This Saturday’s match official, for the Gentry Day trip to face Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium, is taking charge of his fourth PNE match of 2017/18.
The referee is Peter Bankes, who took charge both of the last two seasons’ clashes with Aston Villa at Deepdale and our FA Cup third round victory over Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park back in January and the 1-1 draw with Barnsley in September.
The first of the aforementioned games against Villa, were his first of two North End games in 2016/17, also officiating the game against Leeds United at Elland Road in April 2017.
Last season’s clash with the Villans was his third visit to Deepdale as a referee. His first was the 2014/15 season’s 3-2 home win over Port Vale in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and then in 2015/16 season he was here for the last game of 2015, when we defeated Hull City 1-0 just after Christmas.
This is his fourth year on the EFL referee’s list and his second year in the Select Group Two, and he also took charge of our win at Chesterfield in February 2015, when Joe Garner scored twice on his return from a period out injured.
This will be his second trip to the Macron Stadium in six weeks, having officiated their 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town in January. That was one of his 32 games so far this season, where he has issued 109 cautions and eight red cards. His last game was last weekend’s 2-0 victory for Fulham at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The assistants on Saturday afternoon will be Tim Wood and Mark Dwyer, with Oliver Langford acting as fourth official.