Launch
The Former Players Association was launched at the Rochdale v Colchester United match on 27th August with a fantastic turn out on the Friday centenary celebration on Rochdale’s 100th year of competing in the Football League (EFL)
The night began with meeting up with twenty six ex-colleagues from the 1960’s up to modern times at hospitality in the 1907 lounge before the match, sharing stories and listening to the exploits of two Dale legends in Shaun Reid and Gary Jones followed by a parade at half time, which brought a rousing response from both sets of supporters.
To end a fantastic experience, Shaun Reid presented Aaron Morley with the “Man of the Match”
Other players included Mark Stuart, Dean Hill, Mark Hilditch, Nathan Stanton, Lee McEvilly, Les Chapman, Dave Bayliss, Steve O’Shaugnessy, Keith Hicks, Dennis Butler, Barry Diamond, Colin Blant, Alan Keeling, Tony Ellis, Paul Hallows, Richard Jobson, Scott Warner, Kevin Townson, Graham Smith, Derek Ryder and Billy Rudd.
The idea of setting up the FPA resulted from a push by Dale Trust, especially Chairman Col Cavanah, and is endorsed by the PFA attempting to see all Clubs in England engaging with supporters.
Players Articles
Starting with the Former Players Coordinator, Keith Hicks, we have assembled some really interesting reports on their time at Rochdale. Keith who signed in July 1985 made his League debut against Aldershot on 17th August 1985 sustaining an injury that lasted eight weeks before returning for the fixture against Crewe Alexandra on 12th October, ironically the same opponents including David Platt, future England International, who were the visitors to Spotland on 20th August 1986, which saw a pelvic injury that curtailed his professional football career.
Peter Farrell has a lot of favourite memories but the main one was when Dale avoided re-election playing Tranmere Rovers away needing a point to guarantee a stay in the league. He felt he played his best football with Rochdale in two seasons playing 73 times scoring 17 goals.
Steve Whitehall had the best day and worst moments were on the same day and game, playing Liverpool at Anfield in the third round of the FA Cup up against a full strength team up against two England defenders. This also transpired as his worst result in professional football losing 0-7. Since leaving professional football he is now working for Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh NHS Trust as AHP having qualified as a physiotherapist in 1999. In his spare time he can be found at Alder Root Golf Club, where he’s currently spending a lot of his leisure time following an ankle replacement with golf being a favourite pastime.
Legend, Reg Jenkin’s story started in 1964, after three seasons on the south west coast playing for the three local clubs, Rochdale enquired about bringing the big forward north. Speaking to the Observer in 2007 Norma Jenkins said: “Reg came home one afternoon and said Rochdale want to sign me, where’s Rochdale?” Officially Reg was to receive 10 per cent of the £3,000 transfer fee but so keen to get their man an extra added £300 bonus was offered, which went straight on a new washing machine. He scored a brace in his first game at Spotland and went on to net 25 goals in his first season. Off the pitch he was regarded as a true gentleman and a great bloke by supporters.
The next former player’s story reflects on a local lad, Simon Holden, who came through the youth system to play a big part in the 1986/7 survival season “As a professional and first team squad player my favourite memories are beating Burnley away 3 -0 on New Year’s Day 1987, beating Stockport County 2-1 at Spotland to ensure league survival in 1987 and a man of the match performance when we beat Hereford United 3-1 following two assists and scoring a thirty yarder. But there are also lowlights including a very long journey home on a wet Tuesday evening having lost 0-8 at Leyton Orient!!!!”
