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 | ||
| Chairman | Simon Gauge & Cameron Ogden | ||
| Manager | Jimmy McNulty | ||
| League | League One | ||
| 2018–19 | League One, 15th of 24 | ||
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Rochdale Association Football Club is a professional football team. They are based in Rochdale, a town in Greater Manchester, England. The team is known as 'The Dale'. They currently play in the National League, which is the fifth level of English football.
Rochdale has played their home games at Spotland Stadium since 1920. The club was started in 1907. They joined the Football League in 1921. For 102 years, they were a Football League club. In 2023, they moved down to the National League.
Contents
Club History
Rochdale has a long history in English football. They once spent 36 years in the lowest division of the Football League. This was from 1974 to 2010. Some people even called it "the Rochdale Division" because they were there for so long!
The club has also made history in other ways. In 1962, Rochdale reached the final of the League Cup. This was a big deal because they were the first team from the lowest division to reach a major cup final. They lost to Norwich City in the final.
Over the years, Rochdale has been promoted (moved up a league) three times. These were in 1969, 2010, and 2014. They have also been relegated (moved down a league) four times. This happened in 1959, 1974, 2012, and 2021.
Early Years (1907–1999)
Rochdale A.F.C. was formed in 1907. After World War I, the Football League grew bigger. Rochdale was invited to join the new Third Division North in 1921. Their first League game was on August 27, 1921. They won 6–3 against Accrington Stanley. However, they finished last that season and had to apply to stay in the League.
In 1962, Rochdale made it to the League Cup final. They were led by manager Tony Collins. They beat teams like Southampton and Blackburn Rovers to get there. They lost the final 4–0 to Norwich City.
The club's first promotion happened in 1969. This team was mostly put together by manager Bob Stokoe. Rochdale even topped the Third Division table for a while in 1969–70. But their form dropped, and they ended up finishing 9th.
In 1989–90, Rochdale reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time. They lost 1–0 to Crystal Palace. In the late 1990s, with manager Steve Parkin, the team got better. They had talented players like Gary Jones.
The 21st Century
2000–2010: New Success
Manager Steve Parkin left in 2001. Rochdale was second in the Third Division at the time. John Hollins took over, and the club finished 5th. They entered the play-offs but lost in the semi-final.
In 2002, the club reached the FA Cup fifth round again. They lost 3–1 to Wolves. After a few changes in managers, Keith Hill became manager in 2006. He became one of the club's most successful managers.
Hill led Rochdale to the play-offs in 2007–08. They reached Wembley Stadium for the first time in their history. They lost the final 3–2 to Stockport County. The next season, 2008–09, they made the play-offs again but lost to Gillingham.
The 2009–10 season was special. Rochdale finally won promotion after 41 years! They secured the third automatic promotion spot. This meant they moved up to League One. In 2010–11, they finished 9th in League One. This was their highest league finish since 1969–70.
2010–2014: Ups and Downs
In 2011, manager Keith Hill left for another club. Steve Eyre took over but was sacked after only 27 games. The team was not winning many matches. John Coleman became manager in January 2012. His first game was a 3–0 win against Bury. However, Rochdale was relegated from League One that season.
In January 2013, Keith Hill returned as manager. The 2013–14 season was much better. Rochdale was promoted to League One again! They finished third after beating Cheltenham Town 2–0. A highlight was reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup. They beat Championship team Leeds United 2–0.
Return to League One (2014–2021)
The 2014–15 season was the club's most successful yet. They finished 8th in League One, their highest league position ever. They also reached the FA Cup fourth round. They lost 4–1 to Premier League team Stoke City. Rochdale continued to do well in League One, finishing 10th in 2015–16 and 9th in 2016–17.
In 2017–18, Rochdale almost got relegated. But they had a great run in the FA Cup. They reached the fifth round and played Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur at Spotland. Rochdale drew 2–2, forcing a replay at Wembley Stadium. They lost the replay 6–1.
Manager Keith Hill was sacked in March 2019. Brian Barry-Murphy took over. In the 2019–20 season, Rochdale reached the third round of the EFL Cup. They played Manchester United at Old Trafford. They drew 1–1 in normal time but lost on penalties. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped the season early. Rochdale finished 18th.
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. Jim Bentley became the new manager.
In August 2022, Rochdale had a legal issue about a possible takeover. In October 2022, they got a six-point penalty, but it was suspended. On November 8, 2023, Ian Henderson became Rochdale's all-time top goalscorer. He scored his 129th goal, beating a long-standing record.
Manager Bentley was sacked in March 2023. Jimmy McNulty became the interim manager. On April 22, 2023, Rochdale lost to Stockport County. This meant they were relegated to the National League. This ended their 102 years as a Football League club.
National League (2023–Present)
Rochdale's first season in the National League had some money problems. The chairman warned the club might close if they didn't find new investors. In March 2024, shareholders agreed to issue new shares. This opened the door for an American group to take over.
