Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester. The club plays in the Football League Two, the fourth tier in the English football league system. The club's colours are black and blue and they play their home games at Spotland Stadium, which has a capacity of 10,249.[1] Formed in 1907 and nicknamed the Dale, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921. Since then, the club has remained in the bottom two professional divisions of English Football until they were relegated to the National League at the end of the 2022–23 season.

History

Rochdale A.F.C. was formed in 1907. After World War I the Football League was expanded and the club unsuccessfully applied to join. In 1921 Rochdale was recommended to be included in the new Third Division North, and played their first League game at home against Accrington Stanley on 27 August 1921, winning 6–3. However, this first season ended with the club at the bottom of the League, having to reapply for membership.

The club reached the League Cup final in 1962. This was the first time a club from the bottom league division had reached the final of a major competition – where they lost to Norwich City.

The club's first promotion came in 1969, earned by a team largely assembled by manager Bob Stokoe, though it was Stokoe's assistant, Len Richley who steered Rochdale to promotion after Stokoe moved to Carlisle United. In the early stages of the 1969–70 season, Rochdale topped the Division Three table, sparking hopes of a second successive promotion. The team's form significantly declined around Christmas 1969, however, and a failure to halt the team's decline led to the dismissal of Richley. He was succeeded by Dick Conner, who stabilised the club's form and steered them to a 9th-place finish. The following three seasons saw the club finish in the lower reaches of the Division Three table, narrowly avoiding relegation each time. The board viewed merely surviving in Division Three as unacceptable and replaced Conner with Walter Joyce for the 1973–74 season. This move failed to pay off, and Rochdale was relegated after a campaign in which they won only 2 of 46 league games.

The club finished bottom of the league in 1977–78, but was successful in their bid for re-election. Rochdale finished bottom for a second time in 1979–80, but was again re-elected – by one vote over Altrincham. In 1989–90 the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time, but lost 1–0 to Crystal Palace.

The club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup again in 2003, but lost 3–1 at Wolverhampton.

Keith Hill, initially appointed as caretaker-manager in December 2006, became arguably the club's most successful manager to date. Hill and his assistant manager David Flitcroft led Rochdale to a 5th-placed finish in 2007–08, securing a play-off place. After beating Darlington 5–4 on penalties in the semi-finals, Rochdale reached Wembley for the first time in their history. Despite taking the lead in the match, they lost the final 3–2 to Stockport County.

In the 2008–09 season, Rochdale reached the League Two play-offs for the second consecutive season but lost 2–1 on aggregate to Gillingham in the playoff semi-finals.

The next season ended a 41-year wait for promotion with a win over Northampton Town as Rochdale secured the third automatic promotion spot. Rochdale continued their progression under Keith Hill, now with the club for 4 years, finishing 9th in the League One with 68 points, equaling their highest league finish since 1969–70.

On 1 June 2011 manager Keith Hill joined Championship side Barnsley. Former Manchester City apprentice and youth coach Steve Eyre was confirmed as Hill's replacement on 12 June 2011. Eyre's spell at Spotland did not last long, as he was sacked after 27 competitive games in charge, the team having recorded just 4 league wins in this time.

On 24 January 2012, Accrington Stanley's John Coleman was confirmed manager as the successor to Steve Eyre and left his club where he had been for more than a decade. John Coleman's first match in charge was a 3–0 win at home over Bury in the local derby. However, on 21 April, Rochdale lost 2–1 to Chesterfield resulting in relegation from League One after two years in the league. John Coleman's and Jimmy Bell's contracts were terminated by Rochdale on 21 January 2013 following a poor run in form.[2] In January 2013, Keith Hill, previously in charge of Rochdale from 2007 to 2011, was appointed as the new manager.[3]

Rochdale were promoted to League One on 26 April 2014, after beating Cheltenham Town 2–0.[4] Playing at the club's highest level the 2014–15 season was the club's most successful yet. Apart from a couple of games, they remained in the top half of the league all season, eventually finishing in eighth place, their highest league placing.

