Meet The Ref - Latics v Huddersfield Town

Latics are back in action on Saturday, Huddersfield Town are visiting the Brick Community Stadium for a League One fixture, the referee for the game will be the experienced match official, Charles Breakspear.

 

The Surrey-born referee is now in his 13^th season in the EFL, he took charge of his first professional game on the opening day of the 2013/14 season after a year in the National League, Breakspear is now on 420 games on the National List. 

Breakspear has spent most of his time officiating in League 1 and League 2, though he has ventured into the Championship on occasion, indeed the first time our paths crossed was a goalless draw down at Portman Road back in January 2015 in the Championship.

He has seven previous Latics games under his belt, that draw with Ipswich, our three-goal demolition of Charlton Athletic at the Valley in 2017, two games in our administration season, defeat away at MK Dons and a home draw with Burton.

Charles Breakspear was also the man in charge of our four-goal drubbing of the “best team in the league” away at Horwich in 2021 and a month later our FA Cup replay win at Solihull Moors.

Charles Breakspear last refereed the Latics on the 9^th December 2023, a goalless home draw with Lincoln City, Liam Morrison, Sean Clare, Callum McManaman and Steven Sessegnon all picking up bookings in that particular game.

“Breakspear ever ref’d a Huddersfield game?” I hear you say. Yes, just the one, way back in September 2015, a 1:2 Championship away win at Charlton with Emyr Huws on the scoresheet for the Terriers whilst on a season long loan from the Latics.

Charles Breakspear’s Last Six Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
09 Dec 2023	League One	Latics 0:0 Lincoln City	4Y
16 Nov 2021	FA Cup	Solihull Moors 1:2 Latics	2Y
16 Oct 2021	League One	Bolton 0:4 Latics	4Y
24 Apr 2021	League One	Latics 1:1 Burton	0
27 Oct 2020	League One	MK Dons 2:0 Latics	2Y
12 Sep 2017	League One	Charlton 0:3 Latics	3Y

 Charles Breakspear Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 15

Yellows – 51

Reds – 1

Penalty Awards – 2

Wigan Athletic v Huddersfield Town

Referee – Charles Breakspear
Assistants – Joe Simpson & Jake Topp
4^th Official – Harley McKittrick

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

 

Meet The Ref - Stockport County v Latics

Latics take the short trip across Greater Manchester on Saturday to Edgeley Park, Stockport County await Gary Caldwell’s men in a League One fixture, the referee is scheduled to be Chesterfield born official, Matt Corlett.

34-year-old Matt Corlett is in his third season in the EFL following promotion to the National List of refs in August 2023.

Previous Games

In his relatively short career so far, Corlett hasn’t refereed any Latics games previously, but he has found himself officiating in the Championship, with three 2^nd tier games this season, obviously highly thought of at the PGMOL.

Matt Corlett’s one Stockport game came in the EFL Trophy two seasons back, a Group Stage game against Manchester United U21s at Edgley Park, a highly controversial game with two penalties, former Latics loanee Joe Hugill converting for United early in the 2^nd half, County equalising in the 13^th minute of stoppage time with Tanto Olaofe scoring from the spot.

Stockport picked up 8 (eight) yellows and a red card, all coming in the 2^nd half, before going on to lose the penalty shootout 4-6.

Matt Corlett Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 25

Yellows – 97

Reds – 3

Penalties – 3

Stockport County v Wigan Athletic

Referee – Matt Corlett

Assistants – Alex Gray & Sam Clayton

4^th Official – Zac Kennard-Kettle

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

Meet The Ref - Latics v Luton Town

The Latics will be back at the Brick Community Stadium on Wednesday, Gary Caldwell’s first game in charge since his reappointment as Wigan Athletic manager, Luton Town are the visitors, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Chesterfield based official, Jamie O’Connor. 

 

O’Connor, has been on the EFL National List of referees since the 2024/25 season.

Previous Games

Jamie O’Connor has refereed the Latics just the once previously, that game came in March last season, our 1:0 home League One victory over Cambridge United at the Brick.

Luke Robinson scoring the only goal of the game, Ollie Norburn and James Carragher picking up a yellow card apiece.

This game will be the first time that Jamie O’Connor has officiated in a Luton Town fixture.

