The Opponent: Rochdale
The unbeaten run continues, 9 games in and everything is good. A game under the lights is always something to look forward to, especially when it seems like an eternity since we last had a home match. Rochdale currently sit 12th in League 1 with 17 points, we really should be thinking about 3 points here.
Some of the notable folk from Rochdale in the past makes interesting reading. The 19th century saw several notable characters. Lancashire dialect poet Edwin Waugh (18171890) was born and raised in the town. The aristocrat and poet George Gordon Byron was Lord Byron of Rochdale. Rochdale also has a proud liberal political heritage, as shown by such people as John Bright, one of the first Quakers to sit in the House of Commons; Samuel Bamford, the radical and writer; and Rev. Joseph Cooke, the inspiration behind the Methodist Unitarian movement. Among Rochdale's residents have been several musicians, including singers Gracie Fields, Lisa Stansfield (born in Heywood) and Barb Jungr, and bands Autechre, Tractor, the Chameleons, the Mock Turtles and the Cassandra Complex. Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth also hails from Rochdale. Broadcasters John Peel, Mark Chapman, Liz and Andy Kershaw also have links with the town, Peel having lived there for a period of time and the latter three having been born there. Actors Colin Baker, Anna Friel and Bill Oddie were born in Rochdale. Don Estelle, who was born and brought up in Crumpsall, and lived for much of his life in Rochdale and was buried there in August 2003.
Last Time Out Saturday 18th October Rochdale 1 Gillingham 1 - Rochdale were left to rue a string of missed opportunities as Cody McDonald's late goal earned Gillingham a point. Peter Vincenti's header put the hosts ahead midway through the first half, with Vincenti and Ian Henderson having chances either side of the break. Gills' Stephen Bywater also saved twice from Michael Rose, and the visitors were rewarded when McDonald scrambled in seven minutes from time.
Starting XI - Logan, Bennett, Eastham, OConnell, Tanser, Dawson (Lund), Rose, Allen, Vincenti, Done (Andrew) Henderson.
They have served us both Kevin Amankwaah, David Ball, David Cole, Stephen Darby, Simon Gibson, George Guyan, Jack Howarth, David Lucas, Ray McHale, David Murray, Arthur Radford, Alan Moore, John McClelland, Chris Jones, Tom Heaton, Ashley Grimes, Mick French, Charlie Comyn-Platt, Trevor Churchill, Bill Atkins, Tope Obadeyi, Alan McLoughlin, Harry Martin, Benny Jones, Derek Hall, Richard Green, Kevin Dearden, Jimmy Collins, Herbert Chapman, Bill Armstrong.
One From The Past . January 22nd 1983: Attendance 4425 Swindon Town 4 Rochdale 1 A Paul Rideout hat trick and a late Howard Pritchard effort made light work of Rochdale, featuring in the team that day was Andy Rowland.
The Odds Swindon Evens Draw 13/5 Rochdale 7/2
The Son Says A couple more days at school then we have a couple of weeks of moaning and arguing with his sister to put up with, such joys. 3 0 win this evening.
The Prediction I think we really should have a bit too much for Rochdale, 3-1 victory, goals from Kasim, Williams and Turnbull, 6677 in attendance with 111 from up North.
And Finally The first seven series of the BBC school drama Waterloo Road were set in Rochdale between 2006 and 2012, and filmed on location at the former Hilltop Primary School in Kirkholt, which closed in July 2003. Most of the out-of-school scenes in the series were filmed around Rochdale, and many of the pupils' homes seen on television were council houses in the Kirkholt area which were mostly built in the early post war years.
