1971–72 Rochdale A.F.C. season

Rochdale
1971–72 season
Manager	Dick Conner
League Division Three	18th
FA Cup	1st Round
League Cup	1st Round
Top goalscorer	League: Peter Gowans; All: David Cross
	← 1970–71 1972–73 →

The 1971–72 season saw Rochdale compete for their 3rd consecutive season in the Football League Third Division.

Statistics[]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Division 3		F.A. Cup		League Cup		Lancashire Cup		Rose Bowl
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Rod Jones	11	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0	0+1	0
	DF	NIR	Ronnie Blair	38	1	29+1	1	1+0	0	3+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Derek Ryder	40	0	32+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Graham Smith	52	0	44+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Colin Parry	36	1	28+2	1	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Joe Ashworth	16	1	12+0	1	0+0	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Tony Buck	34	5	24+3	4	1+0	0	1+1	0	3+0	1	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Reg Jenkins	27	8	20+0	6	1+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	2	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	David Cross	14	10	10+0	8	0+0	0	3+0	2	0+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Bobby Downes	41	1	35+1	1	0+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Dennis Butler	22	0	17+1	0	0+0	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
	MF	SCO	Peter Gowans	42	10	36+2	9	0+1	0	0+0	0	3+0	1	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Norman Whitehead	35	4	27+0	4	1+0	0	3+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG		6	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	ENG	Tony Godfrey	44	0	41+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Hughen Riley	6	0	2+3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Len Kinsella	39	3	32+3	3	1+0	0	0+0	0	3+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Alf Arrowsmith	18	4	13+2	2	1+0	1	0+0	0	1+1	1	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Malcolm Darling	36	6	30+4	6	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Arthur Marsh	28	0	28+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Jack Howarth	21	8	21+0	8	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Lee Brogden	16	1	15+1	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

Final League Table[]

Pos	Team v t	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
16	Wrexham	46	10	5	8	33	26	6	3	14	26	37	0.937	40	Welsh Cup winners, qualified for 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup: First round
17	Halifax Town	46	11	6	6	31	22	2	6	15	17	39	0.787	38
18	Rochdale	46	11	7	5	35	26	1	6	16	22	57	0.687	37
19	York City	46	8	8	7	32	22	4	4	15	25	44	0.864	36
20	Tranmere Rovers	46	9	7	7	34	30	1	9	13	16	41	0.704	36

Source: rsssf.com

Competitions[]

Football League Third Division[]

14 August 1971 (1971 -08-14) 1	Notts County	4–0	Rochdale	Nottingham
	Mansley 6' Masson 18' Stubbs 32' Hateley 40'	Report	Ashworth 71'	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 10879

21 August 1971 (1971 -08-21) 2	Rochdale	2–1	Mansfield Town	Rochdale
	Cross 1' Jenkins 61'	Report	Ryder 12' (o.g.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3554

28 August 1971 (1971 -08-28) 3	Aston Villa	2–0	Rochdale	Aston
	Lochhead 8' Graydon 40'	Report		Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 24280

3 September 1971 (1971 -09-03) 4	Rochdale	2–1	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
	Cross (pen.) Ashworth	Report	Beamish	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3691 Referee: H Williams

11 September 1971 (1971 -09-11) 5	Bournemouth	4–1	Rochdale	Bournemouth
	Boyer 33' MacDougall 38', 48' (pen.), 74'	Report	Cross 70'	Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 8856

13 September 1971 (1971 -09-13) 6	Torquay United	1–1	Rochdale	Torquay
	Welsh	Report	Cross	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 8885

18 September 1971 (1971 -09-18) 7	Rochdale	1–1	Oldham Athletic	Rochdale
	Gowans 23'	Report	Fryatt 37'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 10926

25 September 1971 (1971 -09-25) 8	Barnsley	3–3	Rochdale	Barnsley
	Seal 58' Millar 67' 85'	Report	Jenkins 24', 82' Cross 55'	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 5805

27 September 1971 (1971 -09-27) 9	Rochdale	3–2	Plymouth Argyle	Rochdale
	Kinsella Cross Davey (o.g.)	Report	Hutchins Hinch	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4519 Referee: V James

