Driving into Rochdale, a sign reads “birthplace of co-operation”, a reference to the town’s history where the modern cooperative movement was founded in 1844. The football club are in the midst of their own turning point where coming together will help them – and the community – thrive.
One hundred and two years in the Football League will end for Rochdale at Harrogate on Monday afternoon. Being a Dale fan has never been a rollercoaster ride: the journey to non-league has taken three promotions and five relegations in more than a century.
“It is devastating,” the director Guy Courtney says of relegation. “We fought tooth and nail as a collective group to try and avoid that happening but our budgets have decreased. It’s been very difficult on the pitch and we’ve been in a trough for a number of years and tried to shake that but unfortunately that has not happened. As a board we are absolutely aware of the impact of that.
“The football club, to a degree, put the town on the map, so we are going to double down and try and get the club back in the Football League.”
The background to finishing at the foot of League Two featured a battle to stop a hostile takeover that culminated with fans showing real love by taking full ownership of Rochdale. Things have not gone well on the pitch since. They have won nine in 45 matches under three managers, but at the club’s heart are people who care deeply about making them sustainable, although it is not a simple task.
Supporters only need to look down the road to Gigg Lane, where Bury FC was lost through no fault of the club’s fans. “It really worried me that we were going to be taken over by someone who was going to put some houses up on Spotland and they would take their money and leave,” says Alan Thompson, a supporter for more than 60 years.
“What the board and the community did was absolutely fabulous, out of this world. When I think of what happened at Bury, I am just grateful for the people we have in charge here.”
Rochdale need to face up to the realities of dropping into the National League but optimism abounds with plans to bounce back. The board is modernising the operation by investing in greater data analysis to find the best players and manager for next season, while training takes place at Manchester City’s former site in Moss Side.
A high turnover of playing staff is expected because many are out of contract and others may desire to get back to the Football League but it is hoped a more professional approach to recruitment will pay dividends. There is also the prospect of renewing their local rivalry with Oldham, which will mean a bumper crowd at Spotland.
The club have a category-three academy, which pays for itself through player sales. Their latest prospect, Ethan Brierley, almost joined Blackburn in January and the move could be resurrected this summer to provide funds. A club of Rochdale’s size is financed by player sales and cup runs. The lack of the latter in recent times has had an impact. There is hope the fan-led government review will provide a white paper that will mean fairer distribution down the leagues to help clubs such as Rochdale and beyond.
To bring long-term stability the plan is open and clear: outside investment is required. Now Rochdale know which division they will play in next season, the process can move forward. Conversations have taken place with potential investors and will continue to do so until the right fit is found.
“We own our ground, which is relatively unusual, so we are asset rich but cash poor,” Courtney says. “As a board we are working to find solutions; ideally investment and moving towards sustainability at the same time. What is really important is we bring in the right investment. We don’t want to get people on board that are going to cause the club problems going forward.”
There is also a key charitable arm to the club. Rochdale AFC Community Trust hosts a food bank, educational classes, mental wellbeing courses and the list goes on. Most days a walking football match can be found on the five-a-side pitch within the grounds of Spotland, bringing together people aged over 50 to keep them active and enjoy a chat with a hot beverage, something that is invaluable to those in attendance, whether they are fans of the club or not.
Thompson, who attended the final home match of the season – a 4-1 win against Sutton – with three generations of his family, has been to Spotland since 1959 as a supporter and now plays walking football three times a week. He has witnessed all five of Rochdale’s relegations.
“It hurts, absolutely it does,” Thompson says, “but it is not going to stop me from going. I don’t think any decent fan of Rochdale will stop going either because it is our club. We might not have one in a few years’ time, so we have got to support it the best you can.”
Relegation is, unfortunately for Rochdale, part and parcel of the football industry. Their stay in the league was a historic one but the most important thing is that they still have a future and a chance to write new chapters.
Players, owners and supporters have come and gone in their droves since 1921 but the club has stayed in the same spot regardless of the division. Thompson says: “We will be back, there’s no question about that.”
