Grimsby v Rochdale Preview

Overview

Well Rochdale were formed in 1907 in the council offices. So already Rochdale council has achieved one thing more useful than North East Lincolnshire Council. Anyway it wasn't until 1921 that Rochdale were allowed to join the bourgeois in the Football League even though they apparently invented the whole notion of the 3rd Division and there seemed to be some sort of FA conspiracy holding back the mighty Dale. Not that they are sore about any of that and in no way does their official web site imply the FA are evil vindictive gravy train riders out to get their beautiful little club. They may have a point about the former part at least. That’s Rochdale they've been down here forever, so long in fact they get the comfy chair and the remote and no one else is allowed to use it even when they're out of the room just like your dad but less loveable.

For the second successive season Rochdale failed to finally clamber out of here in the play-offs and though Keith Hill has fashioned a young talented side frustration that they are yet to reach their potential warranted changes in the summer. It had all started so well before that defeat to Gillingham in the Play or semi final a blip in September saw Rochdale 15th but were able to haul themselves up to 2nd at the end of March which was unsurprisingly a 2-0 home win over ourselves. But the season has to be written off as a failure at the very last hurdle with just 180 minutes separating Rochdale from success and finally ridding themselves of that unwanted record.

With the failure of promotion Hill’s main concern was to try and keep hold of that effective nucleus to improve on and though Hill was successful in holding on to the ever present William Buckley, Adam Le Fondre couldn't be tempted to stay opting to move to Rotherham who are able yet again to spend big money even though they are homeless and well just an immoral cesspit of administration loving Yorkshire folk unable to balance on a bike never mind a chequebook. Also former Mariner Simon Ramsden left for Bradford, Lee Thorpe for struggling Darlo and Mark Jones went back home to Wrexham. So far Rochdale couldn't be doing better they're exceeding expectation are the inform team and are just 2 points of top place Bournemouth. Lovely jubbly

Jamie Clarke, Tony Gallimore and Mickael Antoine-Curier of course! If that small list of footballing wizardry isn't enough to quench your footballing thirst have a swig of Wolves and USA international Soccergoaltender Marcus Hahnemann who played 5 games on loan at the club. But surely one of the pioneers of Total Football and former Ajax, Holland and Sweden manager has to satisfy you the gentleman is a legend across the sea and inspired some of the best football in Holland oh and he played for Grimsby Town, which truly puts him on one of the world’s tallest football pedestals.

No not William Buckley the superb interviewer and presenter from across the pond but the William Buckley of England! Rated 49th out of 50 rising stars in The Times last season Buckley born in Oldham has been accredited as one of the finds of last season has stayed on at Spotland hoping to finish off what he started last season. The 21-year-old midfielder joined as a trainee and managed 13 goals in 40 appearances for the Dale while also been able to avoid picking up not one card! Hear that Conlon, Proudlock and Boshell. Not one! His loyalty to Rochdale is admirable but another season like last year may well be his last in League Two.

Recent Form

Top Scorers

Team News

Rochdale have no injury worries and expect to be unchanged.

Head to Head

Town comfortably lead overall but they have lost all but one game this millennium, by an aggregate score of 8-18.

P45 W21D8 L16F75A63

Head-to-Head (22nd on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Rochdale 2 Grimsby 0 (Tue 28th Feb 2009)

Town put in a better performance but Dale were too strong for them .

Report

Prediction