2 October 1971 (1971 -10-02) 10	Rochdale	5–0	Torquay United	Rochdale
	Cross 31', 82' (pen.) Arrowsmith 37' Gowans 67' Whitehead 72'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4551

9 October 1971 (1971 -10-09) 11	Blackburn Rovers	3–0	Rochdale	Blackburn
	Shanahan 8', 42' 20'	Report		Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 8492

16 October 1971 (1971 -10-16) 12	Rochdale	1–1	Notts County	Rochdale
	Darling 57'	Report	Bradd 77'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4848

19 October 1971 (1971 -10-19) 13	Halifax Town	2–2	Rochdale	Halifax
	30' 50' Robertson 81'	Report	Kinsella 61', 71'	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 3288

23 October 1971 (1971 -10-23) 14	Rochdale	3–1	Bristol Rovers	Rochdale
	Whitehead 29' Downes 33' Buck 52'	Report	Stephens 76'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4753

30 October 1971 (1971 -10-30) 15	Swansea City	1–0	Rochdale	Swansea
	Gwyther 5'	Report		Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 7743

6 November 1971 (1971 -11-06) 16	Rochdale	0–2	Chesterfield	Rochdale
		Report	Wilson 12', 33'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4818

13 November 1971 (1971 -11-13) 17	Wrexham	1–3	Rochdale	Wrexham
	Tinnion 70'	Report	Whitehead 10' Buck 63', 89'	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 7749

26 November 1971 (1971 -11-26) 18	Walsall	3–0	Rochdale	Walsall
	Woodward Jones Wright	Report		Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 3575 Referee: J Hunting

4 December 1971 (1971 -12-04) 19	Rochdale	2–1	Rotherham United	Rochdale
	Jenkins 16' Gowans 70'	Report	Bentley 1'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3384

17 December 1971 (1971 -12-17) 20	Tranmere Rovers	2–0	Rochdale	Birkenhead
	Russell Beamish	Report		Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 2800

27 December 1971 (1971 -12-27) 21	Rochdale	0–1	Bradford City	Rochdale
		Report	Hall	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4722

1 January 1972 (1972 -01-01) 22	Oldham Athletic	3–2	Rochdale	Oldham
	Shaw 2' McNeill 50' Robins 82'	Report	Gowans 44', 89'	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 8885

8 January 1972 (1972 -01-08) 23	Rochdale	1–0	Aston Villa	Rochdale
	Whitehead 65' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5874

22 January 1972 (1972 -01-22) 24	Plymouth Argyle	4–1	Rochdale	Plymouth
	Hinch 6' Rickard 55', 67' Hutchins 83'	Report	Darling 70'	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 9187

29 January 1972 (1972 -01-29) 25	Rochdale	3–2	Halifax Town	Rochdale
	Parry 22' Howarth 68', 89'	Report	Atkins 32' Wallace 79'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3124

5 February 1972 (1972 -02-05) 26	Rochdale	0–0	Shrewsbury Town	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3502

12 February 1972 (1972 -02-12) 27	Bristol Rovers	5–2	Rochdale	Bristol
	Stephens 34' Bannister 38', 47' Jones 65' Prince 86'	Report	Darling 23', 63'	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 7344

19 February 1972 (1972 -02-19) 28	Rochdale	1–1	Swansea Town	Rochdale
	Arrowsmith 81'	Report	21'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3097 Referee: V James

26 February 1972 (1972 -02-26) 29	Chesterfield	2–0	Rochdale	Chesterfield
	Randall 77' Wilson 89'	Report		Stadium: Saltergate Recreation Ground Attendance: 6599

4 March 1972 (1972 -03-04) 30	Rochdale	1–0	Wrexham	Rochdale
	Davies 21' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2643 Referee: NP Paget

11 March 1972 (1972 -03-11) 31	Rochdale	2–1	Blackburn Rovers	Rochdale
	Howarth 8' Gowans 35'	Report	Field 24'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6542

13 March 1972 (1972 -03-13) 32	Rochdale	3–2	Port Vale	Rochdale
	Howarth Gowans	Report	James Parry (o.g.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3157