Key

Seasons

Year League Lvl Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position Leading league scorer[5] FA Cup FL Cup FL Trophy Average home
attendance[6][a]
Name Goals Res Rec Res Rec Res Rec
1908–09 Lancashire Combination
Division Two 		38 16 6 16 58 60 -2 38 10th of 20 Patrick Galvin 10 PR 0-0-1
1909–10 38 23 8 7 92 33 +59 54 4th of 20
Promoted 		Albert Worth 19 QR1 0-0-1
1910–11 Lancashire Combination
Division One 		38 25 6 7 87 45 +32 56 1st of 20 Tom Fleetwood 18 QR5 5-3-1
1911–12 32 23 4 5 81 24 +57 50 1st of 17 Alf Gregson 21 QR4 0-0-1
1912–13 Central League 38 17 10 11 67 51 +16 44 7th of 20 Tom Page 15 R1 5-1-1
1913–14 38 15 9 14 60 51 +9 39 10th of 20 Jack Allan 17 QR4 0-0-1
1914–15 38 12 13 13 63 50 +13 37 9th of 20 William Brown 21 R2 4-0-1
No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the World War I.
1919–20 Central League 42 12 10 20 59 88 -29 34 19th of 22 Tom Hesmondhalgh 12 R1 3-0-1
1920–21 42 19 5 18 63 73 -10 43 10th of 22 Harry Dennison 22 R1 3-1-1
Football League Third Division North created. The club were invited to join.
1921–22 Football League
Third Division North 		3 38 11 4 23 52 77 -25 26 20th of 20 Harry Dennison 17 QR5 0-0-1 4,550
1922–23 38 13 10 15 42 53 -11 36 12th of 20 William Sandham

George Guy

7 QR4 0-0-1 5,460
1923–24 42 25 12 5 60 26 +34 62 2nd of 22 Bill Prouse

Albert Whitehurst

14 QR5 0-1-1 6,255
1924–25 42 21 7 14 75 53 +22 49 6th of 22 Harry Anstiss 23 QR6 1-0-1 5,055
1925–26 42 27 5 10 104 58 +46 59 3rd of 22 Billy Fergusson 19 R2 1-1-1 6,030
1926–27 42 26 6 10 105 65 +40 58 2nd of 22 Albert Whitehurst 44 R1 0-0-1 6,181
1927–28 42 17 7 18 74 77 -3 41 13th of 22 Albert Whitehurst 32 R2 1-0-1 4,222
1928–29 42 13 10 19 79 96 -17 36 17th of 22 Jack Milsom 25 R1 0-0-1 5,355
1929–30 42 18 7 17 89 91 -2 43 10th of 22 Tom Tippett 29 R1 0-0-1 3,440
1930–31 42 12 6 24 62 107 -45 30 21st of 22 Tom Tippett 18 R1 0-0-1 3,162
1931–32 40 4 3 33 48 135 -87 11 21st of 21 Reg Watson 8 R1 0-0-1 3,070
1932–33 42 13 7 22 58 80 -22 33 18th of 22 George Snow

