1971–72 Rochdale A.F.C. season

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

Rochdale
1971–72 season
ManagerDick Conner
League Division Three18th
FA Cup1st Round
League Cup1st Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Peter Gowans
All: David Cross

Statistics

edit
No. Pos Nat Player Total Division 3 F.A. Cup League Cup Lancashire Cup Rose Bowl
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 Paul Clarke 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

edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
16 Wrexham 46 16 8 22 59 63 0.937 40 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
17 Halifax Town 46 13 12 21 48 61 0.787 38
18 Rochdale 46 12 13 21 57 83 0.687 37
19 York City 46 12 12 22 57 66 0.864 36
20 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 16 20 50 71 0.704 36
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Competitions

edit

Football League Third Division

edit
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'
Waddell   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'
McDonald   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
Brierley   30'
Farley   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 Slattery   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

edit
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

edit
18 August  1971 (1971 -08-18) 1 Halifax Town 1–1 Rochdale Halifax
Lennard   17' Report Rhodes   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'
Brierley   89'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 5718

Lancashire Cup

edit
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

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

[1] [2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001 by Steven Phillipps. ISBN 1874427097
  2. ^ "The English National Football Archive". Enfa.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2022. [not specific enough to verify]