The Dale are on their way to Wembley
Although Wigan Athletic ending Manchester City’s bid for t he quadruple understandably grabbed all the headlines in last week’s FA Cup action, it was Rochdale’s battling effort against Tottenham that caught my attention.
It was a classic Cup match at Rochdale’s modest Spotland Stadium, with the underdogs grabbing a 2-2 draw with a dramatic last-minute goal. The atmosphere was just what you want from a Cup clash, with the majority of the 8,480 crowd crammed into the stadium roaring on their team, wallowing at the foot of League One, against the fancied high-flying visitors.
The Dale had grabbed an unexpected lead through Ian Henderson just before half-time and hung on until the 75th minute when Spurs’ new signing Lucas Moura equalised. When the visitors scored from a Harry Kane penalty in the 88th minute it looked all over for the hosts, until Steve Davies notched a last-gasp equaliser which saw Spotland erupt into wild celebrations.
Rochdale manager Keith Hill said the draw was a feeling of “reward, not relief”, as the performance was worthy of a replay. It also partly compensated for Rochdale spending money they could ill afford on laying a new pitch for their esteemed visitors.
The significance of this match is much more than just the result. You have to absorb Rochdale’s checkered history to appreciate they are a small club which desperately deserves a break.
Since they joined the Football League in 1921 they have never been out of the lower two divisions and have only won promotion on three occasions. They finished rock bottom several times but were rescued by the old re-election system and managed to escape dropping out of the league altogether. In the 1977-78 season they finished bottom but Southport, who had finished one place above them, were relegated instead and replaced by Wigan.
They were in the old Division Four for such an extended period the bottom league became widely known as the “Rochdale Division’’ and they have long been associated with lack of success.
Apart from the old cotton industry, Rochdale is most famous for being the birthplace of Gracie Fields, the great pre-World War II singer who was born above a fish ‘n chip shop. Gracie’s iconic song The Biggest Aspidistra in the World became far more famous than the football club.
There are several records Rochdale would not like to be reminded of including most goals conceded in a season (135) in 1931-2 and fewest wins in a season (two) in 1973-4. They were also responsible for the lowest post-war attendance when only 450 spectators showed up at Spotland to see them play Cambridge United in February 1974.
In 2014 they topped a “Long-Standing Suffering Fans” index based on the least successful clubs in the entire league, just edging out Hartlepool. Small attendances have always been a problem and recent league gates have averaged under 3,000.
The club once got a mention from the great Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. When asked if it was true that to celebrate his wedding anniversary he had taken his wife to see Dale as a treat, he responded: “Of course I didn’t take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present. It was her birthday. Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves.”
Their one major claim to fame on the field came when they reached the final of the League Cup in 1962, becoming the only Fourth Division Club to make the final of a major competition. In those days it was a low key two-legged affair and Norwich City, then in Division Two, beat them by an aggregate 4-0.
With all their past baggage no one would begrudge Rochdale fans enjoying their rare moment in the limelight. Apart from earning a lucrative replay against Spurs next Wednesday, their supporters have the added bonus of a trip to Wembley.
A word of caution for Rochdale, however. Back in 1960, when Spurs had arguably as good a team as they have now, lowly Crewe Alexandra had the temerity to hold Tottenham to a 2-2 draw in a fourth round FA Cup tie at Gresty Road. This was a huge performance by Crewe against a team which was to go on and win the coveted “Double” the following season.
However, in the replay at White Hart Lane, Crewe paid for their impudence. They lost 13-2 to a rampant Spurs side for whom Les Allen scored five. Also on target were Bobby Smith (four), Cliff Jones (three) and one from the diminutive Tommy Harmer.
The half-time score was 10-1, but Spurs eased up after the break. They immediately became Cup favourites but came down to earth in the next round when they were beaten by Blackburn Rovers.
Rochdale will be under no illusions about their chances against Spurs at Wembley, but they will be determined not to suffer such a humbling experience as Crewe.
The Dale’s immediate concern is to try and haul themselves to safety from relegation. It doesn’t look very promising, although they do have several games in hand because of their Cup exploits. However, they must win them to stand any chance.
On Wednesday night they actually moved off the bottom with a goalless home draw against MK Dons. But it is two points dropped and they are still 10 points behind Fleetwood in 20th place and face a daunting away fixture today at an in-form Wigan.
Rochdale’s biggest achievement is frankly that they are still in existence. And just as remarkable is that this week they are on their way to Wembley.