| 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 |
The1971–72 season wasRochdale A.F.C.'s 65th in existence and their 3rd consecutive in theFootball League Third Division.
| 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 | Rod Jones | 11 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | ||
| DF | Ronnie Blair | 38 | 1 | 29+1 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Derek Ryder | 40 | 0 | 32+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Graham Smith | 52 | 0 | 44+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Colin Parry | 36 | 1 | 28+2 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Joe Ashworth | 16 | 1 | 12+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Tony Buck | 34 | 5 | 24+3 | 4 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Reg Jenkins | 27 | 8 | 20+0 | 6 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| FW | David Cross | 14 | 10 | 10+0 | 8 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Bobby Downes | 41 | 1 | 35+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Dennis Butler | 22 | 0 | 17+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Peter Gowans | 42 | 10 | 36+2 | 9 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Norman Whitehead | 35 | 4 | 27+0 | 4 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Paul Clarke | 6 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Tony Godfrey | 44 | 0 | 41+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Hughen Riley | 6 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Len Kinsella | 39 | 3 | 32+3 | 3 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Alf Arrowsmith | 18 | 4 | 13+2 | 2 | 1+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Malcolm Darling | 36 | 6 | 30+4 | 6 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Arthur Marsh | 28 | 0 | 28+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Jack Howarth | 21 | 8 | 21+0 | 8 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Lee Brogden | 16 | 1 | 15+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||
| 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 theCup 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 |
| 14 August 1971 (1971-08-14)1 | Notts County | 4–0 | Rochdale | Nottingham |
| Mansley Masson Stubbs Hateley | Report | Ashworth | Stadium:Meadow Lane Attendance: 10879 |
| 21 August 1971 (1971-08-21)2 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Mansfield Town | Rochdale |
| Cross Jenkins | Report | Ryder | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3554 |
| 28 August 1971 (1971-08-28)3 | Aston Villa | 2–0 | Rochdale | Aston |
| Lochhead Graydon | Report | Stadium:Villa Park Attendance: 24280 |
| 3 September 1971 (1971-09-03)4 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Rochdale |
| Cross Ashworth | Report | Beamish | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3691 Referee: H Williams |
| 11 September 1971 (1971-09-11)5 | Bournemouth | 4–1 | Rochdale | Bournemouth |
| Boyer MacDougall | Report | Cross | 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 | Report | Fryatt | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 10926 |
| 25 September 1971 (1971-09-25)8 | Barnsley | 3–3 | Rochdale | Barnsley |
| Seal Millar Waddell | Report | Jenkins Cross | Stadium:Oakwell Attendance: 5805 |
| 27 September 1971 (1971-09-27)9 | Rochdale | 3–2 | Plymouth Argyle | Rochdale |
| Kinsella Cross Davey | 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 Arrowsmith Gowans Whitehead | Report | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4551 |
| 9 October 1971 (1971-10-09)11 | Blackburn Rovers | 3–0 | Rochdale | Blackburn |
| Shanahan McDonald | Report | Stadium:Ewood Park Attendance: 8492 |
| 16 October 1971 (1971-10-16)12 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Notts County | Rochdale |
| Darling | Report | Bradd | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4848 |
| 19 October 1971 (1971-10-19)13 | Halifax Town | 2–2 | Rochdale | Halifax |
| Brierley Farley Robertson | Report | Kinsella | Stadium:The Shay Attendance: 3288 |
| 23 October 1971 (1971-10-23)14 | Rochdale | 3–1 | Bristol Rovers | Rochdale |
| Whitehead Downes Buck | Report | Stephens | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4753 |
| 30 October 1971 (1971-10-30)15 | Swansea City | 1–0 | Rochdale | Swansea |
| Gwyther | Report | Stadium:Vetch Field Attendance: 7743 |
| 6 November 1971 (1971-11-06)16 | Rochdale | 0–2 | Chesterfield | Rochdale |
| Report | Wilson | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4818 |
| 13 November 1971 (1971-11-13)17 | Wrexham | 1–3 | Rochdale | Wrexham |
| Tinnion | Report | Whitehead Buck | 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 Gowans | Report | Bentley | 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 McNeill Robins | Report | Gowans | Stadium:Boundary Park Attendance: 8885 |
| 8 January 1972 (1972-01-08)23 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Aston Villa | Rochdale |
| Whitehead | Report | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5874 |
| 22 January 1972 (1972-01-22)24 | Plymouth Argyle | 4–1 | Rochdale | Plymouth |
| Hinch Rickard Hutchins | Report | Darling | Stadium:Home Park Attendance: 9187 |
| 29 January 1972 (1972-01-29)25 | Rochdale | 3–2 | Halifax Town | Rochdale |
| Parry Howarth | Report | Atkins Wallace | 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 Bannister Jones Prince | Report | Darling | Stadium:Eastville Stadium Attendance: 7344 |
| 19 February 1972 (1972-02-19)28 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Swansea Town | Rochdale |
| Arrowsmith | Report | Slattery | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3097 Referee: V James |
| 26 February 1972 (1972-02-26)29 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Rochdale | Chesterfield |
| Randall Wilson | Report | Stadium:Saltergate Recreation Ground Attendance: 6599 |
| 4 March 1972 (1972-03-04)30 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Wrexham | Rochdale |
| Davies | Report | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2643 Referee: NP Paget |
| 11 March 1972 (1972-03-11)31 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers | Rochdale |
| Howarth Gowans | Report | Field | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6542 |
| 13 March 1972 (1972-03-13)32 | Rochdale | 3–2 | Port Vale | Rochdale |
| Howarth Gowans | Report | James Parry | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3157 |
| 18 March 1972 (1972-03-18)33 | Mansfield Town | 3–1 | Rochdale | Mansfield |
| Fairbrother Wignall Saunders | Report | Darling | 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 | Report | MacDougall | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4437 |
| 1 April 1972 (1972-04-01)36 | Bradford City | 1–1 | Rochdale | Bradford |
| O'Neill | Report | Brogden | 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 Andrews | Report | Blair | 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 Swift Mielczarek Ham | Report | Gowans | 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 | Report | Napier Beamish | 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 | Report | Jenkins | Stadium:Vale Park Attendance: 2475 |
| 20 November 1971 (1971-11-20)1 | Rochdale | 1–3 | Barnsley | Rochdale |
| Arrowsmith | Report | Winstanley Seal | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5185 |
| 18 August 1971 (1971-08-18)1 | Halifax Town | 1–1 | Rochdale | Halifax |
| Lennard | Report | Rhodes | Stadium:The Shay Attendance: 5195 |
| 24 August 1971 (1971-08-24)1 | Rochdale | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Halifax Town | Rochdale |
| Cross | Report | Chadwick Atkins | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6016 |
| 31 August 1971 (1971-08-31)1 | Rochdale | 0–2 | Halifax Town | Rochdale |
| Report | Wallace Brierley | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5718 |
| 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 |
| 31 July 1971 (1971-07-31) | Oldham Athletic | 4–0 | Rochdale | Oldham |
| Stadium:Boundary Park Attendance: 4946 |