Rochdale A.F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Rochdale Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Dale | ||
| Founded | 1907 | ||
| Ground | Spotland Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 10,249 | ||
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| Manager | Jimmy McNulty | ||
| League | League One | ||
| 2018–19 | League One, 15th of 24 | ||
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Rochdale Association Football Club is a professional association football team from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. The club is often called 'The Dale'. They currently play in the National League, which is the fifth level of English football. Since 1920, their home games have been at Spotland Stadium. Rochdale has long-standing rivalries with nearby teams like Bury and Oldham Athletic.
The club was started in 1907. They joined the Football League Third Division North in 1921. Rochdale stayed in this division for 37 years. In 1958, they became part of the new nationwide Third Division. A big moment for the club was reaching the League Cup final in 1962. They earned their first promotion from the Fourth Division in 1968–69.
After being relegated in 1974, Rochdale spent 36 seasons in the fourth tier. They finally won promotion again in 2009–10. After a brief return to the third tier, they were relegated to League Two in 2020–21. In 2022–23, after 102 years, Rochdale was relegated from the Football League to the National League.
Contents
Club History
Early Years: 1907–1999
Rochdale A.F.C. was formed in 1907. After World War I, the Football League grew bigger. Rochdale joined the new Third Division North in 1921. Their first League game was on August 27, 1921, at home against Accrington Stanley, which they won 6–3. However, they finished last that season and had to apply to stay in the League.
In 1958, the League changed its structure. Rochdale secured a place in the Third Division. But they were relegated in last place after their first season at this level.
A major achievement was reaching the League Cup final in 1962. This was special because they were the first club from the lowest league division to reach a major final. They lost to Norwich City 4–0 over two games. On their way to the final, Rochdale beat teams like Southampton and Blackburn Rovers.
The club's first promotion happened in 1969. They even topped the Third Division table early in the 1969–70 season. However, their form dropped, and they were relegated again in 1974. They won only two out of 46 league games that season.
Rochdale finished last in the league twice more, in 1977–78 and 1979–80. But they were re-elected to stay in the League both times. In 1989–90, the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time. They lost 1–0 to Crystal Palace.
The 21st Century: A New Era
2000–2010: Play-offs and Promotion
In 2001, manager Steve Parkin left, and John Hollins took over. Rochdale finished 5th in the Third Division. They entered the promotion play-offs but lost in the semi-final. The club reached the FA Cup fifth round again the next season, losing to Wolves.
Keith Hill became manager in 2006. He led Rochdale to a 5th-place finish in 2007–08, reaching the play-offs. After winning a penalty shootout against Darlington, Rochdale played at Wembley Stadium for the first time. They lost the final 3–2 to Stockport County.
In the 2008–09 season, Rochdale made the League Two play-offs again, finishing 6th. They lost to Gillingham in the semi-finals. The 2009–10 season was a big one. Rochdale finally won promotion after 41 years, beating Northampton Town. This ended their long stay in the Football League's bottom division.
Rochdale continued to do well under Keith Hill. In 2010–11, they finished 9th in League One. This was their highest league finish since 1969–70.
2010–2014: Ups and Downs
In June 2011, manager Keith Hill left for Barnsley. Steve Eyre took over but was sacked after only 27 games. The team had won just 4 league games during his time. John Coleman became manager in January 2012. His first game was a 3–0 win against Bury. However, Rochdale was relegated from League One in April 2012.
John Coleman was sacked in January 2013. Keith Hill then returned as manager. The 2013–14 season was much better. Rochdale was promoted to League One on April 26, 2014, after beating Cheltenham Town 2–0. A highlight was reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup. They beat Championship side Leeds United 2–0.
Return to League One (2014–2021)
The 2014–15 season was very successful. Rochdale finished 8th in League One, their highest league position ever. They also reached the FA Cup fourth round, losing to Premier League team Stoke City. Rochdale finished 10th in 2015–16 and 9th in 2016–17.
In 2017–18, Rochdale nearly faced relegation. But they reached the FA Cup fifth round. They drew 2–2 with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur at Spotland. In the replay at Wembley, Rochdale lost 6–1. Manager Keith Hill was sacked in March 2019. Brian Barry-Murphy took over and led them to 16th place.
In the 2019–20 season, Rochdale reached the third round of the EFL Cup. They drew 1–1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford before losing on penalties. They also reached the FA Cup third round. They drew 1–1 at home with Premier League team Newcastle United. The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rochdale finished 18th based on points per game.
League Two (2021–2023)
Rochdale was relegated from League One at the end of the 2020–21 season. They finished 18th in their first League Two season. The 2022–23 season started with five straight defeats. Manager Robbie Stockdale was sacked in August 2022. Jim Bentley was appointed manager. The team's first league win came in their 10th game.
In August 2022, Rochdale settled a legal case about an attempted takeover. In October 2022, they received a six-point penalty, suspended for two years. This was for not following EFL rules during the takeover attempt. On November 8, 2023, Ian Henderson became Rochdale's all-time leading goalscorer. He scored against Salford City, passing Reg Jenkins' record of 129 goals.
Manager Bentley was sacked on March 27, 2023. Under him, the team won only six out of 32 league games. Jimmy McNulty became interim manager and then permanent manager. On April 22, 2023, a 1–0 defeat against Stockport County confirmed relegation to the National League. This ended their 102 years as a Football League club.
National League (2023–present)
Rochdale's first National League season faced financial challenges. Chairman Simon Gauge warned the club could close without new money. In March 2024, shareholders agreed to issue new shares. In May 2024, the family of local businessman Peter Ogden completed a £2 million takeover. The Dale finished 11th in their first National League season. In the 2024–25 season, they finished 4th but lost a play-off game against Southend United.
