Everything about Rochdale A F C totally explained
Chris Dunphy |
manager =
Keith Hill |
assistant manager =
Dave Flicroft |
league =
League Two |
season =
2007–08 |
position = League Two, 5th |
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Rochdale Association Football Club is an
English professional
football club based in
Rochdale,
Lancashire. They play their home matches at
Spotland and are currently managed by
Keith Hill. They have an average attendance of around 2,500.
History
Rochdale AFC was formed in 1907 and accepted into the Manchester League that year before joining the Lancashire Combination in
1908. After winning the League in
1911 Rochdale unsuccessfully applied to join the
Football League, proposing the creation of a new
Third Division. After the
First World War the Football League was expanded and the club, again, unsuccessfully applied to join. Finally, in 1921, Rochdale were recommended to be included in the new
Third Division North, and played their first League game at home against
Accrington Stanley on
August 27,
1921, winning 6-3. However, this first season ended with the club bottom of the League, having to reapply for membership.
Recent History
The club reached the
League Cup final in 1962 - the only time a club from the bottom league division has reached the final of a major competition - where they lost to
Norwich City. In terms of the league, they've played in
the Football League's bottom division since 1974, the longest time any team has been in the bottom division of the League, with some even derisively renaming it "the Rochdale Division".
The club finished bottom of the league in 1977-78, but were succesful in their bid for re-election. Instead,
Southport, who had finished one place above Rochdale, were demoted instead, replaced by
Wigan Athletic. Rochdale finished bottom for a second time in 1979-80, but were again re-elected. In 1989-90 the club reached the fifth round of the
FA Cup for the first time, but lost 1-0 to
Crystal Palace.
Steve Parkin was appointed as manager in 1998, but left to take over at
Barnsley in November 2001.
John Hollins was appointed as his successor and, after more than two decades of mediocrity, in which the club finished in the top 10 only three times, the club finished the season in fifth place, entering the promotion play-offs where they lost to
Rushden & Diamonds in the semi-finals. The following season the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup again the following season, but lost 3-1 at
Wolves. Hollins was replaced by
Paul Simpson in 2002, and
Alan Buckley appointed and sacked as manager in 2003. Parkin then returned to the club as manager, until being sacked in December 2006. His replacement,
Keith Hill, who was initially appointed as caretaker-manager, 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. However, despite taking the lead in the match, they lost the final 3-2 to
Stockport County.
Colours and badge
Rochdale's current home colours are black and white shirts, white shorts and black socks, a recurrence of the first ever Rochdale kit, believed to be influenced by
Newcastle United, who were one of the best teams in England at the time Rochdale were formed (1907). Dale have reintroduced this striped kit for the 2007-2008 centenary year season. Last season, Dale wore the usual blue kit which has been almost ever-present since
1949 when Dale switched from stripes to the blue. It is unknown what the reasons were for this. Next season, Rochdale are expected to return to the blue shirts (or, possibly, an
Internazionale style kit with blue and black stripes). Other kits have included white shirts with black shorts, white shirts with blue shorts and a blue shirt with white sleeves. Current Rochdale kits and training gear are manufactured by
Nike.
The Dale have had sponsored shirts since
1983, the most notable sponsor being
Carcraft. They are currently sponsored by MMC Estates, a housing company that currently is working in the
Spodden Valley area. Other former sponsors include All-in-One Garden Centre, Smith Metals, Carcraft and Keytech.
Rochdale's away kit is yellow shirts with black shorts, introduced for the centenary year, but expected to be used next year also. Other historical away kits have included teal/black, green and red.
Rochdale's badge is an adaptation of the old Rochdale town crest, featuring various industrial and heraldic imagery. The blue ring around the outside features the club's full name and also the nickname. Rochdale's motto is the
Latin "Crede Signo", which roughly translated means "Believe in the Sign". The football club shares the motto with that of the town itself. For the centenary year, the badge will be circled with gold lettering, commemorating the 100 years that Dale have been in existence.
Stadium
Rochdale play their home matches at Spotland, which has a capacity of 10,249. The stadium was built exclusively for the Dale in
1920, but since 1988 the ground has been jointly owned by the football club,
Rochdale Council and
Rochdale Hornets. However it's largely expected that Rochdale will buy Hornets share of the ground.
Current squad
» As of 20 March, 2008.
For notable past players, please see
Player Records
Club Records
Fewest league wins in a season - 2 1973-74Further Information
Get more info on 'Rochdale A F C'.
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