Rochdale AFC was formed in 1907. Since then they have had just one promotion and one relegation, with promotion coming in 1969 and relegation in 1974.
After the First World War the Football League was expanded and the club unsuccessfully applied to join. Finally, in 1921, Rochdale were recommended to be included in the new Third Division North, and played their first League game at home against Accrington Stanley on 27 August 1921, winning 6-3. However, this first season ended with the club bottom of the League, having to reapply for membership.
The club reached the League Cup final in 1962 - the only time a club from the bottom league division has reached the final of a major competition - where they lost to Norwich City.
1896-97 Joined Lancashire Combination
1897-98 Joined Lancashire League
1900 Left Lancashire League
1901-02 Rejoined Lancashire League
1903 Lancashire League closed down
1908-09 Rejoined Lancashire Combination in Division Two
1909-10 Promoted to Division One
1910-11 Lancashire Combination Champions
1911-12 Lancashire Combination Champions
1912-13 Joined Central League
1921-22 Founder member of Football League Division Three North
1923-24 Football League Division Three North runner-up
1926-27 Football League Division Three North runner-up
1939-40 Football League programme abandoned due to outbreak of war
1958-59 Placed in Division Three upon re-organisation
1959 Relegated to Division Four
1961-62 Football League Cup runner-up
1968-69 Promoted to Division Three
1974 Relegated to Division Four
1992-93 Division Four re-designated Division Three on formation of F.A Premier League
2001-02 Not promoted after reaching play-offs (SF: Rushden & Diamonds 2 Rochdale 2, Rochdale 1 Rushden & Diamonds 2 Agg 3-4)
2004-05 Football League Division Three renamed "League Two"
2007-08 Not promoted after reaching playoffs (Final: Stockport County 3-2 Rochdale)
2008-09 Not promoted after reaching playoffs (Semi finals Gillingham 2-1 agg Rochdale)
In terms of the league, they have played in the Football League's bottom division since 1974, the longest time any team has been in the bottom division of the League, with some even derisively renaming it "the Rochdale Division".[1]
The club finished bottom of the league in 1977-78, but were successful in their bid for re-election. Instead, Southport, who had finished one place above Rochdale, were demoted instead, replaced by Wigan Athletic.
Rochdale finished bottom for a second time in 1979-80, but were again re-elected - by one vote over Altrincham F.C.. In 1989-90 the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time, but lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace.
Steve Parkin was appointed as manager in 1998, but left to take over at Barnsley in November 2001. John Hollins was appointed as his successor and, after more than two decades of mediocrity, in which the club finished in the top 10 only three times, the club finished the season in fifth place, entering the promotion play-offs where they lost to Rushden & Diamonds in the semi-finals.
The following season the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup again the following season, but lost 3-1 at Wolves. Hollins was replaced by Paul Simpson in 2002, and Alan Buckley appointed and sacked as manager in 2003. Parkin then returned to the club as manager, until being sacked in December 2006.
His replacement, Keith Hill, who was initially appointed as caretaker-manager, led Rochdale to a 5th-placed finish in 2007-08, securing a play-off place. After beating Darlington 5-4 on penalties in the semi-finals, Rochdale reached Wembley for the first time in their history. However, despite taking the lead in the match, they lost the final 3-2 to Stockport County.
In the 2008-2009 season, Rochdale reached the League Two playoffs for the second consecutive season, finishing 6th in the table on 70 points after a run of only 3 wins and 6 defeats in the final twelve games of the season. |