Club Badge and Colours
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| Rochdale home colours used until the 2006–07 season |
The club badge used by Rochdale AFC comes from the old County Borough of Rochdale's coat of arms. The shield in the middle shows a sack of wool and a cotton plant. These represent the local wool and cotton industries. Around the shield are eight small birds called martlets. These birds are from the Rochdale family's coat of arms. Above the shield, there's a fleece of wool and part of an old mill-stone. These also show local industry.
The motto below the shield says Crede Signo. This means "Believe in the sign". When the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council was formed in 1974, they got a new coat of arms. But Rochdale A.F.C. kept their version of the old one.
Rochdale's current home kit has black and blue shirts, white shorts, and blue and black striped socks. Before 1949, they wore black and white stripes. This was inspired by the strong Newcastle United team of 1907, the year Rochdale was formed.
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| Rochdale's centenary kit, used in the 2007–08 season. |
This black and white kit was brought back for the 2007–08 season as a special centenary (100-year) kit. The next design mixed the striped kit with the blue kit. Between 2010 and 2012, Rochdale's shirts were mostly blue with black pinstripes and black sleeves.
Rochdale's away kit has white shirts with a purple stripe, purple shorts, and purple and white striped socks. In the past, away kits have been yellow, teal, green, and red.
Kit Manufacturers and Shirt Sponsors
Rochdale has had sponsored shirts since 1983. Some past sponsors include Carcraft and The Co-operative. On May 28, 2013, Crown Oil became the club's main sponsor.
Kit suppliers have included Carbrini (from 2009), Fila (2012–2015), Erreà (from 2015), and O'Neills (from 2023).
Stadium
Rochdale plays its home games at Spotland Stadium. It's also known as the Crown Oil Arena due to a sponsorship deal. The stadium opened in 1920. Rochdale A.F.C. owned 100% of Spotland Stadium from 2016. Before that, it was jointly owned with Rochdale Council and rugby league club Rochdale Hornets.
Spotland has hosted rugby league matches, including games for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. A match between Fiji and Ireland was almost sold out, with nearly 9,000 people attending. The stadium's record attendance was 24,231 for an FA Cup game in December 1949.
Today, Spotland can hold 10,249 people. It has four stands: the Co-Operative Stand, the Thwaites Beer Stand, the T.D.S Stand, and the Westrose Leisure Stand. Three stands have seats, while the Sandy Lane End is a small standing area.
The Main Stand has a statue of David Clough, a long-time Rochdale fan. He helped the club raise money and left £250,000 to the club when he passed away in 2020. The statue was unveiled in September 2021.
Rivalries
Rochdale has several rivalries with other football clubs. Their traditional main rival is nearby Oldham Athletic. However, for many years, Rochdale and Oldham were in different leagues. This meant they rarely played each other.
Because of this, Rochdale developed strong rivalries with other local clubs. The most notable is against neighbours Bury. Most Rochdale fans today see Bury as their main rival. Games between them are called the South Lancashire derby. It is considered one of the biggest derbies in the lower leagues.
Rochdale also has a rivalry with West Yorkshire club Halifax Town. This match is known as a Roses rivalry because it's between a Lancashire and a Yorkshire team. Other rivalries include those with Stockport County, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, and Accrington Stanley.
Players
Current Squad
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Out on Loan
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Club Officials
| Position | Name |
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| Co-Chairmen | Simon Gauge and Cameron Ogden |
| COO | George Delves |
| Directors | Richard Knight, Tony Pockney, Murray Knight (Supporters Trust Representative), Guy Courtney, Jamie Willoughby and Adam Saul |
| President | Graham Morris |
| Life Vice Presidents | Andrew Kelly, Norma Jenkins and Trevor Butterworth |
| Honorary Life Vice President | Jack Northover |
| Director of Commercial | Andy Duff |
Coaching and Medical Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Jimmy McNulty |
| Assistant Head Coach | Jason Taylor |
| First Team Coach | Matt Done |
| Physical Performance Coach | Bradley Rufus |
| Goalkeeping Coach & Head of Academy Goalkeeping | Josh Lillis |
| Head of Analysis & Technical Scouting | John Shannon |
| First Team Sports Therapist | Cameron Lukash |
| Head Physiotherapist | Rebecca O'Loughlin |
Honours
League
- Third Division North (level 3)
- Runners-up: 1923–24, 1926–27
- Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
- Promoted: 1968–69, 2009–10, 2013–14
- Lancashire Combination Division One
- Champions: 1910–11, 1911–12
Cup
- Football League Cup
- Runners-up: 1961–62
- Lancashire Cup
- Winners: 1948–49, 1970–71, 2004–05
Club Records
- Record League victory – 8–1 vs. Chesterfield (December 18, 1926)
- Fewest league wins in a season – 2 1973–74
- Most points gained in a season – 82 2009–10 Football League Two
- Highest home attendance – 24,231 vs. Notts County 1949–50
- Record league appearances – Gary Jones (464)
- Record league goalscorer – Ian Henderson (120)
- Most league goals in one season – Albert Whitehurst (44 in 1926–27)
- Highest transfer fee paid – £150,000 to Stoke City for Paul Connor, 2001
- Highest transfer fee received – £1,000,000 Wolverhampton Wanderers for Luke Matheson, 2020
Cup Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Fifth round, 2002–03, 2017–18 (replay)
- Best EFL Cup performance: Runners-up, 1961–62
- Best EFL Trophy performance: Northern area final, 1994–95, 1999–2000
- Best FA Trophy performance: Semi-finals, 2024–25
See also
In Spanish: Rochdale Association Football Club para niños
- List of Rochdale A.F.C. players