On May 9, 2024, a local family, the Ogdens, bought the club for £2 million. This helped secure the club's future.
The Dale finished 11th in the National League in their first season. They had 62 points, with 16 wins, 16 losses, and 14 draws. Their biggest win was 4-1 away at Eastleigh. Their biggest loss was 3-0 away at Altrincham. The club's top goal scorer was Kairo Mitchell, with 14 league goals. This season was Rochdale's worst league finish in its modern history.
Club Badge and Colours
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| Rochdale home colours used until the 2006–07 season |
Rochdale AFC uses a club crest (badge) that comes from the old County Borough of Rochdale's coat of arms. This coat of arms was given to the town in 1857. In the middle of the shield, there is a sack of wool and a cotton plant. These represent the local wool and cotton industries. Around the shield, there are eight small birds called martlets.
Above the shield, you can see more symbols of local industry. There is a fleece of wool and the iron center of an old mill-stone.
The motto below the shield says Crede Signo. This means "Believe in the sign." When the new 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 home colours are currently black and blue shirts, white shorts, and blue and black hooped socks. Before 1949, they wore black and white stripes. This was inspired by the strong Newcastle United team of 1907. They brought back the black and white stripes for their 100th birthday season in 2007.
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| Rochdale's centenary kit, used in the 2007–08 season. |
After their centenary kit, they used a design inspired by Inter Milan. It mixed the striped kit with the blue kit. Between 2010 and 2012, their shirts were mostly blue with black pinstripes.
Rochdale's away kit is white shirts with a purple stripe, purple shorts, and purple and white hooped socks. In the past, their 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. Since 2013, Crown Oil has been the main sponsor.
The club's kit suppliers have changed over the years. Carbrini supplied kits from 2009. From 2012 to 2015, Fila supplied the kits. In 2015, Erreà became the new supplier. Since 2023, O'Neills has supplied Rochdale's kits.
Spotland Stadium: Rochdale's Home Ground
Rochdale plays their home matches at Spotland Stadium. It is also known as the Crown Oil Arena because of a sponsorship deal. The stadium opened in 1920. For 68 years, only Rochdale used it. From 1988 to 2016, the stadium was owned by the football club, the local council, and a rugby league club. In 2016, Rochdale A.F.C. bought all the shares to own 100% of Spotland Stadium.
Spotland Stadium has hosted more than just local football. It has also hosted rugby league matches, including games for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. In 2013, almost 9,000 people attended a match between Fiji and Ireland.
Today, Spotland Stadium can hold 10,249 people. It has four stands. Three stands have seats, and one stand behind a goal is for standing.
There is a special statue at the Main Stand. It is of David Clough, a long-time Rochdale fan. He helped the club raise money and left them a lot of money in his will when he passed away in 2020. The statue was put up in September 2021.
Club Rivalries
Rochdale has several rivalries with other football clubs. Their main rival used to be Bury. Bury was the closest Football League club to Rochdale. Their games were known as the South Lancashire Derby. However, Bury was removed from the Football League in 2019. This means they are unlikely to play each other soon.
Rochdale also has rivalries with Oldham Athletic, Halifax Town, and Burnley. Other teams they have smaller rivalries with include Stockport County, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Accrington Stanley, and Bradford City.
Players
Current Squad
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Former Players
- For a full list of players, see List of Rochdale A.F.C. players.
Club Officials
| Position | Name |
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| Co-Chairman | 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, Mrs Norma Jenkins and Trevor Butterworth |
| Honorary Life Vice President | Jack Northover |
| Director of Commercial | Andy Duff |
Coaching and Medical Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Jimmy McNulty |
| Head of Performance Services | Kevin Gibbins |
| Goalkeeping Coach & Head of Academy Goalkeeping | Josh Lillis |
| Head of Analysis & Technical Scouting | John Shannon |
| First Team Sports Therapist | Cameron Lukash |
Club Achievements
League Titles and Promotions
- 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 Two
- Promoted: 1909–10
Cup Achievements
- Football League Cup
- Runners-up: 1961–62
- Lancashire Cup
- Winners: 1948–49, 1970–71, 2004–05
Club Records
- Biggest League Win – 8–1 against Chesterfield (December 18, 1926)
- Fewest League Wins in a Season – 2 wins in 1973–74
- Most Points in a Season – 82 points in 2009–10 in Football League Two
- Highest Home Attendance – 24,231 against Notts County in 1949–50
- Most League Appearances – Gary Jones (464 games)
- Record League Goalscorer – Ian Henderson (120 goals)
- Most League Goals in One Season – Albert Whitehurst (44 goals in 1926–27)
- Highest Transfer Fee Paid – £150,000 for Paul Connor from Stoke City in 2001
- Highest Transfer Fee Received – £1,000,000 for Luke Matheson from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020
See also
In Spanish: Rochdale Association Football Club para niños
- List of Rochdale A.F.C. players