Another legend, Steve Taylor recounted about playing against Manchester United on 9th January 1986, having scored a goal in the side’s 2-1 FA Cup replay win over Scunthorpe United at Spotland to book a place in the third round of the competition, earning a memorable tie at the Theatre of Dreams. “We were in the bar after the game against Scunthorpe when the draw for the third round was done, so we were all stood together when the draw was announced. It was a great trip back on the team coach knowing that if we could get through the replay at home, then we’d have the fantastic opportunity of playing Manchester United at Old Trafford. The tie at Old Trafford was originally scheduled for the Saturday, but a failure of the undersoil heating at the Theatre of Dreams meant it was postponed until the following Tuesday. The heating system still wasn’t working that night, so the game eventually ahead went on the Thursday. We had never envisaged that a club like United would have trouble with their undersoil heating, so despite the weather, we had prepared for the game and I thought it would go ahead as normal on the Saturday. When you build yourself up and get ready for a game, it’s disappointing. It would have been nice to play on the original date, but you can’t take anything away from the occasion when they match went ahead on the Thursday. It was just an amazing experience to play at such a fantastic place that’s got an amazing tradition. Quite a lot of Rochdale fans went down on the night and there was a fantastic atmosphere, and I’m sure they all enjoyed themselves thoroughly as well”
Colin Blant was signed by Dick Connor, quoted in programme notes on his signing Colin at the start of the 1972/3 season “We have had quite a sort out in playing personnel and I would like to introduce you to the new men. First of all the man I have appointed club captain, Colin Blant, who is a very good signing, having played in the First and Second Division with Burnley and Portsmouth and is a commanding back four defender” Unfortunately things didn’t work out too well, a move that he apparently regretted after making 51 appearances before moving to Darlington, mainly as the new manager, Walter Joyce arrived from Oldham Athletic bringing with him several members of the Latics Youth team and looked to a youthful squad at Rochdale.
Derek Ryder served under two managers at Rochdale, gentlemen Bob Stokoe and Len Richley, who were he says a privilege to work for, making 167 appearances in the Football League scoring a solitary goal, most difficult opponent being Jimmy Conway (Fulham & Eire international) Favourite memories of playing for Dale was with the promotion winning team with excellent team players great days to be involved at the club with a great atmosphere both in the dressing room and on the terraces, especially after the win against Southend United on 10th May 1969.
Hughen Riley’s memories included of being in the 1969 squad that reached promotion from Division Four, first time this had been achieved by the Club in the Football League plus beating Coventry in the 3rd round of the FA Cup 2-0 at Spotland watched by a crowd over 15,000 plus scoring a hat trick against Brighton & Hove Albion at home.
Recollections from Brian Taylor at Rochdale, who not only played but returned in a coaching role revolved round the famous escape which saw seven wins out of the last eight League games to move out of the bottom four and avoid re-election. The final game was Crewe Alexandra away, which Dale won 2-1 leading to unbelievable celebrations with Directors, players and the management staff singing and dancing about the dressing room. Manager Pete Madden deserved a medal for achieving “the great escape”
A different slant on football in the 1970’s came from Alan Keeling “Although I never played a first Team game in the Football League I signed professional forms to play in the Football League in 1970/71 season and hoped I would make my debut but when my chance came against Bury, the game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. It was replayed the following Tuesday but I was not selected for Dale winning 2-0. I used to come in for pre-season training for my three weeks holidays and played in lots of first team matches, one of which, I sustained a broken metatarsal”
Keith Hanvey’s favourite memories of playing for Dale, despite his time at Spotland not being too successful regarding results was learning a lot giving him a good grounding and a shop window for a subsequent professional career in football, which took him to several higher ranked Clubs, including Swansea, Grimsby and Huddersfield, where I eventually retired after a serious injury. Now he has a hospitality business plus works at Leeds United on match days as hospitality compere, skills developed having started work as commercial manager at Bradford City and Huddersfield Town after finishing football through injury.
In December we learned about now Barry Diamond made his debut against Hereford United after having played previously under Vic Halom at Barrow in the North Premier League scoring 41 goals from 57 games before Rochdale decided to pay £3,000 for his services. One of his memories was the match against Rochdale when he was out on loan to Stockport County where apparently he was involved in an incident that saw Joe Cooke being sent off and instrumental in two disputed penalty decisions in a 3-0 victory.
