| 1945–46 season | |
|---|---|
| Manager | Ted Goodier |
| Stadium | Spotland Stadium |
| Division 3 North West | 2nd |
| F.A. Cup | 3rd Round |
| Top goalscorer | League:Joe Hargreaves (18) All:Joe Hargreaves (24) |
The1945–46 season wasRochdale A.F.C.'s 39th in existence and their 7th and final season in the wartime league (Division 3 North West). The season consisted of 36 matches, 18 of which were in the First Championship, and the remainder were in the 2nd Championship and Division 3 North West Cup. Rochdale finished in second place in the first championship. This season also saw the return of the F.A. Cup, in which Rochdale reached the third round.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Division 3 NW League & Cup | F.A. Cup | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK | F. Olive | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Arthur Chesters | 19 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| GK | Jack Breedon | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | John Kirk | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Ken Ashbridge | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | John Jones | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | J. Walmsley | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Robert Yates | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Bill Roberts | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Syd Pomphrey | 33 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| DF | Clive | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Len Jackson | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Joe Duff | 23 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||
| DF | Tom Sneddon | 20 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| DF | Bill Byrom | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Matthew Muir | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | George Lunn | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Gwyn Jones | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Robert Griffiths | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Joe McCormick | 32 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||
| MF | Peter Molloy | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Jack Higham | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Norman Richardson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Charlie Hurst | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | William Whittle | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Don Partridge | 20 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| DF | John Neary | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| DF | Jim Pearce | 20 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| DF | Dick Neilson | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Wally Birch | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | George Haigh | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | J. Keddie | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | W. Hamilton | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Jack Dobson | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Tommy Howshall | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Arthur Jones | 14 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | ||
| MF | Sammy Makin | 21 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 1 | ||
| FW | Ernie Toseland | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Sam Baum | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | J. Kindred | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Joe Meek | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Billy Woods | 13 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| MF | Jack Brindle | 23 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 1 | ||
| FW | Joe Hargreaves | 27 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 6 | 6 | ||
| MF | Eric Wood | 32 | 10 | 28 | 9 | 4 | 1 | ||
| MF | T. Smith | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | John Reid | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Jimmy Constantine | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Jack Harker | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Jack Livesey | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Alf Hanson | 13 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Harry Nuttall (jnr) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Joe Rodi | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Fred Taylor | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Arthur Cunliffe | 35 | 6 | 29 | 5 | 6 | 1 | ||
| MF | Wally Reynolds | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 25 August 1945 (1945-08-25)1 | Wrexham | 4–1 | Rochdale | Wrexham |
| Reid | Stadium:Racecourse Ground Attendance: 6000 |
| 1 September 1945 (1945-09-01)2 | Rochdale | 3–1 | Wrexham | Rochdale |
| Constantine Meek Hanson | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3289 |
| 8 September 1945 (1945-09-08)3 | Rochdale | 4–2 | Oldham Athletic | Rochdale |
| Constantine Hanson | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4097 |
| 15 September 1945 (1945-09-15)4 | Oldham Athletic | 2–1 | Rochdale | Oldham |
| Taylor | Stadium:Boundary Park Attendance: 6278 |
| 22 September 1945 (1945-09-22)5 | Stockport County | 7–0 | Rochdale | Stockport |
| Stadium:Edgeley Park Attendance: 4993 |
| 29 September 1945 (1945-09-29)6 | Rochdale | 4–2 | Stockport County | Rochdale |
| Livesey Hanson A. Jones | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3724 |
| 6 October 1945 (1945-10-06)7 | Southport | 1–2 | Rochdale | Southport |
| Hargreaves | Stadium:Haig Avenue Attendance: 3500 |
| 13 October 1945 (1945-10-13)8 | Rochdale | 5–0 | Southport | Rochdale |
