1970–71 Rochdale A.F.C. season

Rochdale 1970–71 football season

Rochdale
1970–71 season
Manager	Dick Conner
League Division Three	16th
FA Cup	4th Round
League Cup	2nd Round
Top goalscorer	League: Reg Jenkins All: Reg Jenkins
← 1969–70 1971–72 →

The 1970–71 season saw Rochdale compete for their second consecutive season in the Football League Third Division. The season also saw Rochdale win the Lancashire Cup for the first time since 1949.

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	Tony Godfrey	39	0	30+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Graham Smith	45	2	31+0	1	5+0	0	3+0	1	5+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Derek Ryder	60	0	44+0	0	5+0	0	3+0	0	7+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Hughen Riley	57	5	41+1	4	5+0	0	3+0	0	5+1	1	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Colin Parry	46	0	35+0	0	5+0	0	1+0	0	4+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Joe Ashworth	53	2	38+0	0	5+0	1	3+0	0	6+0	1	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Norman Whitehead	61	6	45+0	4	5+0	0	3+0	1	7+0	1	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Alf Arrowsmith	37	17	27+4	12	1+0	2	1+0	0	3+0	2	1+0	1
	FW	ENG	Reg Jenkins	42	19	28+2	13	1+0	0	3+0	2	7+0	4	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Peter Gowans	44	6	31+2	5	1+0	0	3+0	1	6+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Dennis Butler	39	10	29+1	8	3+0	1	1+0	0	3+1	1	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	David Cross	44	13	30+3	9	4+1	1	2+1	0	2+0	2	0+1	1
	DF	ENG	Paul Clarke	4	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
	DF	NIR	Ronnie Blair	47	2	33+3	1	2+1	1	2+0	0	6+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Bobby Downes	49	1	35+2	0	5+0	1	2+0	0	5+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	ENG	Dave Tennant	23	0	16+0	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	4+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	WAL	Dave Pearson	4	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Tony Buck	12	3	4+3	1	3+0	2	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Vince Leech	4	0	3+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

Final League Table

Main article: 1970–71 Football League Third Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
14	Brighton & Hove Albion	46	14	16	16	50	47	1.064	44
15	Plymouth Argyle	46	12	19	15	63	63	1.000	43
16	Rochdale	46	14	15	17	61	68	0.897	43
17	Port Vale	46	15	12	19	52	59	0.881	42
18	Tranmere Rovers	46	10	22	14	45	55	0.818	42

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Competitions

Football League Third Division

Main article: 1970–71 Football League Rochdale v Bristol Rovers

15 August 1970 (1970 -08-15) 1	Rochdale	1–1	Bristol Rovers	Rochdale
	Butler 36'	Report	Jarman 60'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4628

Port Vale v Rochdale

22 August 1970 (1970 -08-22) 2	Port Vale	4–1	Rochdale	Stoke-on-Trent
	James 16' Morris 26' McLaren 27', 89'	Report	Jenkins 73' (pen.)	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6196

Rochdale v Bradford City

29 August 1970 (1970 -08-29) 3	Rochdale	0–0	Bradford City	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5600

Rochdale v Doncaster Rovers

31 August 1970 (1970 -08-31) 4	Rochdale	1–0	Doncaster Rovers	Rochdale
	Robertson (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3551

Torquay United v Rochdale

4 September 1970 (1970 -09-04) 5	Torquay United	3–0	Rochdale	Torquay
	Welsh Jackson	Report		Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 6165

Rochdale v Fulham

12 September 1970 (1970 -09-12) 6	Rochdale	1–2	Fulham	Rochdale
	Gowans 20'	Report	Barrett 9' Conway 70'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4429

Rotherham United v Rochdale

19 September 1970 (1970 -09-19) 7	Rotherham United	5–1	Rochdale	Rotherham
	Watson 13', 70', 82' Fantham 29' Brogden 77'	Report	Butler 34'	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 6928

Rochdale v Reading

26 September 1970 (1970 -09-26) 8	Rochdale	1–2	Reading	Rochdale
	Jenkins 62'	Report	Cumming 41' (Pen.) Williams 86'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3840

