The Motorama Main Stand. Spotland is shared with Rochdale Hornets. Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

Well, we can't all be Manchester United or Arsenal, and Rochdale are certainly not either of those clubs. They've spent most of their existence at the very bottom of the League structure, whether that was in the old Third Division (North), the Fourth Division after restructuring, or the Third Division again after the next bout of restructuring, or League Two.........hope you're keeping up. They survived a number of flirtations with re-election. The closest call was in 1980 when only a single vote (26 to 25) kept them in the Football League at the expense of Altrincham. It later emerged that two clubs who had pledged their support to Alty had failed to vote. The Grimsby Town delegate was in the wrong room, and the Luton Town representative got the meeting time incorrect and turned up late.

Dale have only ever been promoted once, in 1968-69, when they finished third in the Fourth Division. They lasted five seasons in the Third division (the equivalent of today's League One) before being relegated back to the basement. Their record isn't much better in the FA Cup, the 5th round being the furthest the club have ever gone, once in 1990 and again the season before last, when they lost 3-1 at Wolves. In short statistically (and yes we all know about lies, damned lies and.......) they are the least achieving club in the Football League.

At the Pearl Street End, containing the Family Stand area. Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

Rochdale did reach the Division Three play-offs in 2001-02 and had high hopes of building on that improvement under Paul Simpson. However a season that began well tailed off into lower-mid-table mediocrity and Simpson paid the price with his job at the end of it. Former Grimsby boss Alan Buckley was appointed as manager. He only lasted until December when sacked encouraged to depart by 'mutual consent'. The new man at the helm was Steve Parkin, with the brief to keep them up after eight losses from ten in the fag-end days of Buckley. In fact not that new as it is his second spell at Rochdale, his first from 1999-2001 ending when he was lured away from Spotland by Barnsley. That he achieved, with Dale finishing in 21st.

Parkin lasted a fairly respectable three years in the job before disappearing in December 2006. Rochdale chose to appoint from within for his successor. Their Director of Youth, Keith Hill, who was a long serving player between 1996 and 2001 at Spotland, was offered the main job. His impact was impressive, taking them to the League Two play-off final in his first full season, then the play-off semi-finals in his second season. He got it right on the third attempt, taking them up automatically at the end of the 2009-10 season and giving Dale fans a nosebleed by sending them to third tier football for the first time in 1974. They were tipped to fail; instead they were the season's surprise package, finishing 9th at the end of the 2010-11 season.

The snag was that got Hill noticed a little bit too much. Championship side Barnsley came calling, and Dale lost him on June 1st 2011. Replacing him was Manchester City Youth Team Coach Steve Eyre, in his first ever 'front line' management position, despite 21 years with the Premier League club. He's had to deal not only with being the man to replace Hill, but also with that 'difficult second season'. So far Rochdale's second League One season is a lot closer to what the bookies predicted for their first.

The Sandy Lane End, only area of Spotland not redeveloped and containing the last of the terracing. Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

Rochdale may not have pulled up many trees on the pitch over the years, but off the pitch they have a reputation for giving away fans a warm and friendly welcome. Not that they will care, but Spotland will always hold a place in the hearts of Yeovil fans - the site of our first ever game in the Football League after a mere 108 year wait, and a victory to boot.

The Willbutts Lane Stand, latest addition at Spotland, packed with Yeovil fans in 2003. 3,644 capacity, but we don't expect to come quite as close to filling it this time around! Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

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FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name

LGE

FAC

FAT

LGC

CC

Total

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: Not Applicable
Lowest League Attendance: Not Applicable
Average League Attendance: Not Applicable

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	1		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	1		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	1		Games Without A Score Draw:	1
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	1		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:
Away Results Sequence:	L		Overall Results Sequence:	L

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By Supporters Coaches

The Green and White Supporters Club are running coaches to the match for this 2011-12 season fixture as follows:

Coaches will depart from from Yeovil Bus Station at 7.30a.m. and from Huish Park at 7.45a.m. Cost of travel will be £25.00 with concessions available at £23.00. Non-GWSC members are welcomed and will pay two pounds extra.

To place your booking, call Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 or Rich Rendell on 01935 427072 (Evenings).

By Rail/Bus

Rochdale Station is around 3 miles walk from Spotland; a taxi from the station will set you back around £7.00.

There is a No.436 bus running on Saturdays, which travels from the bus station to Spotland and then back to the station again on a loop. Note that if you're relying on it, the bus operating company only list a Monday - Friday timetable, and even then only during the daytime, so when you get into town, find the Bus Station and Bus Stand G to be 100 percent sure.

That said, Rochdale's official site claims the 436 service is still running on a Saturday, as does the GMPTE (Greater Manchester Public Transport) website. The latter's timetable indicates that on Saturdays, the bus runs just once per hour, leaving the bus station at 15 minutes past the hour. Note that there is only one bus that will get you back after the game on a Saturday (and none for a midweeker). It leaves from Sandy Lane at 5.28p.m.

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Local Pubs :

Also close to Sandy Lane, at 470 Bury Road, is the rather off-puttingly named Cemetery Hotel. A range of real ales are on offer here. A short way along the road at No. 520 is The Dog and Partridge, which gets a good review on Fanzone.

