For the first time this season the Lilywhites see a referee for the second time, with Steve Martin the man in the middle for our trip to St Andrew's on Saturday.
The match official was the referee for our opening day game down at Millwall, where he also had the whistle for the same fixture last season, when Alex Neil’s men came out 3-1 winners, back in February at The Den.
That was one of the match official’s three games officiating both North End in 2018/19, the others being PNE’s wins at Nottingham Forest and at home to Ipswich Town.
Since coming onto the EFL lists back in 2012/13, the Staffordshire referee has officiated 13 North End games, at least one a season for all the years he has been on the league groupings.
His first game was a goalless draw against Leyton Orient back in March 2013, whilst other memorable games include our 3-0 win at Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup in 2014, a 3-0 home win over Cardiff City in 2016 and a 3-1 win at Oldham’s Boundary Park in 2014.
He has taken charge of six games so far this season, including our game with the Lions, issuing just 14 cautions in those game, five of which came in that game between North End and Neil Harris’ men back at the beginning of August.
The other members of the third team involved in Saturday’s game are assistants Sam Lewis and Mark Jones and fourth official Daniel Leach.