Mansfield Town v Rochdale

3 October 1970 (1970 -10-03) 9	Mansfield Town	3–2	Rochdale	Mansfield
	Stenson 34', 65' Jones 89'	Report	Butler 75' Jenkins 90'	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 7038 Referee: BJ Homewood

Rochdale v Aston Villa

10 October 1970 (1970 -10-10) 10	Rochdale	1–1	Aston Villa	Rochdale
	Jenkins 23'	Report	Lochhead 10'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7537

Bristol Rovers v Rochdale

17 October 1970 (1970 -10-17) 11	Bristol Rovers	2–2	Rochdale	Bristol
	Stubbs 37' Jones 45'	Report	Jenkins 81' Sheppard 85' (o.g.)	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 11794 Referee: G Hartley

Brighton & Hove Albion v Rochdale

21 October 1970 (1970 -10-21) 12	Brighton & Hove Albion	1–1	Rochdale	Brighton and Hove
	O'Sullivan	Report	Arrowsmith	Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 7551

Rochdale v Barnsley

24 October 1970 (1970 -10-24) 13	Rochdale	1–0	Barnsley	Rochdale
	Arrowsmith 36'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5462 Referee: RB Lee

Walsall v Rochdale

31 October 1970 (1970 -10-31) 14	Walsall	0–3	Rochdale	Walsall
		Report	Arrowsmith 17' Butler 45' Gowans 65'	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 4667 Referee: L Callaghan

Rochdale v Plymouth Argyle

2 November 1970 (1970 -11-02) 15	Rochdale	1–1	Plymouth Argyle	Rochdale
	Whitehead	Report	Rickard	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5033

Rochdale v Wrexham

7 November 1970 (1970 -11-07) 16	Rochdale	4–1	Wrexham	Rochdale
	Smith 10' Gowans 37' Riley 78' Arrowsmith 87'	Report	Griffiths	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4591

Rochdale v Gillingham

10 November 1970 (1970 -11-10) 17	Rochdale	0–1	Gillingham	Rochdale
		Report	Watson	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3291

Preston North End v Rochdale

14 November 1970 (1970 -11-14) 18	Preston North End	3–1	Rochdale	Preston
	Wilson 20' Ham 40' Lyall 87'	Report	Whitehead 49'	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 13451

Swansea Town v Rochdale

28 November 1970 (1970 -11-28) 19	Swansea Town	4–2	Rochdale	Swansea
	A. Williams 25' (pen.) Allchurch 40' H. Williams 47' Nurse 89'	Report	Cross 67' Whitehead 80'	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 7178 Referee: KE Walker

Rochdale v Shrewsbury Town

5 December 1970 (1970 -12-05) 20	Rochdale	1–2	Shrewsbury Town	Rochdale
	Jenkins 83'	Report	Harkin 18' Andrews 88'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3217 Referee: ME Washer

Rochdale v Port Vale

19 December 1970 (1970 -12-19) 21	Rochdale	0–3	Port Vale	Rochdale
		Report	James 7' Summerscales 39' Morris 75'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3619 Referee: TP Gill

Halifax Town v Rochdale

26 December 1970 (1970 -12-26) 22	Halifax Town	1–4	Rochdale	Halifax
	Brierley 18'	Report	Butler 35', 63', 69' Cross 37'	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 5584 Referee: A Bone

Plymouth Argyle v Rochdale

9 January 1971 (1971 -01-09) 23	Plymouth Argyle	2–2	Rochdale	Plymouth
	Davey 69' Sullivan 90'	Report	Whitehead 48' Buck 53'	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 6140

Rochdale v Brighton & Hove Albion

16 January 1971 (1971 -01-16) 24	Rochdale	3–3	Brighton & Hove Albion	Rochdale
	Riley 6', 23', 80'	Report	Wilkinson 4' Gilliver 21', 40'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4938 Referee: RE Raby

Rochdale v Swansea Town

30 January 1971 (1971 -01-30) 25	Rochdale	0–0	Swansea Town	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3220

Shrewsbury Town v Rochdale

6 February 1971 (1971 -02-06) 26	Shrewsbury Town	0–2	Rochdale	Shrewsbury
		Report	Cross 1', 21'	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 3759 Referee: R Capey

