official, Oliver Langford.

Langford joined the National List of referees in the 2008/09 season. His first game, coming on the 16^th August, it was a League Two affair at Spotland, Rochdale running out 2:1 winners over Barnet.

Since that first game, impressively, Langford has clocked up over 600 games, issued 1781 yellow and 93 red cards whilst awarding an equally impressive 149 penalties.

Previous Games

This will be Langford’s 16^th Latics game, his last one came early on this season back in August a 2:2 draw away at the New York Stadium, Paul Mullin scoring late on to grab a point, Francois, Wright and Costelloe all picking up yellows.

Part of the Select Group 2, Langford now mainly officiates in the Championship.

Ollie Langford’s Last Six Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
23 Aug 2025	League One	Rotherham 2:2 Latics	3Y
26 Dec 2023	Championship	Middlesbrough 4:1 Latics	0
05 Mar 2022	League One	Latics 1:0 AFC Wimbledon	2Y
11 Feb 2020	Championship	Latics 2:2 Middlesbrough	6Y 1R
09 Feb 2019	Championship	Rotherham 1:1 Latics	3 Y
17 Oct 2020	League One	Charlton 1:0 Latics	4 Y

Oliver Langford Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 16

Yellows – 57

Reds – 1

Penalties – 2

Preston North End v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Oliver Langford

Assistants – Mark Stevens & Shaun Hudson

4^th Official – Richard Eley

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

Meet The Ref - Cardiff City v Latics

Sunday sees Latics head off to South Wales to face Cardiff in our first away day League One clash of the New Year, the referee is scheduled to be Luton based official, Will Finnie.

31 year old Will Finnie was promoted to the Select Group 2 at the start of last season after making his debut on the National List in August 2019.

Previous Games

Finnie has taken charge of four Latics games previously, a 2:2 draw away at Portman Road in April 2022 and our 1:2 defeat at home to Portsmouth in September 2023, Charlie Wyke got his marching orders in that game and the Carabao Cup home defeat to Barnsley in a penalty shoot out with James Carragher picking up a yellow card.

The last Will Finnie game was our goalless draw away at Mansfield last season back in March, Ronan Darcy and Scott Smith both going in the book.

Finnie’s last Cardiff City game was their 4:2 defeat away at Norwich on the final day of last season.

Will Finnie’s Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
04 Mar 2025	League One	Mansfield Town 0:0 Latics	2Y
16 Jan 2024	EFL Cup	Latics 1:1 Barnsley (3:5)	1Y
30 Sep 2023	League One	Latics 1:2 Portsmouth	3Y & 1R
05 Apr 2022	League One	Ipswich Town 2:2 Latics	2Y

Will Finnie Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 9

Yellows – 26

Reds – 1

Penalties – 2

Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Will Finnie

Assistants – Mark Senior & Ciaran Barlow

4^th Official – Steve Copeland

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