Meet The Ref - Latics vs Hull City - Phil Dowd

The last Wigan Athletic Premier League home game of the season against Hull City at the DW Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday will be officiated by Staffordshire referee Phil Dowd.

46 year old Dowd has been at the centre of quite a bit of controversy when officiating in Latics matches in the past, most notably when Paul Jewell was in charge at the DW Stadium, turning down numerous penalty appeals, allowing goals even though there were blatant fouls and not allowing players back on to the field of play following treatment for injury resulting in goals being conceded, yep Mr Dowd and Mr Jewell still aren`t on speaking terms apparently.

Hopefully though Dowd`s bad run with the Latics is well and truly over, he was the referee when we stuffed Chelsea 3-1 at the DW Stadium back in October giving us a penalty and dismissing Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, maybe he has redeemed himself, who knows.

As well as the Chelsea game big Phil this season has also refereed us in the 1-1 against Fulham at the DW and the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield

Card Watch

So far this season the Stoke referee has been in charge of 36 Premier League games issuing 122 yellow cards and 5 reds.

An interesting fact - Phil Dowd is an ex pit man and that`s how he got into refereeing, whilst on strike during 1984 Miner`s Dispute he decided to learn the Laws of the Game. He enrolled on a course and after passing his referee exam started to do youth games in the local leagues, Maggie Thatcher really does have a lot to answer for!




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