Willie Burns made his debut in August 1989 against Scunthorpe United “I think we won 2-0. My last game was in May 1991 against Darlington losing 0-2, think I gave away a penalty resulting in Darlington being promoted. My most memorable time was the FA Cup run that took us to the 5th Round before losing 0-1 to Crystal Palace and the exposure the Club got at the time, I believe we were very unlucky not to get a replay, especially with their goalkeeper making a decent save late in the match. I also remember scoring probably the best goal I’ve ever scored against Bolton in the League Cup, unfortunately it was in a 1-5 defeat”
Full articles can be found on the FPA Website and Facebook
Hospitality
This has been a extremely successful venture involving ex-players at the Crown Oil Arena on match days.
Graham Smith: Tranmere Rovers – 11th September
John Ryan and Hughen Riley: Oldham Athletic – 25th September
Mark Hilditch: Notts County – 7th November
Nathan Stanton: Plymouth Argyle – 5th December
Steve Whitehall: Newport County – 18th December
Nathan Stanton remembered his time at Rochdale from 2006-2010 involving 139 first team appearances including that memorable trip to Wembley for the 2nd Division Play Off Final whilst Steve Whitehall reported with loads of humour about his spell with the Dale from 1991-1997 when he appeared 235 times. Mark Hilditch spoke of his two spells at Rochdale and the incredible difference now at the Crown Oil Arena compared to the good old days at Spotland and John Ryan presented the “Man of the Match” to
Matches pencilled for 2022 so far are:
22nd January – Bradford City: Gary Jones
12th March – Barrow: Barry Diamond
Matches scheduled for player involvement
5th February – Carlisle United
12th February – Harrogate Town
22nd February – Port Vale
26th February – Northampton Town
15th March – Salford City
22nd March – Mansfield Town
2nd April – Swindon Town
9th April – Walsall
18th April – Hartlepool
30th April – Bristol Rovers
Any ex-player wishing to take part in hospitality, please email Keith.hicks5@outlook.com
Future events-activities (in partnership with Dale Trust)
Golf Days (players to be paired with Sponsors/supporters)
Sportsman’s/Tribute Dinners (Curry On Up The Dale)
Race Nights
Fans Forums/Reunion Dinners
Rochdale AFC Yesterdays
Veterans Teams (over 35’s/walking football-matches at Crown Oil Arena)
Quiz Nights
Obituaries – sadly some of our heroes passed away during 2021, here are a few of our ex-colleagues.
Ray Aspden – One of Dale’s all-time stalwarts, he was for a time, both the club’s youngest-ever player and appearance record holder, despite the most inauspicious of starts when the team lost his first game 2-7 to Chesterfield in September 1955. Ray played in several good Dale sides in the early sixties, figuring in the amazing run to the League Cup Final in 1962 and the promotion near miss of 1965, eventually clocking-up 297 Football League appearances and 326 in all competitions.
Peter Hampton – Peter started his career at Leeds United, joined Stoke City and Burnley leading to a brief run at Rochdale in 1987 making 19 appearances before departing to Carlisle United, where he played 12 times followed by serving the Club as physiotherapist after retiring from professional football.
Phil Dwyer – Phil made 15 appearances in 1985 having left Cardiff City, where he made 471 appearances before joining us on loan. He played 10 times for Wales 1978-1979.
Jimmy Robson – Jimmy was a Clarets legend making 242 appearances at Burnley winning the First Division in 1960 plus scoring the 100th goal at Wembley in 1962 FA Cup Final. He was Youth coach at Rochdale when Keith Hicks fronted the Centre of Excellence (Academy) in the days far removed from now where facilities and modern technology is much beneficial in the development of young players. Stephen Bywater proved to be an exceptional talent in a career served at West Ham United, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday after having left Rochdale for the “Hammers” for £240,000 in 1988.
Information on the Rochdale AFC Former Players Association (FPA) can be found on:
Facebook: Rochdale Former Players Association
Website: www.rochdalefpa.com
Email: Keith.hicks5@outlook.com