Many of our fans may remember Rochdale best for our 5-1 win at Spotland just after we lost the services of Graham Westley in 2012. With the boss heading on for pastures new at Preston, Mark Roberts took charge and marked his managerial debut in some style. For a long time, it was the last time we’d come across the Dale too. After relegation to League Two at the end of the 2011-2 season, they returned to League One the same summer that we plunged out of it ourselves.
If fate wanted to mark the 10th anniversary of our first-ever meeting against Rochdale, so be it. The club were relegated again from League One at the end of the 2020-1 campaign; bringing us back together once again. We can only hope that every trip to Spotland is like our first…
Rochdale? Oh, this story goes a long way back. It’s 112 years to be exact(ish); the Dale forming in 1907. In 1921, they were one of 20 founder members of Division Three North – starting a long-running thing with the League’s bottom two tiers that endures to this very day. Eighth in League One is as good as it’s ever been from them, from what we can tell. And, between 1974 and 2010, the club seemed to be locked into the basement division.
We’d love to embellish things a bit, but there’s not much more to say. A solid, if unspectacular timeline.
Why do we know Rochdale?
Ah, so many tales to fit into one or two paragraphs that you won’t read properly anyway. This all starts back in 2004 and the second round of the FA Cup. In the first, we’d pulled off a shock indoors against Stockport County – then near the wrong end of Division Two (or League One in the new parlance). How things change, eh? Our reward, though, was another home tie against League opposition: Rochdale.
At the time, the Dale were knocking around the wrong end of Division Three (or League Two). It was only right that we fancied our chances of another cupset. But it wasn’t to be.
How to get to Rochdale – Travel Information – Distance: 192 miles
By Road
There are two ways to drive from Stevenage to Rochdale; the A1 option proving slightly shorter in distance and time. The alternative is to use the M6. Either way, Rochdale is to the north of Manchester and you can expect the drive to take three-and-a-half-hours.
A1:
Travel north on the A1 until you reach Junction 41, at which point you need the M62 for Manchester. At Junction 20, leave the M62 and take the third exit at the roundabout; the A627(M) towards Rochdale. After more than a mile, turn right onto Edinburgh Way/A664. Continue onto Roch Valley Way/B6452 and remain on this road for around 1.5 miles.
M6:
Head north on the M6 to Junction 21a, where you need to switch to the eastbound M62. Continue on as the motorway becomes the M60 and again once it becomes the M62 yet again. Leave the M62 at Junction 20 and follow the directions above.
Spotland has a small car park – but not for fans. Street parking is available, however. It just needs a bit of attention to any parking restrictions where yellow cones are out. You can also park at Oulder Hill Community School, which is around half a mile away.
By Rail
Station: ROCHDALE
Services to: LEEDS (for STEVENAGE)
Rochdale railway station is a couple of miles from the ground and at least 35 minutes to walk. Turn left outside the station and head along Station Road; following it around to the right into Milkstone Road. Shortly afterwards, head left into Tweedale Street for 0.1 miles.
Turn right into Castlemere Street and head along to the end, where you need to turn left onto Drake Street. This will take you to the Manchester Road dual carriageway. Here, go right. Cross the road and – at Asda – turn left into Dane Street; following it round and into Mellor Street.
This is one of the longest stretches of the walks; ending when you continue ahead into Edenfield Road. Turn left into Willbutts Lane and the ground is on your left.
We use cookies. Who doesn't? But we have to be boring and make sure you're fine and dandy with it. Cookie SettingsGo On Then
Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_ga
1 year 1 month 4 days
Google Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognise unique visitors.
_ga_*
1 year 1 month 4 days
Google Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.
CONSENT
2 years
YouTube sets this cookie via embedded YouTube videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Cookie
Duration
Description
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
6 months
YouTube sets this cookie to measure bandwidth, determining whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
YSC
session
Youtube sets this cookie to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt-remote-connected-devices
never
YouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-device-id
never
YouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt.innertube::nextId
never
YouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
yt.innertube::requests
never
YouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