18 March 1972 (1972 -03-18) 33	Mansfield Town	3–1	Rochdale	Mansfield
	Fairbrother 15' Wignall 73' Saunders 83'	Report	Darling 53'	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 5121

20 March 1972 (1972 -03-20) 34	York City	2–0	Rochdale	York
	Swallow Calloway	Report		Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 4539

25 March 1972 (1972 -03-25) 35	Rochdale	1–1	Bournemouth	Rochdale
	Howarth 63'	Report	MacDougall 33'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4437

1 April 1972 (1972 -04-01) 36	Bradford City	1–1	Rochdale	Bradford
	O'Neill 90'	Report	Brogden 17'	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 4889

3 April 1972 (1972 -04-03) 37	Rochdale	0–2	Barnsley	Rochdale
		Report	Mahoney Seal	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3848 Referee: RB Lee

8 April 1972 (1972 -04-08) 38	Shrewsbury Town	2–1	Rochdale	Shrewsbury
	Wood 23' Andrews 36'	Report	Blair 43'	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 2539

12 April 1972 (1972 -04-12) 39	Bolton Wanderers	2–1	Rochdale	Bolton
	Byrom Jones	Report	Howarth	Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 6057 Referee: WS Castle

15 April 1972 (1972 -04-15) 40	Rochdale	0–0	Walsall	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3027 Referee: H Williams

17 April 1972 (1972 -04-17) 41	Rochdale	1–2	York City	Rochdale
	Buck	Report	Burrows Henderson	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2776

22 April 1972 (1972 -04-22) 42	Rotherham United	5–1	Rochdale	Rotherham
	Gilbert 33', 69' Swift 51' Mielczarek 67' Ham 90'	Report	Gowans 23'	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 4569

24 April 1972 (1972 -04-24) 43	Rochdale	2–2	Bolton Wanderers	Rochdale
	Howarth Darling	Report	Jones Phillips	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4826 Referee: JD Williams

29 April 1972 (1972 -04-29) 44	Rochdale	1–2	Brighton & Hove Albion	Rochdale
	Jenkins 81' (pen.)	Report	Napier 49' Beamish 89'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4283 Referee: P Baldwin

3 May 1972 (1972 -05-03) 45	Brighton & Hove Albion	1–1	Rochdale	Brighton and Hove
	Templeman	Report	Gowans	Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 34644

12 May 1972 (1972 -05-12) 46	Port Vale	1–1	Rochdale	Stoke-on-Trent
	Horton (pen.)	Report	Jenkins (pen.)	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 2475

F.A. Cup[]

20 November 1971 (1971 -11-20) 1	Rochdale	1–3	Barnsley	Rochdale
	Arrowsmith 20'	Report	Winstanley 27', 55' Seal 81'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5185

League Cup[]

18 August 1971 (1971 -08-18) 1	Halifax Town	1–1	Rochdale	Halifax
	Lennard 17'	Report	31' (o.g.)	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 5195

24 August 1971 (1971 -08-24) 1	Rochdale	2–2 (a.e.t.)	Halifax Town	Rochdale
	Cross 74', 82 '	Report	Chadwick 25' Atkins 50'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6016

31 August 1971 (1971 -08-31) 1	Rochdale	0–2	Halifax Town	Rochdale
		Report	Wallace 85' 89'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5718

Lancashire Cup[]

13 October 1971 (1971 -10-13)	Rochdale	3–0	Blackpool	Rochdale
	Gowans Buck Arrowsmith			Stadium: Spotland Stadium

6 December 1971 (1971 -12-06)	Rochdale	1–1	Manchester United	Rochdale
	Jenkins			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3764

22 December 1971 (1971 -12-22)	Manchester United	4–1	Rochdale	Manchester
			Jenkins	Stadium: Old Trafford

Rose Bowl[]

31 July 1971 (1971 -07-31)	Oldham Athletic	4–0	Rochdale	Oldham
				Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 4946

^[1] ^[2]

References[]

^ Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001 by Steven Phillipps. ISBN 1874427097
^ http://www.enfa.co.uk

[1] Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001 by Steven Phillipps. ISBN 1874427097

[2] ttp://www.enfa.co.uk

[1]

[2]

v t Rochdale A.F.C. seasons
1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22