Chesterfield v Rochdale

10 February 1971 (1971 -02-10) 27	Chesterfield	1–1	Rochdale	Chesterfield
	Cliff	Report	Arrowsmith	Stadium: Saltergate Recreation Ground Attendance: 10466

Rochdale v Chesterfield

13 February 1971 (1971 -02-13) 28	Rochdale	2–0	Chesterfield	Rochdale
	Gowans 26' Arrowsmith 60'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3750

Gillingham v Rochdale

20 February 1971 (1971 -02-20) 29	Gillingham	0–0	Rochdale	Gillingham
		Report		Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 3979 Referee: WS Castle

Rochdale v Bury

22 February 1971 (1971 -02-22) 30	Rochdale	2–0	Bury	Rochdale
	Arrowsmith	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 9088

Rochdale v Walsall

27 February 1971 (1971 -02-27) 31	Rochdale	2–0	Walsall	Rochdale
	Jenkins 30' Arrowsmith 84'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4369 Referee: K Howley

Barnsley v Rochdale

6 March 1971 (1971 -03-06) 32	Barnsley	2–2	Rochdale	Barnsley
	Lea 17', 51'	Report	Arrowsmith 67' Gowans 89'	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 4872

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

8 March 1971 (1971 -03-08) 33	Rochdale	0–0	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4498 Referee: JE Thacker

Rochdale v Preston North End

13 March 1971 (1971 -03-13) 34	Rochdale	1–2	Preston North End	Rochdale
	Cross 89'	Report	Heppolette 18' Ingram 57'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 10345

Bury v Rochdale

16 March 1971 (1971 -03-16) 35	Bury	0–2	Rochdale	Bury
		Report	Blair Arrowsmith	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 8047

Wrexham v Rochdale

20 March 1971 (1971 -03-20) 36	Wrexham	3–1	Rochdale	Wrexham
	Provan 7', 56' Kinsey 39'	Report	Jenkins 16'	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 4152 Referee: WB Johnson

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

27 March 1971 (1971 -03-27) 37	Rochdale	2–0	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
	Jenkins 44' Cross 53'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3704 Referee: RB Kirkpatrick

Bradford City v Rochdale

3 April 1971 (1971 -04-03) 38	Bradford City	3–0	Rochdale	Bradford
	Middleton 67', 69' Bannister 88'	Report		Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 4536

Fulham v Rochdale

7 April 1971 (1971 -04-07) 39	Fulham	2–0	Rochdale	London
	Earle 53' Conway 76' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 10054

Rochdale v Halifax Town

10 April 1971 (1971 -04-10) 40	Rochdale	0–3	Halifax Town	Rochdale
		Report	Rhodes 27' Lennard 34' Atkins 42'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5756

Rochdale v Mansfield Town

12 April 1971 (1971 -04-12) 41	Rochdale	1–1	Mansfield Town	Rochdale
	Arrowsmith	Report	Roberts	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3898

Aston Villa v Rochdale

17 April 1971 (1971 -04-17) 42	Aston Villa	1–0	Rochdale	Aston
	Vowden 6'	Report		Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 18406 Referee: P Partridge

Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale

19 April 1971 (1971 -04-19) 43	Tranmere Rovers	0–2	Rochdale	Birkenhead
		Report	Jenkins 66', 73'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 3357

Rochdale v Rotherham United

24 April 1971 (1971 -04-24) 44	Rochdale	4–3	Rotherham United	Rochdale
	Cross 44' Jenkins 63', 80' (pen.) Mielczarek 87' (o.g.)	Report	Blair 70' (o.g.) Gilbert 77' Swift 89'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3561

Doncaster Rovers v Rochdale

27 April 1971 (1971 -04-27) 45	Doncaster Rovers	1–2	Rochdale	Doncaster
	Kitchen	Report	Butler Cross	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 2884

Reading v Rochdale

1 May 1971 (1971 -05-01) 46	Reading	1–1	Rochdale	Reading
	Wagstaff 82'	Report	Cross 66'	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 5746

