Rochdale out of the league

[NRC]

Shame.

[CleggHall]

A sad day after 102 years of league football at Spotland, I cut my teeth watching football at the Dale in the 1950s.

[NRC]

As your username suggests. They were my home team until I became a plastic claret aged 14

[turfytopper]

hope they can regroup and do a Notts County

[FCBurnley]

Worked for them in late seventies Sad to see them go but probably overdue

[Taffy on the wing]

Sad, but it's been coming.
I've had a soft spot for them since i worked for Fred Ratcliffe in the 70's.
He owned the club & the Crimble hotel where i worked.

[Luppy]

No tears from me. Knew a few Dale fans back in the day and they were partying when we were going to be relegated from the league. Been down among the dead men for the majority of my lifetime - long overdue.

[NickBFC]

Got to fear for them.

[AmbleClaret]

Can see them spending many years out.

[Claretitus]

And? Oh dear, how sad, never mind. They used to finish bottom of the old Div 4 year after year and only kept their league status by the old rule of seeking re-election and getting enough votes, thus surviving. Good enough for em.

[shulgin]

Sad really. A relatively local club like Bury and, to a degree, Oldham who have suffered bad fortunes and who I have time for. At the hands of Stockport too. A club I have never had time for after the 90s shenanigans. Was quite happy when they went on their downward spiral. Hopefully their bounceback is shortlived.

[tiger76]

Sad to see Rochdale's long league ended, but they have been treading water for a number of years now.

I only hope for the sake of their fans they can survive this relegation.

[claret_in_exile]

I remember they beat us with nine men on a very cold Saturday afternoon in 1989 (I think).

It was the worst game of football I've ever seen in my life. I shan't miss them.

[Burnley1989]

Kicked off with me at lightening seeds, good bye Boyd

[ClaretTony]

I remember they beat us with nine men on a very cold Saturday afternoon in 1989 (I think).

It was the worst game of football I've ever seen in my life. I shan't miss them.

It was bad but not as bad as the 3-0 home defeat against them in 1986/87.

[depechedingle]

My first ever away match was at Spotland, lost 2-1 (we quite often did).

Sad day indeed.

[MeeActon1]

About 50 years overdue.

[Cirrus_Minor]

It is sad. Inevitable when the two Manchester clubs hoard money, building bigger and bigger stadiums whilst the other greater Manchester clubs plummet.

[Clarets4me]

Whilst I feel for their fans, it's a bit of Karma ...

Before automatic promotion/relegation was introduced in 1986-87, the system of re-election was in place. From 1921 to 1986, the four Clubs who had to apply for re-election the most were Hartlepool/Hartlepools with 14, Barrow ( voted out 1972 ) 11, and Rochdale & Crewe with 10.

Barrow took 49 years to regain their League status, whereas it has served as a reboot for Clubs such as Luton, Lincoln and Wrexham. It looks like Hartlepool will join Rochdale in the National League next season .... it's now up to the Clubs and their towns what happens, rebuild and get behind their local Club, or watch it wither away. As a footnote, Workington, who lost their place in 1977, now compete in the Northern Premier League, Division 1 West ( 8th Tier ), facing sides such as Colne, Clitheroe & Prescott Cables ...

[bfcjg]

Quite a non league Derby Rochdale v Oldham.

[Clarets4me]

Quite a non league Derby Rochdale v Oldham.

Gateshead v Hartlepool ?