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2012 Prediction League; Game 11 v Rochdale AFC (home)

Accrington Stanley

V

Rochdale AFC

2012/3 Prediction League – Game 11; v Rochdale (home)

Spotted in the Sits Vac column of tonight’s Rochdale Evening Muffin-Wallopper

“Rochdale AFC are pleased to be able to offer a temporary position (3 League matches only) to a proven goal poacher, needed to replace our current leading scorer during his suspension following his sending off last night”

Yup, Bobby Grant got himself sent off at Spotland last night :o in the 35th minute for a “lunge” – covers a multitude of sins, doesn’t it? :) - on (ex Rochdale) Bradford defender Rory McArdle; not a first for him, either – he was red-carded in September 2011 playing for Scunthorpe against Colchester :eek:. Since he’s Dale’s leading scorer this season (7 goals to date, including the 2 he got in the 5-5 CapOne game against Derby while still with the Iron) you’d logically prefer him sitting in the stand rather than on the pitch (unless you’re a Rochdale fan, of course). Interesting Fact of the Week; Dale have had two red cards this season :rolleyes: – one for Bobby Grant ;), one for Kevin McIntyre :rolleyes: ……………. Nuff said! :D

Rochdale AFC was formed in 1907, and was included in the new Third Division North when it was formed in 1921. Their first match was against …….. Any guesses? Accrington Stanley :D ……….. And they won it 6-3! :mad: I’m pleased to report that – after that piece of effrontery – they finished last in the League at the end of that season and had to apply for re-election :D. They have a number of distinctions:

They’re the only team from the bottom Division of the League (then called Division 4) to reach a major Cup Final (the League Cup in 1962, which they lost 4-0 on aggregate to Norwich City)
They hold the record for the longest sequence playing in the bottom Division of the Football League (1974 – 2010)
In 1977/8 they finished last in Div 4, but were re-elected; Southport, who finished one place above them that season, were voted out of the League, replaced by Wigan Athletic
They were bottom again the next season, but once again stayed in the League, by one vote over Altrincham
They’ve only been promoted twice in their 91 years – in 1969 and 2010; however, they’ve managed to be relegated three times :confused: – in 1959, 1974 and 2012. (The 1959 relegation followed the re-structuring of the League in ’58, when Division Three North and Division Three South merged, and became Division 3 and Division 4; Rochdale gained a place in Division 3, but were relegated at the end of the season …… Clever or what?)

Famous Old Boys – apart from half the Accie Stanley team – include Player-Manager Jack Warner in 1952/3 (though how he got to London in time to appear in “Dixon of Dock Green” every Saturday I’ll never know :D:D:D), Jimmy Greenhoff – ex Man U (P/Manager in 83/84), record goal scorer Reg Jenkins (of course you’ve heard of him!), Adam le Fallover :p (42 goals in 112 games between 2007 and 2009) and Stanley Milburn, brother of Wor Jackie :D and uncle of Sir Bobby and Mr Jack.

They acquired a new manager in January :rolleyes:, although he wasn’t able to save them from relegation, thereby getting a small blot on an otherwise impressive escutcheon :cool:. That said, he set about building “his” team, and so over the summer out went some big names; midfielder and former captain Gary Jones (35), with over 470 appearances, plus 50-odd more for Barnsley, went to Bradford; striker Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (27), a French-born Ivorian with a cv which includes Toulouse, Stade Brestois 29 (French 2nd Division) and FC Brussels (anyone know the Flemish for "Over 'ere, Son, on mi' 'ead!"? :D) and who's now tearing up Prenton Park for Tranmere; defender Kevin Kwaku Osei-Kuffour Amankwaah (30), who’s been at 9 clubs in 12 years – notably Bristol City, Yeovil, Swansea (who paid £250,000 for him) and Swindon – is now shoring up the back for Exeter City; and 28 year-old MF Simon Hackney (ex Woodley Sports :confused:, Carlisle and Colchester) departed, and is now having a trial at Conference North side FC Halifax Town ………….:)

In came 6 of our Old Boys – Grant, Cavanagh, McIntyre, Sunbeds, Razor Ray Putterill and Craney, plus GK Josh Lillis (24) – released by Scunthorpe, with loan spells at Notts County, Grimsby and Rochdale (twice) behind him; striker George Donnelly (also 24), via Skelmersdale Utd (36 in 45), Plymouth, Fleetwood and Macclesfield (at none of which he stayed long or broke any pots); ex Bolton defender Rhys Bennett (26), who played on loan at Falkirk last season; and Liverpool u18 skipper (there’s that Scouse connection again!) Joe Rafferty, who’ll be 19 on the day of the match; Happy Birthday Son! :D

Out of the Capital One 4-3 at home to Barnsley; into Round 2 of the Paintpot trophy (4-2 on penalties) after a 2-2 draw at home to Fleetwood (playing Bury in the next round on 9th October), Their League form is quite odd; at home, one win (2-0 over Barnet, who by my reckoning should be relegated to the Conference round about 24th November :p:p:p) three draws (0-0 against Northampton on opening day, and again against Bradford on Tuesday night, and 2-2 against the Daggers (from 2-0 up), and one defeat (Burton, 1-0); away, wins over the Wombles (2-1), Rotherham (3-2) and Gillingham (2-1) :D, a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield, whose manager John Sheridan obviously got fed up of being on gardening leave (and in this weather, who can blame him? :)) and resigned, and a 4-2 thumping at Torquay – who, you’ll have seen, turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 win over Aldershot on Tuesday night. Home - P5 W1 D3 L1 F4 A3; away, P5 W3 D1 L1 F10 A9, for an overall record of 4 wins, 4 draws and just 2 losses, with 14 scored and 12 conceded, giving them 16 point and 9th place; too many drawn games might be their problem ……..Where have I heard that before? :D

We have a ……….how shall I put this? ………… “chequered” :( history against them in the League since we came back up in 2006; in our 5th game in our opening season (06/07) we took a point in a 1-1 draw at Fortress Crown (Gary Roberts from the spot) :); in 2009/10 we won 2-1 at Spotland thanks to Bobby Grant (now of Rochdale) and Michael Symes (now of the Orient, previously of Bournemouth, who’ve just sacked their manager) :D; the rest we’ve lost – 2-1, 3-1 (twice), 4-1 :o and 4-2 (also twice) :o:o. P8 W1 D1 L6 F11 A22 …………….oh dearie me ………………….Their leading scorers this season are Bobby Grant (5), 22 year-old ex Man City MF Andrew Tutte (4), and “Guess his age! Guess his weight!” :D Nigerian striker Bamberdele (“Dele”) Adebola (37) – Rochdale being his 14th Club in 20 years (625+ games played in all), also with 4; among the rest, Putterill has 2 and McIntyre one.

The deadline for entries is, as ever, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 6th October. They’ve failed to score three times, but have three clean sheets – all at Spotland; their away record – W3 D1 L1 scored 10 – is identical to ours, but we’ve conceded three fewer than them; they’re better on the road than at home, and so are we……………hatful of goals? Dour Lancashire draw? You tell me ………….. it’s your guess!

Good luck to everyone……………….Keep the Faith! :D ………… and thanks for playing!

:bingobang