[Football] Rochdale on the brink...

[Neville's Breakfast]

Best corporate hospitality I’ve ever had, with Seagulls Over London and the late Paul Whelch, in December 1999.

We were at the time desperate to sign Lorenzo Pinnamonte permanently!

Different times


Re The Dale, maybe now‘s the time to change the rules and one of the bigger clubs take the likes of Rochdale and others as a nursery club, almost a conduit between Academy and First Team Football?

I couldn’t disagree with you more. Football is about community, not success. If Rochdale FC can’t compete at the level they are at then they need to re-form at a lower level. A good local example is Bury who are getting very respectable crowds (average this season 3275) at Gigg Lane in the NWCFL Premier division. They are top of the table in what is step 9. They are not owned by Man City.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Re The Dale, maybe now‘s the time to change the rules and one of the bigger clubs take the likes of Rochdale and others as a nursery club, almost a conduit between Academy and First Team Football?

Had that been suggested to me, even in the bleakest and darkest days in the 90s i'd have told them where they could go and stick their nursery

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Had that been suggested to me, even in the bleakest and darkest days in the 90s i'd have told them where they could go and stick their nursery

So you wouldn’t be keen on supporting Arsenal Kindergarten at the Charlie George Stadium in Falmer then ? Yeah, me neither.

 

[amexer]

Never surprised these clubs struggle. They may have good history but far too many within close proximity of each other. Rememember when Bury were in trouble and seeing 10 plus clubs within 15 miles

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Never surprised these clubs struggle. They may have good history but far too many within close proximity of each other. Rememember when Bury were in trouble and seeing 10 plus clubs within 15 miles

There are loads of counter examples to that where clubs thrive despite local competition. Manchester has a fantastic football heritage and that’s a good thing. Bury are now playing at the same level as Ramsbottom Utd. They had never played a competitive game against each other before this season despite being 5 miles apart. Movement up and down the football pyramid is good for the game. I reckon Bury fans are having a very enjoyable season. They are getting similar crowds to their FL days. That’s real football.

 

[AZ Gull]

Re The Dale, maybe now‘s the time to change the rules and one of the bigger clubs take the likes of Rochdale and others as a nursery club, almost a conduit between Academy and First Team Football?

That is, quite simply, one of the worst ideas ever posted on NSC.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Bury didn't go out of business because there are lots of football clubs in the Greater Manchester area. The went out of business because they were acquired by a crook without a pot to piss in. Like we nearly did (although our crook had a massive pot that he simply wanted to make bigger).

 

[GJN1]

My home town club. I was born in Rochdale but my parents are from Brighton and we moved back when I was 2. Always look out for their results and have been to a few games. I still have family links to the town, my paternal grandmother was Rochdale born and bred too, so would be gutted to see anything happen to them.

Spent a few years living in nearby Heywood. Once spent an evening sat in the hospitality suite (it was a portacabin) to watch a Dale game in the company of Liz Kershaw (before she, er, changed).

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

A number of us on here, mainly old-school Seagulls Over Londoners, had a cracking visit to Rochdale around 25 years ago. It was a friend’s birthday, we co-sponsored the game, had a box and had a right laugh. We were properly looked after.

Sad to hear of their plight.

Spotland has boxes? are they cardboard? . . . sorry couldn't resist it.

Good luck to them, we were there once.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

We lost 4-3, we were in front and I’m still drying out now.

And I still wish them all the very best.

Those ponchos never were much good were they?

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Nice to see some measured, empathetic comments on here. "There but for the grace of god", and all that. I wince at the dismissive 'dirty northern shithole' type of comment you occasionally get. Thanks everyone.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Didn’t we sign Glenn from Rochdale? If so, we all owe them one.

Yeah, although we also signed Jason Peake from them which means we're pretty much all square for my money.

 

[perseus]

i went to the away game in 71

 

[amexer]

There are loads of counter examples to that where clubs thrive despite local competition. Manchester has a fantastic football heritage and that’s a good thing. Bury are now playing at the same level as Ramsbottom Utd. They had never played a competitive game against each other before this season despite being 5 miles apart. Movement up and down the football pyramid is good for the game. I reckon Bury fans are having a very enjoyable season. They are getting similar crowds to their FL days. That’s real football.

 

[amexer]

There are loads of counter examples to that where clubs thrive despite local competition. Manchester has a fantastic football heritage and that’s a good thing. Bury are now playing at the same level as Ramsbottom Utd. They had never played a competitive game against each other before this season despite being 5 miles apart. Movement up and down the football pyramid is good for the game. I reckon Bury fans are having a very enjoyable season. They are getting similar crowds to their FL days. That’s real football.

PL wages may be mad but some justification with all having income of £100m plus. However wages are thge biggest problem in lower leagues.. Gone have gone days where clubs lived according to income. I even remember Albion players earnings were related to attendance at games.
Just a few years ago I knew somebody involved with a Div1 club with gates of 5/6k and he said they had made a decision not to pay any player more than £5k a week. Madness. Just look at Accrington Stanley. Great history but with gates of 2k ish . Instead of thinking they have to increase income to survive all there owner does is say PL should pass down more money.
Not long ago nearly all players outside of league would have been part time. Now you even have clubs like Eastbourne Borough etc with full time players.

 

[Weststander]

I got the impression from NSC in recent times that most here are in favour of all PL 3pm Saturday games being televised live on Sky or similar.

Wouldn’t that mean fewer folk over time would attend games at the Rochdale’s of this world?

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

That is, quite simply, one of the worst ideas ever posted on NSC.

I disagree….i think that one that we should all wear a face mask of Anthony Knockaert’s recently deceased father, to greet the player as he walked out the tunnel takes that spot.

However yes, it was a pretty bizarre comment from Lenny Rider

 

[Kosh]

Yeah, although we also signed Jason Peake from them which means we're pretty much all square for my money.

Peake still played one of the best first time volleyed passes I’ve ever seen live, in the epic 4-4 draw against Orient.

However, he was to put it mildly - not very good.

 

[Wardy's twin]

i went to the away game in 71

One of the naughty boys?

 

[Justice]

Didn’t we sign Glenn from Rochdale? If so, we all owe them one.

As others have said, proper local club and a ground I’ve always wanted to visit, along with Mansfield.

In sure they held the record for not being promoted or relegated (from what is now league 2) … could be wrong, but I’m sure that’s the case.

f*** that Palace Prick , Our recent home game against Spurs the NS sung his song when he walked past turned his head the other way.