Bill Watson

12 R1 0-0-1 4,669
1933–34 42 9 6 27 53 103 -50 24 22nd of 22 Jack Robson 10 R1 0-0-1 3,823
1934–35 42 11 11 20 53 71 -18 33 20th of 22 Len Clarke 13 R1 0-0-1 4,593
1935–36 42 10 13 19 58 88 -30 33 20th of 22 Joe Wiggins 14 R1 0-0-1 4,827
1936–37 42 13 9 20 69 86 -17 35 18th of 22 Wally Hunt 24 R1 0-0-1 4,669
1937–38 42 13 11 18 67 78 -11 37 17th of 22 Jimmy Wynn 20 R1 0-1-1 5,374
1938–39 42 15 9 18 92 82 +10 39 15th of 22 Jimmy Wynn 28 R1 0-0-1 6,110
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the World War II.
1945–46 R3 2-2-2
1946–47 Football League
Third Division North 		3 42 19 10 13 80 64 +16 48 6th of 22 Joe Hargreaves 23 R3 2-0-1 7,577
1947–48 42 15 11 16 48 72 +24 41 12th of 22 Hugh O'Donnell 9 R2 1-1-1 8,124
1948–49 42 18 9 15 55 53 +2 45 7th of 22 Jack Connor 10 R1 0-1-1 8,616
1949–50 42 21 9 12 68 41 +27 51 3rd of 22 Jack Connor 16 R2 1-0-1 8,372
1950–51 46 17 11 18 69 62 +7 45 11th of 24 Jack Connor 16 R3 2-0-1 6,519
1951–52 46 11 13 22 47 79 -32 35 21st of 24 Alan Middlebrough 10 R3 2-0-1 4,992
1952–53 46 14 5 27 62 83 -21 33 22nd of 24 Bert Foulds 13 R1 0-0-1 6,200
1953–54 46 15 10 21 59 77 -18 40 19th of 24 Jack Haines 11 R1 0-0-1 6,121
1954–55 46 17 14 15 69 66 +3 48 12th of 22 Eric Gemmell 19 R3 2-1-1 6,202
1955–56 46 17 13 16 66 84 -18 47 12th of 24 Eric Gemmell 13 R1 0-0-1 4,833
1956–57 46 18 12 16 65 65 0 48 13th of 24 Frank Lord 15 R1 0-0-1 6,280
1957–58 46 19 8 19 79 67 +12 46 10th of 24 Jimmy Dailey 19 R1 0-0-1 6,352
Regional Third divisions merged creating nationwide Third Division and Fourth Division. Club qualified to join Third Division.
1958–59 Football League
Third Division 		3 46 8 12 26 37 79 -42 28 24th of 24
Relegated 		Eddie Wainwright 8 R1 0-2-1 4,810
1959–60 Football League
Fourth Division 		4 46 18 10 18 65 60 +5 46 12th of 24 Stanley Milburn 15 R2 1-2-1 4,599
1960–61 46 17 8 21 60 66 -6 42 17th of 24 Ronnie Cairns 20 R1 0-1-1 R3 2-1-1 3,930
1961–62 44 19 7 18 71 71 0 45 12th of 23 Ronnie Cairns 15 R2 1-0-1 F 5-1-3 4,024
1962–63 46 20 11 15 67 59 +8 51 7th of 24 Ronnie Cairns 14 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-1-1 3,306
1963–64 46 12 15 19 56 59 -3 39 20th of 24 Joe Richardson 11 R2 1-0-1 R2 1-1-1 3,020
1964–65 46 22 14 10 74 53 +21 58 6th of 24 Reg Jenkins 25 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 4,686
1965–66 46 16 5 25 71 87 -16 37 21st of 24 Reg Jenkins

Bob Stephenson

13 R2 1-1-1 R2 1-1-1 2,974
1966–67 46 13 11 22 53 75 -22 37 21st of 24 Reg Jenkins 14 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 2,443
1967–68 46 12 14 20 51 72 -21 38 19th of 24 Joe Fletcher 15 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 2,292
1968–69 46 18 20 8 68 35 +33 56 3rd of 24
Promoted 		Dennis Butler 16 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 5,399
1969–70 Football League
Third Division 		3 46 18 10 18 69 60 +9 46 9th of 24 Reg Jenkins 20 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 6,109
1970–71 46 14 15 17 61 68 -7 43 16th of 24 Reg Jenkins 13 R4 3-1-1 R2 1-1-1 4,866
1971–72 46 12 13 21 57 83 -26 37 18th of 24 Peter Gowans 9 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-2-1 4,387
1972–73 46 14 17 15 48 54 -6 45 13th of 24 Reg Jenkins

Malcolm Darling

8 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 3,186
1973–74 46 2 17 27 38 94 -56 21 24th of 24
Relegated 		Leo Skeete 9 R2 1-1-1 R2 1-0-1 1,890
1974–75 Football League
Fourth Division 		4 46 13 13 20 59 75 -16 39 19th of 24 Tony Whelan

