All four match officials for this Saturday's game against Bolton Wanderers will be serving members of the Armed Forces...
It will be the first time in EFL history that an all-military team is in charge of a game, as part of this weekend's annual Remembrance Fixture.
Refereeing the match will be the RAF's Sergeant Darren Drysdale, whilst the Army's Corporal Declan O'Shea and Captain Steve Finch will be his assistants. The Royal Navy's Petty Officer Scott Jackson rounds up the team as fourth official.
Supporters are asked to arrive in good time ahead of the pre-match tribute to fallen servicemen and women, in-order to prevent any disruption to proceedings.
For more information on the officials and details of their service, please see below:
Referee: Sergeant Darren Drysdale
- Current Role & Location: SNCO Operations, Intelligence Reserves Wing, RAF Waddington, Lincoln
- Current Length of Service: 34 years
- Military history significant events: Darren has gone on numerous tours in the UK & overseas including active service in Iraq in 2003 as part of prison of war handling team.
Assistant Referee 1: Captain Steve Finch
- Current Role & Location: Administration Officer, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, Bury St Edmunds
- Current Length of Service: 32 years
- Military history significant events: Steve joined the Army as a Mariner in 1990, working at sea on Army landing crafts, finishing as a RSM before commissioning and taking up current role. Steve has gone on op tours to Afghanistan, a 6 month tour to Falklands and 2 years in Cyprus, where he completed the referee course with the RAF.
Assistant Referee 2: Corporal Declan O’Shea
- Current Role & Location: 5 Battalion REME, Mod Lyneham as a JNCO in Engineering Operations
- Current Length of Service: 13.5 years
- Military history significant events: Declan has had a number of jobs within his primary role as a vehicle mechanic as well as being an instructor at a training establishment and taking recruit soldiers through some of their training phases.
Fourth Official: Chief Petty Officer Scott Jackson
- Current Role & Location: Chief Petty Officer and Social Worker working out of HMS Eaglet, Merseyside
- Current Length of Service: 19 years
- Military history significant events: Scott joined the Royal Navy in 2003 and underwent operational deployments for the early stages of his career before transferring to be a Physical Training Instructor in 2008. After 7 years as a PTI, Scott switched roles to accommodate his alternate career as a referee and transferred into the Welfare organisation in which he still serves in today.
The Club is also raising money for Royal British Legion on Saturday, so please give generously to our Bucket Collectors who will be located around the the ground in the lead up to kick-off.