Founded: 1907
Nickname: The Dale
Honours: Football League Third Division North: Runners–up: 1923–24, 1926–27

The present Rochdale AFC was formed following a public meeting convened by Mr. Harvey Rigg and chaired by Mr Herbert Hopkinson, held in the Central Schools Council, Fleece Street on May 14th, 1907.

“At a meeting convened by Mr. Harvey Rigg in Central Council Schools, Fleece Street, Rochdale, last evening, with Mr. H. Hopkinson in the chair, it was decided to form a club to be called The Rochdale Association Football Club.”– From the Rochdale Observer, May 15th 1907.”

The club’s first game, on September 3rd 1907, was a friendly against Second Division Oldham Athletic who, not surprisingly won 4-1.

The Dale’s first league game, in the Manchester League, was played at Spotland (then known as St. Clement’s Playing Fields), on September 7th 1907, against Tongue. The game attracted 2,000 spectators and ended in a 2-2 draw.

Rochdale ended the 1907/08 season in tenth place, having played 30, won 10, drawn 8 and lost 12 for a total of 28 points. 49 goals were scored and 63 conceded.

Colchester 0 Northampton 1- Leauge Two

Northampton made it three wins out of three at the start of the season with victory at Colchester despite finishing the game with 10 men.

The Cobblers’ winner came in the 22nd minute from defender Jon Guthrie, who followed up to score from close range after initially being denied by U’s keeper Shamal George, following Sam Hoskins’ free-kick into the box.

Sylvester Jasper warmed the hands of Northampton keeper Liam Roberts just before half-time but the visitors came close to doubling their lead in first-half stoppage-time when Luke Chambers cleared Kion Etete’s close-range effort off the line.

Colchester almost equalised 10 minutes after half-time when Roberts made a pushed away Brendan Wiredu’s effort.

Nicke Kabamba’s deflected strike whistled just wide for Northampton, while at the other end, U’s substitute Freddie Sears was foiled by Roberts after racing through on goal.

Northampton’s Fraser Horsfall was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball with five minutes remaining as he tried to cut out a Colchester attack, but the visitors claimed victory.

14/08/21	Colchester 0 Northampton 1	W
11/08/21	Coventry 1 Northampton 2	W
07/08/21	Northampton 1 Port Vale 0	W
31/07/21	Cambridge 0 Northampton 0	D
27/07/21	Rushden & Diamonds 2 Northampton 1	L

Rochdale 1 Forest Green Rovers 2 – Leauge Two

Forest Green’s victory at Rochdale in League Two was marred by serious injury to Udoka Godwin-Malife late in the game.

There was a lengthy stoppage late on as the defender was carried off on a stretcher while wearing an oxygen mask following an innocuous-looking collision near the halfway line.

The visitors had taken the lead against the run of play in the 34th minute when Matt Done made a hash of an attempted interception, allowing Kane Wilson to race free down the right and square for Jamille Matt to send a composed finish wide of Jay Lynch.

A lively start to the second half saw Matt Stevens’ header hit the upright before the home side equalised when Alex Newby smashed the ball into the roof of the net in the 48th minute.

But Dale’s parity lasted less than 60 seconds as Stevens restored Rovers’ lead with a smart finish.

Abraham Odoh’s low drive was pushed around the post by goalkeeper Luke McGee while on-loan Birmingham striker Josh Andrews sent a free header off target as Dale pushed for an equaliser.

The Godwin-Malife injury led to nine minutes of stoppage time and Rovers held on to make it three wins from their opening three league games.

17/08/21	Rochdale 1 Forest Green Rovers 2	L
14/08/21	Rochdale 0 Scunthorpe 0	D
07/08/21	Harrogate 3 Rochdale 2	L
24/07/21	AFC Fylde 0 Rochdale 1	W
20/07/21	Rochdale 2 Rotherham 0	D

23rd February 2021 – The Cobblers 0 Rochdale 0

Northampton and Rochdale both remain in relegation trouble at the bottom of League One after playing out a goalless draw at Sixfields.

Dale goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was called into early action when producing a smart save from Ryan Watson before an unmarked Stephen Humphrys headed wide the visitors’ best chance of the first half.

Northampton were the better side in the opening 45 minutes without creating too many clearcut chances as efforts from Watson and Mickel Miller were easily saves by Bazunu.

Watson had a third chance just before the break, denied by a last-ditch defensive block, and then Ryan Edmondson went close early in the second half when Bazunu was quick off his line to make a save.

Mark Marshall blazed over before Dale came on strong and ended the game on the front foot, with substitute Kwadwo Baah almost snatching a late winner when denied by the legs of Jonathan Mitchell.

Played	Won	Draw	Lost	F	A
65	20	24	21	95	90

Biggest Win	24/01/1987- H – Graham Carr – Leauge – 5-0W
Biggest Loss	01/01/1994 – A – John Barnwell – Leauge – 6-2L
First-Ever Game	12/09/1959 – A – Dave Bowen – Leauge – 2-2D

Played for both – Port Vale

Here’s an in-depth look at we look at players that have played for both the Cobblers and Rochdale. How many can you remember?

Rewind – Northampton 3 Rochdale 1

Northampton climbed back into the League Two play-off places with a hard fought 3-1 victory at home to Rochdale.

Carl Brook will be the man in the middle for the Cobblers third match of the league season. So far this season Mr Brook has been in charge of 3 games giving a total of 18 yellow cards and 3 red cards.

His latest Cobblers Game

Date	Comp	Match	Y	R
Sat 24 Apr 2021	Leauge One	Gillingham 2 Northampton 2	6	0
Tue 08 Nov 2020	Trophy	Exeter 1 Northampton 2	4	0

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Northampton are winless in 10 meetings with Rochdale in all competitions (D5 L5) since a 3-1 League Two win in February 2013.
Rochdale have won three of their last four league visits to Northampton (D1), keeping a clean sheet in three of those four matches.
Northampton are looking to win their first three games of a league season for the first time since 1990-91, when they eventually finished 10th in the old fourth division.
Rochdale have won just one of their last seven league games (D3 L3), and remain winless so far this season (D1 L2