Bob Mountford

10 R2 1-2-1 R1 0-0-1 1,507
1975–76 46 12 18 16 40 54 -14 42 15th of 24 Bob Mountford 14 R3 2-4-1 R1 0-0-2 1,594
1976–77 46 13 12 21 50 59 -9 38 18th of 24 Bob Mountford 11 R1 0-2-1 R1 0-0-2 1,745
1977–78 46 8 8 30 43 85 -42 24 24th of 24 Terry Owen 9 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-1-1 1,275
1978–79 46 15 9 22 47 64 -17 39 20th of 24 Terry Owen 11 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-2 1,767
1979–80 46 7 13 26 33 79 -46 27 24th of 24 Chris Jones 9 R3 2-2-1 R1 0-1-1 1,926
1980–81 46 14 15 17 60 70 -10 43 15th of 24 Barry Wellings 14 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-1-1 2,460
1981–82 46 10 16 20 50 62 -12 46 21st of 24 Mark Hilditch 14 R1 0-2-1 R1 0-1-1 1,837
1982–83 46 11 16 19 55 73 -16 49 20th of 24 Micky French 11 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-3 1,688
1983–84 46 11 13 22 52 80 -28 46 22nd of 24 Peter Farrell

Vernon Allatt

8 R3 2-0-1 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 1,491
1984–85 46 13 14 19 55 69 -14 53 17th of 24 Barry Diamond 15 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-2 R2 1-1-1 1,434
1985–86 46 14 13 19 57 77 -20 55 18th of 24 Steve Taylor 25 R3 2-1-1 R1 1-0-1 G 1-0-1 1,790
1986–87 46 11 17 18 54 73 -19 50 21st of 24 Lyndon Simmonds 10 R2 1-0-1 R2 1-2-1 AQF 1-3-0 2,151
1987–88 46 11 15 20 47 76 -29 48 21st of 24 Lyndon Simmonds 12 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-1-2 R1 0-1-2 1,939
1988–89 46 13 14 19 56 82 -26 53 18th of 24 David Frain 12 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-1-1 G 0-0-2 1,968
1989–90 46 20 6 20 52 55 -3 66 12th of 22 Steve O'Shaughnessy 8 R5 4-0-1 R1 1-0-1 G 0-1-2 2,027
1990–91 46 15 17 14 50 53 -3 62 12th of 22 Peter Costello 10 R1 0-1-1 R2 1-1-2 R1 1-0-2 2,238
1991–92 42 18 13 11 57 53 +4 67 8th of 22 Andy Flounders 17 R2 1-1-1 R2 2-1-1 G 0-1-1 2,657
Football League divisions renamed after the Premier League creation.
1992–93 Football League
Third Division 		4 42 16 10 16 70 70 0 58 11th of 22 Andy Flounders

Steve Whitehall

14 R2 1-1-1 R1 0-0-2 R2 1-1-1 2,312
1993–94 42 16 12 14 63 51 +12 60 9th of 22 Dave Lancaster

Steve Whitehall

14 R2 1-0-1 R2 1-1-2 R2 0-0-1 2,657
1994–95 42 12 14 16 44 67 -23 50 15th of 22 Steve Whitehall 10 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-2 AF 5-1-1 2,184
1995–96 46 41 13 19 57 61 -4 55 15th of 24 Steve Whitehall 20 R3 2-1-1 R1 1-0-1 R2 1-0-2 2,214
1996–97 46 14 16 16 58 58 0 58 14th of 24 Steve Whitehall

