| Random pre-Christmas memories 11:57 - Dec 19 with 1616 views | EllDale |
Reading TVOS yesterday (as excellent as ever) reminded me that on the same day in 1973 Dale suffered one of the worst humiliations I can personally remember although there are several contenders for that award.
Rochdale 3 non-league Grantham 5 was the result after we had looked to be cruising 3-1 at halftime but collapsed after the break.
I seem to recall that Lee Brogden, recently signed from Rotherham in the deal that sent Norman Whitehead to Millmoor, scored a nice goal and we were dreaming of the third round.
That also brought to mind two fond memories of pre-Christmas games.
One was the game the week before Christmas 2009.
The only game in L2 after afternoon thanks to the Herculean efforts of an army of volunteers saw an easy win and Dale go into the festive period seven points clear at the top of the league.
The other was a home game against Newport, the same opponents as yesterday, in December 1967 and saw plenty of goals in a 4-3 victory.
The strange fact about that game is that Bob Stokoe, desperate to shore up a leaky defence, played Reg Jenkins at centre half. Strange because Dale still conceded three but the forwards managed to score four!
Doesn’t a win before the winter holiday cheer everyone up!?
Seasons Greetings to you all. |  | | |  |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 12:28 - Dec 19 with 1570 views | pioneer |
The whitehead Brogden transfer happened in the previous season 72-3.
My worst pre Christmas game ….a 5-0 thrashing at Hartlepool with snow squalls driving in from the North Sea. I froze to death and spent Christmas in bed with the flu. | | | |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 16:56 - Dec 19 with 1386 views | mingthemerciless |
My second game ever was at a snow covered Spotland on Dec 29th 1962. The opponents in a 2-0 win for the Dale were Crewe Alex. As was usual the lines had been swept clear and the game was played on about 2” of snow. It got a bit slippery near the end.
According to “ The Definitive Rochdale AFC “ the team was -
Burgin
Milburn, Winton
Hardman, Aspden, Thompson
Wragg, Morton, Watson, Cairns, Phoenix
Scorers - Watson and Phoenix.
I remember Hardman and Phoenix being outstanding on a tricky pitch.
Att 3,596. [Post edited 20 Dec 2021 12:18]
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| Random pre-Christmas memories on 10:13 - Dec 20 with 1083 views | samueloneils |
From that 1962 team, 2 players stand out to me.
Stan Milburn had the most perefect sliding tackle I`ve ever seen, coming from behind and just scooping the ball away cleanly. Probably earn a yellow card today.
Ron Cairns had a beautifully backward-sloping forehead enabling him to score headed goals when facing away from the goal..
Quelle finesse! | | | |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 10:57 - Dec 20 with 1057 views | EllDale |
Just done some research myself on the Newport game I mentioned above.
It took place on Saturday 16th December 1967 so it was 54 years ago to the day last Saturday in front of a gate of 1662.
The team was Williamson, Cockcroft, Calloway, Melledew, Jenkins, Smith, Winspear, Russell, Fletcher, Hutchinson and Reid.
The goals came from Reid 2, Fletcher and Melledew.
Only three of that side (the halfback line) survived the Stokoe cull at the end of the season and none of those three actually played in those same positions in the promotion side. Big Reg went onto play plenty of times at centreback and finished the season there.
Presumably Les Green was injured with Bob Williamson playing in goal.
I have memories of all of those players yet it obviously wasn’t that good a team and only two wins in the last three games, against Halifax at home and up at Workington, kept us out of the re-election places. Yet another near miss if the stories are to be believed. | | | |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 11:03 - Dec 20 with 1044 views | pioneer |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 10:57 - Dec 20 by EllDale |
Just done some research myself on the Newport game I mentioned above.
It took place on Saturday 16th December 1967 so it was 54 years ago to the day last Saturday in front of a gate of 1662.
The team was Williamson, Cockcroft, Calloway, Melledew, Jenkins, Smith, Winspear, Russell, Fletcher, Hutchinson and Reid.
The goals came from Reid 2, Fletcher and Melledew.
Only three of that side (the halfback line) survived the Stokoe cull at the end of the season and none of those three actually played in those same positions in the promotion side. Big Reg went onto play plenty of times at centreback and finished the season there.
Presumably Les Green was injured with Bob Williamson playing in goal.
I have memories of all of those players yet it obviously wasn’t that good a team and only two wins in the last three games, against Halifax at home and up at Workington, kept us out of the re-election places. Yet another near miss if the stories are to be believed. |
Joe Fletcher was also retained for the promotion season but struggled for a place in the team. Made 10 appearances. | | | |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 11:12 - Dec 20 with 1027 views | D_Alien |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 10:57 - Dec 20 by EllDale |
Just done some research myself on the Newport game I mentioned above.
It took place on Saturday 16th December 1967 so it was 54 years ago to the day last Saturday in front of a gate of 1662.
The team was Williamson, Cockcroft, Calloway, Melledew, Jenkins, Smith, Winspear, Russell, Fletcher, Hutchinson and Reid.
The goals came from Reid 2, Fletcher and Melledew.
Only three of that side (the halfback line) survived the Stokoe cull at the end of the season and none of those three actually played in those same positions in the promotion side. Big Reg went onto play plenty of times at centreback and finished the season there.
Presumably Les Green was injured with Bob Williamson playing in goal.
I have memories of all of those players yet it obviously wasn’t that good a team and only two wins in the last three games, against Halifax at home and up at Workington, kept us out of the re-election places. Yet another near miss if the stories are to be believed. |
It wasn't a good team at all, poor all season
Everything wasn't analysed to death back then though. If we were shit, people just didn't go. Once we started winning, they came back. I was still at primary school, but the only lad who actually went to games. The rest just supported United on the telly (probably still do)
[Post edited 20 Dec 2021 13:27]
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| Random pre-Christmas memories on 11:23 - Dec 20 with 1002 views | EllDale |
My memory from St Johns in the first part of the 1960s is that lads claimed to either support United or Burnley. The only Dale fan in our class was me.
One of the teachers was even a Bury fan. | | | |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 11:26 - Dec 20 with 999 views | EllDale |
| Random pre-Christmas memories on 11:03 - Dec 20 by pioneer |
Joe Fletcher was also retained for the promotion season but struggled for a place in the team. Made 10 appearances. |
Sorry, forgot all about Joe.
His goals kept our heads above water in 1967/68.
Steve Melledew started scoring goals early in the promotion season and we then signed Terry Melling and, in the New Year, Tony Buck so Joe was pushed down the pecking order. | | | |
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