Jamie O’Connor Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
08 Mar 2025	League One	Latics 1:0 Cambridge Utd	2Y

 

Jamie O’Connor Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 26

Yellows – 75

Reds – 6

Penalties – 4

 Wigan Athletic v Luton Town

Referee – Jamie O'Connor

Assistants – Matt Jones & Danny Guest

4^th Official – Paul Howard

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Luton game

Meet The FA Cup Ref - Arsenal v Latics

Latics are off to North London on Sunday, a 4^th round tie in the FA Cup and a chance to gain revenge for that 2014 semi-final loss on penalties, it’s Arsenal at the Emirates and the referee scheduled to take charge of the game will be West Sussex official, Tim Robinson.

 

41-year-old Tim was appointed to the EFL referees list for the start of the 2012/13 season, the season we won the FA Cup, taking charge of his first game between Southend United and Accrington Stanley.

With 520 games under his belt, the former PE Teacher is now part of the Select Group 1 full time refs and spends the majority of his time in the Premier League.

Robinson’s previously been in charge of six Latics games, his last one coming in May 2023, our final game of the Championship season, a goalless draw against Rotherham, a game in which Sam Tickle made his EFL debut and he has been an ever present between the sticks since.

Tim Robinson has had one previous Latics FA Cup tie, our 3^rd round home win over Blackburn in January 2022, Thelo Aasgaard scoring a late winner with a worldie which was voted ‘goal of the round’, James McClean and Max Power picking up yellow cards that day.

Of Tim Robinson’s 14 games this campaign, 6 have been in the Premier League, 6 Championship, 1 League One game, and 1 in the FA Cup which was Macclesfield’s fabulous display and win over Cup holders Crystal Palace in round 3.

Tim Robinson’s last Arsenal game came in December 2023, their 2:0 home win in the Premier League against Brighton. Robinson has refereed the Gunners three times in total, all in the Premier League all wins with a goals scoring aggregate of 8 for and none conceded.

Tim Robinson’s Six Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
05 May 2023	Championship	Latics 0:0 Rotherham
08 Jan 2022	FA Cup	Latics 3:2 Blackburn	2Y
01 Oct 2020	Championship	Latics 1:0 Birmingham	0
04 Aug 2018	Championship	Latics 3:2 Sheff Weds	1Y
02 Apr 2018	League One	Portsmouth 2:1 Latics	3Y
29 Apr 2017	Championship	Reading 1:0 Latics	1Y

Tim Robinson Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 14

Yellows – 64

Reds – 2

Penalty Awards – 2

Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Tim Robinson
Assistants – Ian Hussin and Marc Perry

Fourth Official – Andy Madley

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

Meet The Ref - Latics v Reading

The Latics will be back at the Brick Community Stadium on Tuesday, a rearranged fixture welcoming some familiar faces back to Wigan Athletic, with the visitors Reading managed by Leam Richardson, the referee for the game is scheduled to be Devon official, Lee Swabey. 

 

Lee Swabey, an experienced ref who has been around in the EFL since the 2015/16 season.

Previous Games

Swabey has refereed the Latics three times previously, two away from home, Shrewsbury in February 2024, a solitary goal scored by Matt Smith settled that game in our favour, Sean Clare, Baba Adeeko and Jason Kerr all picking up yellow cards.

A Charlie Kelman double saw us pick up a point away at Charlton in Swabey’s next Latics game, Cal McManaman receiving a yellow card in a 2:2 draw at the Valley.

The last time Lee Swabey ref’d the Latics came in January last season, our 0:3 home defeat against Birmingham City in January, Toby Sibbick and Jason Kerr both picking up yellow cards.

Lee Swabey Latics Games

Date	Competition	Result	Latics Cards
04 Jan 2025	League One	Latics 0:3 Birmingham	2Y
09 Apr 2024	League One	Charlton 2:2 Latics	1Y
17 Feb 2024	League One	Shrewsbury 0:1 Latics	3Y

 

Lee Swabey Card Watch 2025/26

Games – 18

Yellows – 64

Reds – 2

Penalties – 4

 Wigan Athletic v Reading

Referee – Lee Swabey

Assistants – Declan Ford & Kenwyn Hughes

4^th Official – Ollie Yates

Grab a listen to the latest podcast featuring a preview of the Reading game