Alex Russell

9 R2 1-0-1 R1 1-0-1 R1 0-0-1 1,829
1997–98 46 17 7 22 56 55 +1 58 18th of 24 Robbie Painter 16 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-1-1 R2 1-0-1 1,847
1998–99 46 13 15 18 42 55 -13 54 19th of 24 Michael Holt
Andy Morris 		7 R2 1-2-1 R1 0-0-2 ASF 2-0-1 2,125
1999–2000 46 18 14 14 57 54 +3 68 10th of 24 Tony Ellis 11 R2 1-1-1 R1 0-0-2 AF 2-1-2 2,774
2000–01 46 18 17 11 59 48 +11 71 8th of 24 Paul Connor 10 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 3,249
2001–02 46 21 15 10 65 52 +13 78 5th of 24 Kevin Townson 14 R2 1-1-1 R2 1-1-0 R2 1-0-1 3,431
Lost in the play-off semifinal.
2002–03 46 12 16 18 63 70 -7 52 19th of 24 Lee McEvilly 15 R5 4-1-1 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 2,740
2003–04 46 12 14 20 49 58 -9 50 21st of 24 Kevin Townson 10 R2 1-0-1 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 3,277
Football League divisions renamed.
2004–05 Football
League Two 		4 46 16 18 12 54 48 +6 66 9th of 24 Grant Holt 17 R3 2-0-1 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 2,690
2005–06 46 14 14 18 66 69 -3 56 14th of 24 Rickie Lambert 22 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 2,808
2006–07 46 18 12 16 70 50 +20 66 9th of 24 Chris Dagnall 17 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 R2 0-2-0 2,898
2007–08 46 23 11 12 77 54 +23 80 5th of 24 Adam Le Fondre 16 R1 0-0-1 R2 0-2-0 R2 0-0-1 3,057
Lost in the play-off final.
2008–09 46 19 13 14 70 59 +11 70 6th of 24 Adam Le Fondre 18 R2 1-1-1 R1 0-1-0 AQF 0-1-1 3,222
Lost in the play-off semifinal.
2009–10 46 25 7 14 82 48 +34 82 3rd of 24
Promoted 		Chris O'Grady 22 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 3,443
2010–11 Football
League One 		3 46 18 14 14 63 55 +8 68 9th of 24 Gary Jones 17 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 R1 0-0-1 3,537
2011–12 46 8 14 24 47 81 -34 38 24th of 24
Relegated 		Ashley Grimes 8 R1 0-0-1 R3 2-0-1 AQF 0-2-0 3,109
2012–13 Football
League Two 		4 46 16 13 17 68 70 -2 61 12th of 24 Bobby Grant 15 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 R2 0-2-0 2,439
2013–14 46 24 9 13 69 48 +21 81 3rd of 24
Promoted 		Scott Hogan 17 R4 3-0-1 R1 0-0-1 AQF 1-0-1 2,900
2014–15 Football
League One 		3 46 19 6 21 72 66 +6 63 8th of 24 Ian Henderson 22 R4 3-2-1 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 3,309
2015–16 46 19 12 15 68 61 +7 69 10th of 24 Ian Henderson 13 R2 1-0-1 R2 0-1-1 AQF 1-0-1 3,098
2016–17 46 19 12 15 71 62 +9 69 9th of 24 Ian Henderson 15 R4 3-1-1 R2 1-0-1 R2 2-1-1 3,556
2017–18 46 11 18 17 49 57 -8 51 20th of 24 Ian Henderson 13 R5 4-2-1 R2 1-0-1 R3 1-3-1 3,471
2018–19 46 15 9 22 54 87 -33 54 16th of 24 Ian Henderson 20 R2 1-0-1 R2 1-0-1 R3 3-1-1 3,574
2019–20 34 10 6 18 39 57 -18 36 18th of 24 Ian Henderson 15 R3 2-3-1 R3 2-0-1 R1 2-0-1 3,632
2020–21 46 11 14 21 61 78 -17 47 21st of 24
Relegated 		Matty Lund
Stephen Humphrys 		11 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 R1 1-0-2 – [b]
2021–22 Football
League Two 		4 46 12 17 17 51 59 -8 53 18th of 24 Jake Beesley 9 R2 1-1-1 R3 1-0-1 R1 1-0-2 2,882
2022–23 46 9 11 26 46 70 -24 38 24th of 24
Relegated 		Devante Rodney 11 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-0-1 R2 1-2-0 3,029
  1. ^ Average home attendance = for league games only
  2. ^ COVID-19 prevented fans from attending games

References

  1. ^ "Spotland, Rochdale FC". Football Ground Guide. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Club Statement". Rochdale AFC. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Keith Hill: Rochdale return for former Barnsley manager". BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Rochdale secured promotion to League One with victory over Cheltenham". BBC. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Rochdale FC club details". Soccerbase. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  6. ^ "English attendances archive". EFS. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
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