| Hargreaves Hanson | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4804 |
| 20 October 1945 (1945-10-20)9 | Rochdale | 3–1 | Chester | Rochdale |
| Hargreaves Brindle | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6693 |
| 27 October 1945 (1945-10-27)10 | Chester | 3–3 | Rochdale | Chester |
| Brindle A. Jones | Stadium:Sealand Road Attendance: 4123 |
| 3 November 1945 (1945-11-03)11 | Rochdale | 3–0 | Barrow | Rochdale |
| Cunliffe Hargreaves A. Jones | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4133 |
| 10 November 1945 (1945-11-10)12 | Barrow | 2–1 | Rochdale | Barrow-in-Furness |
| Brindle | Stadium:Holker Street Attendance: 4387 |
| 1 December 1945 (1945-12-01)13 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–4 | Rochdale | Crewe |
| Brindle Makin | Stadium:Gresty Road Attendance: 3500 |
| 22 December 1945 (1945-12-22)14 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–2 | Rochdale | Birkenhead |
| Duff Hargreaves | Stadium:Prenton Park Attendance: 3000 |
| 25 December 1945 (1945-12-25)15 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Accrington Stanley | Rochdale |
| Brindle | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7614 |
| 26 December 1945 (1945-12-26)16 | Accrington Stanley | 4–2 | Rochdale | Accrington |
| Duff | Stadium:Peel Park Attendance: 8043 |
| 29 December 1945 (1945-12-29)17 | Rochdale | 3–2 | Crewe Alexandra | Rochdale |
| Hargreaves Duff Toseland | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6849 |
| 12 January 1946 (1946-01-12)18 | Rochdale | 1–3 | Southport | Rochdale |
| Toseland | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4377 |
| 19 January 1946 (1946-01-19)19 | Chester | 2–0 | Rochdale | Chester |
| Stadium:Sealand Road Attendance: 1500 |
| 26 January 1946 (1946-01-26)20 | Rochdale | 6–1 | Chester | Rochdale |
| Walters Wood Woods Makin | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2500 |
| 2 February 1946 (1946-02-02)21 | Rochdale | 2–3 | Stockport County | Rochdale |
| Wood Burrows | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3416 |
| 9 February 1946 (1946-02-09)22 | Stockport County | 2–2 | Rochdale | Stockport |
| Cunliffe Makin | Stadium:Edgeley Park Attendance: 6500 |
| 16 February 1946 (1946-02-16)23 | Rochdale | 2–2 | Crewe Alexandra | Rochdale |
| Wood | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3816 |
| 23 February 1946 (1946-02-23)24 | Crewe Alexandra | 3–1 | Rochdale | Crewe |
| Hargreaves | Stadium:Gresty Road Attendance: 3880 |
| 2 March 1946 (1946-03-02)25 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Wrexham | Rochdale |
| Hargreaves | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3775 |
| 9 March 1946 (1946-03-09)26 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Rochdale | Wrexham |
| Hargreaves | Stadium:Racecourse Ground Attendance: 6800 |
| 16 March 1946 (1946-03-16)27 | Southport | 0–2 | Rochdale | Southport |
| Hargreaves Cunliffe | Stadium:Haig Avenue Attendance: 3500 |
| 23 March 1946 (1946-03-23)28 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Barrow | Rochdale |
| Makin Wood | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2100 |
| 30 March 1946 (1946-03-30)29 | Barrow | 1–2 | Rochdale | Barrow-in-Furness |
| Rodi Hargreaves | Stadium:Holker Street Attendance: 4014 |
| 6 April 1946 (1946-04-06)30 | Rochdale | 2–3 | Lincoln City | Rochdale |
| Rodi Hargreaves | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4128 |
| 13 April 1946 (1946-04-13)31 | Lincoln City | 1–2 | Rochdale | Lincoln |
| Rodi McCormick | Stadium:Sincil Bank Attendance: 4942 |
| 19 April 1946 (1946-04-19)32 | Rochdale | 0–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Rochdale |
| Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3243 |
| 20 April 1946 (1946-04-20)33 | Rochdale | 3–1 | Oldham Athletic | Rochdale |
| Cunliffe Hargreaves Wood | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4200 |
| 22 April 1946 (1946-04-22)34 | Oldham Athletic | 0–4 | Rochdale | Oldham |
| Hargreaves Cunliffe Rodi | Stadium:Boundary Park Attendance: 5800 |
| 27 April 1946 (1946-04-27)35 | Southport | 2–0 | Rochdale | Southport |
| Stadium:Haig Avenue Attendance: 1200 |
| 4 May 1946 (1946-05-04)36 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Southport | Rochdale |
| Rodi Wood | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3191 |
| 17 November 1945 (1945-11-17)1 | Stockport County | 1–2 | Rochdale | Stockport |
| Shaw | Report | Brindle Woods | Stadium:Edgeley Park Attendance: 6000 |
| 24 November 1945 (1945-11-24)1 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Stockport County | Rochdale |
| Hargreaves | Report | Hyde | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6158 |
| 8 December 1945 (1945-12-08)2 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–1 | Rochdale | Birkenhead |
| Bell Rosenthal Atkinson | Report | Wood | Stadium:Prenton Park Attendance: 7000 |
| 15 December 1945 (1945-12-15)2 | Rochdale | 3–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Rochdale |
| Hargreaves Makin | Report | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6500 |
| 5 January 1946 (1946-01-05)3 | Bury | 3–3 | Rochdale | Bury |
| Davies Halton | Report | Cunliffe Hargreaves Reynolds | Stadium:Gigg Lane Attendance: 13248 |
| 8 January 1946 (1946-01-08)3 | Rochdale | 2–4 | Bury | Rochdale |
| Hargreaves | Report | Davies Tompkin Jones Moss | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 8712 |
| 5 September 1945 (1945-09-05)1 | Manchester United | 5–1 | Rochdale | Manchester |
| Constantine | Stadium:Maine Road |
| 1 January 1946 (1946-01-01)1 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Manchester United | Rochdale |
| Brindle Hargreaves | Stadium:Spotland Stadium |