This article is part of the ‘League Preview’ series, in which every day we take a detailed look at one of Aldershot Town’s 23 prospective opponents for the upcoming National League season.
Today’s focus is a club who spent a remarkable 36-successive seasons in the fourth-tier of English football, Rochdale AFC.
Founded in 1907, ‘The Dale’ perhaps lay a greater claim than anyone in the division to ‘not being a non-league club’, as remarkably, prior to the side’s relegation to the National League in 2023, they had enjoyed an unbroken 102-year stint as Football League members.
At risk of becoming a mainstay in the previously unfamiliar reaches of step-one, manager Jimmy McNulty will be hoping third time’s the charm in returning the Dale to former glory.
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Where is Rochdale?
The town of Rochdale is situated in England’s North West, sitting just south of the Lancashire-Manchester border. With a population of roughly 111,000, it is the fourth-largest settlement in Greater Manchester. Approximately 232 miles from the EBB Stadium, this 4h 34m journey will mark Aldershot’s seventh-furthest away trip of the upcoming league season.
In what is undoubtedly one of the world’s busiest footballing regions, the club staggeringly share their county with a further eight professional teams, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and fellow National League members, Altrincham. While it once would have been Bury FC before their expulsion, Rochdale’s closest professional derby is last season’s National League play-off winners, Oldham Athletic, who hail just 6 miles south. Outside of the town itself, Rochdale currently serves as the closest place to see fifth-tier football or higher in the towns of Litterborough (~13,000 pop.), Ramsbottom (18,000), and at present, Bury (77,000).
Rochdale play their home matches at the Crown Oil Arena, formerly known as the Spotland Stadium. Built in 1878, and home to the Dale without interruption since 1907, it is the oldest continuously used ground in the entire division. With a capacity of 10,249, it is the 6th largest ground in this season’s National League.
Rochdale finished the 2024/25 season with an average league attendance of 3,410, the 8th highest among teams in this season’s competition.
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Recent history and club highlights
Rochdale’s relegation from League Two in 2023 marked arguably the worst period in the club’s long history, ending an occupancy in the Football League that started over a century ago. Entering their third successive season in the Enterprise National League, the Dale appear to be taking longer than they had hoped to return to a level that they perhaps rightfully claim to belong in.
2024/25 – National League (4th)
2023/24 – National League (11th)
2022/23 – League Two (24th, Relegated)
2021/22 – League Two (18th)
2020/21 – League One (21st, Relegated)
2019/20 – League One (18th)
2018/19 – League One (16th)
2017/18 – League One (20th)
2016/17 – League One (9th)
2015/16 – League One (10th)
Rochdale hold a number of bittersweet records within English football. The club played in League Two or named equivalent for an unbelievable 36 successive seasons between 1974 and 2010. This continuous spell of avoiding both promotion and relegation remains the longest any professional side outside of the top-tier has remained in the same division consecutively. They also ‘boast’ the record of being the club with the most seasons participating in the Football League without reaching higher than the third-tier, with 95.
A piece of undeniably braggable history, however, is the Dale’s claim as the very first fourth division side to reach a major cup final. In 1961/62, the club caused upsets against the likes of Southampton, Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers to reach the final of the League Cup. They would go on to lose 4-0 to Norwich City over two legs.
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Pre-season, incoming transfers and other news
At time of writing, Rochdale have made 10 first team signings.
| Player | Pos. | Age | Arriving from… | Highest level played |
| David Tutonda | LB | 29 | Morecambe | League One (Gillingham) |
| Emmanuel Dieseruvre | CF | 30 | Hartlepool Utd. | League One (Cheltenham) |
| Joe Pritchard | LM | 28 | Oldham Athletic | Championship (Bolton) |
| Bryce Hosannah | RB | 26 | AFC Fylde | League Two (Bradford) |
| Anthony Gomez-Mancini | CAM | 24 | Hartlepool Utd. | League Two (Accrington S.) |
| Liam Humbles | CM | 21 | Salford City | League Two (Salford) |
| Dan Moss | RB | 24 | Woking | League Two (L. Orient) |
| Casey Pettit | CDM | 22 | Maidenhead Utd. | National League (Maidenhead) |
| Levi Amantchi (loan) | CF | 24 | Walsall | League Two (Walsall) |
| Oliver Whatmuff (loan) | GK | 17 | Man City U18 | N/A |
With minimal outgoings, and an incoming dectet that share a combined 489 Football League appearances between them, this summer has shown a clear statement of intent from the Dale.
From a wider footballing standpoint, their most noteworthy signing may be 17-year-old Oliver Whatmuff. The England U18 international is one of the country’s brightest goalkeeping talents, shining in last season’s Premier League 2, keeping four clean sheets in eight appearances.
Rochdale’s current pre-season schedule, which has seen the side defeat League Two Grimsby on home soil, is as follows:
FC United of Manchester 0-3 Rochdale (12/07)
Rochdale 2-0 Grimsby (19/07)
Chorley 1-2 Rochdale (23/07)
Barrow 1-0 Rochdale (26/07)
Rochdale vs Manchester United U21 (02/08)
After preparations conclude with a home tie against Manchester United’s elite development squad, the Dale are scheduled to begin their National League campaign in Hertfordshire, with an away tie against newly promoted Boreham Wood on Saturday, 9th August.
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When will Aldershot and Rochdale play each other?
Following the release of the National League fixture list, the Shots are due to travel to the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday, 15th November, while Tommy Widdrington’s men will host the Dale on Saturday, 28th February.
Before reformation, Aldershot and Rochdale shared all but eight seasons in the Football League between 1960 and 1992, playing exactly 50 times.
However, considering only the current iteration of the club, the tie was first contested in 2008/09, the Shots’ first season back in the fourth-tier. Since then, the clubs have met a further 12 times, most notably in the 2011/12 League Cup, where Aldershot emerged 2-1 victors in a third round clash, earning them a glamour tie against Manchester United in the following round.
Games played: 13
Aldershot wins: 3
Rochdale wins: 7
Draws: 3
Aggregate score: 16-26
Record Shots victory: 4-2 (2012)
Record Rochdale victory: 4-0 (2025)