A few minutes from the ground in Willbutts Lane is The Church Inn which is used to away fans on match days. Willbutts Lane also has a Fish and Chip Shop, and the entrances for the areas of the stadium allocated to visiting supporters.

There are two breweries in Rochdale. Thomas McGuinness Brewing Company started in 1991. Its tied pub is the Cask and Feather (listed below), which generally has its range of five or six beers (depending on season) available, though the beer can be found in a few other outlets in the area. Pictish Brewing Company started up in 2000 and supplies free trade outlets around the North West so finding it is pot-luck.

This is not cider country!

Albion Freehouse and Bistro: Multi-roomed local with a bistro attached. The home cooked food attracts customers from miles around. Opening times are 12.00 noon - 2.30 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Beers are Boddingtons, Lees, a couple from Timothy Taylor, Phoenix Monkeytown Mild and usually two more guests. Albion Freehouse and Bistro, 600, Whitworth Road, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL12 0SW. Tel: 01706 648540. Map: Click Here.

No offence intended, but a slightly odd clientele when we called in © Hugh Gleave Britannia Inn: This is a two-roomed pub situated five minutes from the town centre. They have Lees GB Mild and Lees Bitter as two core ales, with others available on a rotational basis. Unusual features of this pub include a collection of plates in one room and a large fireplace, both situated in the Lounge Bar. The exterior also has an unusual spire shaped like a witches hat. Parking is available. Meals are available both lunchtime (12 noon - 1.30pm) and evening (5pm - 6.30pm) and there is also accommodation available in the form of three double rooms. TVs are included in the rooms, as well as tea/coffee making facilities and a morning breakfast is included in the price. Britannia Inn, 4 Lomax Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL12 0DN. Tel: 01706 646391. Map: Click Here.

Highly recommended © Hugh Gleave Cask and Feather: The brew pub of the local McGuinness Brewery. Near the top of the hill between the bus and railway stations. Long way from the stadium, but worth it. A cracking friendly cheap drinkers pub, though it does do food at lunchtime. Not surprisingly its beers are the McGuinness range: Feather Pluckers Mild, Best Bitter, Junction Bitter, Tommy Todd's Porter, plus occasional seasonals. Opening is 11-11. Included in the 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Cask and Feather, 1, Oldham Road, Rochdale, Manchester, OL16 1UA. Tel: 01706 711476. Map: Click Here.

Popular with fans, on the corner of Sandy Lane and Bury Road. © Martin Baker Cemetery Hotel: Free House and one star hotel. Opening is 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. with home-made food served from 12.00 to 14.30, but only rolls at the bar in the evening. Serves Taylor Landlord - oh, and some other beers: Black Sheep, Jennings, John Smith's and guests. Plenty of home fans use it, but a very friendly relaxed atmosphere. Included in the 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Cemetery Hotel, 470, Bury Road, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL11 5EU. Tel: 01706 645635. Map: Click Here.

Healey Hotel: For those that prefer a peaceful time not so close to football stadia on matchdays this is about a mile and a half from the ground on the B6377. Traditional terrace pub with three rooms. Beers are Robinson's Best, Cumbria Way and Old Tom (which should carry a Government health warning at 8.5%). Opening 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. except Tuesdays and Wednesdays when you have to wait until 3.00 p.m. for a drink. Included in the 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Healey Hotel, 172, Shawclough Road, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL12 6LW. Tel: 01706 645453. Map: Click Here.

Right outside Spotland in the car park © Martin Baker Ratcliffe Arms: In the club car park, so you can't get much closer. Open all day from 11.30 with food served from 12.00. Beers are J.W.Lees of Manchester. Pool, darts, and Sky TV are on offer. Children are allowed on matchdays, and there are disabled facilities. Ratcliffe Arms, Sandy Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL115DR. Tel: 01706861040. Map: Click Here.

It was dark when we called in....... © Hugh Gleave The Church Inn: Popular matchday venue, adjacent to the ground and, well we never - a church. Football-friendly three-roomed pub with garden terrace and adjoining bowling green, Sky and pool table, conveniently situated for away fans. Good value local JW Lees and John Smith's beer. Serves snacks but not meals. Quite boisterous, but friendly enough - but then Rochdale had won. The Church Inn, Willbutts Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL115BE. Tel: 01706639879. Map: Click Here.

The Dog & Partridge © Martin Baker The Dog and Partridge: This was a good pub when visited in our first year in the Football League. Sadly no longer. Our 2004-05 visit lasted as long as it took us to turn round and walk straight back out again. Pseudy cr*p menu, and no drinks that weren't fizzy and served through huge chrome dispensers - far be it for us to suggest the size is to compensate for something lacking in the trouser department of the punters there....... The Dog and Partridge, 520 Bury Road, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL11 4DQ. Tel: 01706343759. Map: Click Here.

The Merry Monk: This is a Victorian-era locals pub with an out-door drinking area and its own car park. Three varieties of Hydes ales are usually on the pumps, along with a guest beer or two. There are plenty of pub games on offer to occupy your time in the form of bull, bar billiards, darts and even pentanque outside. No food served. 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. The Merry Monk, 234, College Road, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL12 6AF. Tel: 01706 646919. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Low, we're deep in Coronation Street territory here. You'll be able to understand them, but vice-versa? Forget it.....

Top-Tip :

Stay overnight - in nearby Manchester for a banging night out. Mad for it!

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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