Rochdale swap places with Wrexham and fall out of the league
they were rivals with us in the dungeon in the early 90's
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Rochdale swap places with Wrexham and fall out of the league
they were rivals with us in the dungeon in the early 90's
Whenever I hear of Rochdale I think about the fact they spent 36 consecutive seasons in League 2 (aka Div 3/Div 4/The Rochdale Division)
From the mid 70s to 2010.
Mental.
I remember going to Spotland in the 70s when City's game away to Bolton was cancelled, just as we arrived outside Burnden Park.
So about 6 coach-loads of us headed to watch Rochdale at home to Darlington.
I have no idea what Rochdale's average attendance was that season , but it was 'swelled' by about 300 City fans on the day. :hehe:
I was there. I think it was Workington they were playing in their last season in the league.
I bet Rochdale, Bury and Oldham have all played some great derbies against each other down the years in front of big crowds in the Football League. All of them gone now, that's a pretty big part of Greater Manchester without an EFL club now and, sadly, I think Rochdale and Bury face a real struggle to get back - Oldham might be able to given their history over the past thirty odd years, but there's some pretty big clubs in the National League now and I see Scunthorpe have suffered their second successive relegation.
As much as people hate the idea, there may be some merit to merging. I think there are too many pro clubs in England, competing with each other not just on the pitch but for finances. I'd say that's part of the reason so many are just scraping by, at lower levels happy to exist.
Played them first game of the season some years ago. Took the kids with us and arrived early at Spotland to find ground staff on stepladders covering up the concession prices above the turnstiles, reasoning with us that we’d most probably have a large following and it was a way of cashing in.
Went for a few beers at the pub nearby, the one with the crown bowling green in the garden. When we got to the turnstiles before the game the old fella taking the money told us to chuck the kids over the turnstile because he was disgusted at the club charging nippers full price. Decent people, sad to see them go, I fear for them.
3-3 draw, if I recall, Tony Bird getting a couple.