F.A. Cup

Main article: 1970–71 FA Cup Rochdale v Oldham Athletic

21 November 1970 (1970 -11-21) 1	Rochdale	2–0	Oldham Athletic	Rochdale
	Arrowsmith 7', 50'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 13879 Referee: WB Johnson

Darlington v Rochdale

12 December 1970 (1970 -12-12) 2	Darlington	0–2	Rochdale	Darlington
		Report	Blair 44' Downes 88'	Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 5595

Rochdale v Coventry City

11 January 1971 (1971 -01-11) 3	Rochdale	2–1	Coventry City	Rochdale
	Cross 39' Butler 80'	Report	Hunt 51'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 13011 Referee: JE Thacker

Rochdale v Colchester United

23 January 1971 (1971 -01-23) 4	Rochdale	3–3	Colchester United	Rochdale
	Ashworth 27' Buck 54', 61'	Report	Crawford 4' Lewis 85' Simmons 86'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 12321 Referee: R Capey

Colchester United v Rochdale

25 January 1971 (1971 -01-25) 4	Colchester United	5–0	Rochdale	Colchester
	Lewis 42' Simmons 44' Parry 50' (o.g.) Crawford 70' Mahon 76'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 11205 Referee: R Capey

League Cup

Main article: 1970–71 Football League Cup Rochdale v Southport

19 August 1970 (1970 -08-19) 1	Rochdale	1–0	Southport	Rochdale
	Jenkins	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4057

Crystal Palace v Rochdale

9 September 1970 (1970 -09-09) 2	Crystal Palace	3–3	Rochdale	London
	Birchenall Jenkins (o.g.) Payne	Report	Jenkins Gowans Whitehead	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 16265

Rochdale v Crystal Palace

14 September 1970 (1970 -09-14) 2	Rochdale	1–3	Crystal Palace	Rochdale
	Smith	Report	Taylor Scott Queen	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 8911

Lancashire Cup

Burnley v Rochdale

16 September 1970 (1970 -09-16) 1	Burnley	1–1	Rochdale	Burnley
			Butler	Stadium: Turf Moor

Rochdale v Burnley

23 September 1970 (1970 -09-23) 1	Rochdale	1–0	Burnley	Rochdale
	Jenkins			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1802

Blackburn Rovers v Rochdale

13 October 1970 (1970 -10-13) 2	Blackburn Rovers	0–2	Rochdale	Blackburn
			Arrowsmith	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 561

Rochdale v Everton

3 February 1971 (1971 -02-03) 3	Rochdale	3–1	Everton	Rochdale
	Jenkins Riley			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1111

Chorley v Rochdale

4 March 1971 (1971 -03-04) SF	Chorley	0–0	Rochdale	Chorley
				Stadium: Victory Park

Rochdale v Chorley

29 March 1971 (1971 -03-29) SF	Rochdale	2–1	Chorley	Rochdale
	Jenkins Whitehead			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1410

Rochdale v Oldham Athletic

3 May 1971 (1971 -05-03) F	Rochdale	3–2	Oldham Athletic	Rochdale
	Cross Ashworth			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7003

Rose Bowl

Oldham Athletic v Rochdale

8 August 1970 (1970 -08-08)	Oldham Athletic	1–2	Rochdale	Oldham
			Arrowsmith Cross	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 5078

References

Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001 by Steven Phillipps. ISBN 1874427097
"The English National Football Archive". Enfa.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2022.

v t e Rochdale A.F.C. seasons
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 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 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

1970–71 in English football

« 1969–70 1971–72 »

National teams

League competitions

Levels 1–4	Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)
Levels 5–6	Isthmian League (level 5 only) Northern Premier League (level 5 only) Southern League (Premier, One)
Levels 7–9	Athenian League (Premier, One, Two) Cheshire County League (level 7 only) Eastern Counties League (level 7 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One) Kent League (level 7 only) Lancashire Combination (level 7 only) Midland Football Combination (level 7 only) Midland League (level 7 only) Northern League (level 7 only) South Midlands League (Premier, One) Spartan League (level 7 only) Sussex County League (One, Two) United Counties League (One, Two, Three) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 7 only) Western League (level 7 only) