Meet The Ref - Reading v Latics - Phil Dowd

Wigan Athletic travel down to sunny Berkshire this Saturday to face Reading at the Madejski Stadium in what is a massive, massive game for both clubs.

No doubt the game will be a tense affair, to ensure that both sides play fairly and abide by the rules our old mate Phil Dowd will be taking charge of proceedings

This will be Dowd's second Latics game this season, the other was our 2-2 draw with QPR at the DW Stadium back in December

Dowd also took charge of arguably the Latics best performance of last season, on the 11th April when the Staffordshire official refereed the 1-0 win against Manchester United at the DW Stadium. Not too bad a performance that night for a ref who, the very mention of his name does strike fear in most Latics fans hearts, hopefully previous poor performances that included the sending off Latics striker Conor Sammon for, well for nothing, also against Manchester United last season, are a thing of the past

Conor Sammon can't believe that Dame Dowd has shown him the red card (later rescinded)

By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

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!

Phil Dowd's Card Watch 2012/13

Games - 27
Yellows - 92
Reds - 3

Reading v Wigan Athletic
Referee Phil Dowd
Assistants A Garratt & J Brooks
Fourth Official J Adcock


















Latics and Proud



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