Trophy Ref Watch – Millers v Cambridge

Rotherham United’s next foray into the Papa John’s Trophy sees Martin Coy from County Durham in the middle with Cambridge United the visitors to the New York Stadium.

Martin began his refereeing career in Durham County in 2002, starting with the Durham Sunday League before progressing through numerous leagues up to the National League. The start of the 2017/18 season saw Martin move up to a Level One referee and officiating in League’s One and Two.

This will be the second time Martin has been in charge of a Millers game this season the first being our South Yorkshire derby with Doncaster Rovers at the New York Stadium. Michael Smith scored two first half goals and although Rotherham went down to ten men on fifty-three minutes when Mickel Miller was given a second yellow they managed to hold on for all three points.

Before that he was in the middle for a Millers game in February 2020 when a Matt Crooks goal just after half-time gave the Millers all three points away at Lincoln City. Earlier that season he was also in charge of our game at the Keepmoat Stadium against Doncaster Rovers. where Jake Hastie gave Rotherham a thirty-seventh minute lead. Unfortunately for Rotherham Rovers scored twice in the second half to give them a two-one win. Yellow cards were handed out to Richard Wood and Matthew Olosunde that day and Tom Anderson for the hosts.

New Years Day 2018 is the only time the Millers and Martin have met when Rotherham entertained Blackburn Rovers at the New York Stadium. A battling performance by the Millers that day but the visitors hit first on sixty-six minutes with a goal from Bradley Dack but after Semi Ajayi was moved up front and caused problems for Rovers the Millers got an equaliser in the eighty-ninth minute from David Ball. Ajayi and Charlie Mulgrew were yellow carded.

This season Martin has shown thirty-eight yellows and just the one red which was to Miller in August in the eighteen games he has been in charge of.

Running the line we have Ravel Cheosiaua and Ollie Williams and the Fourth Official will be James Oldham.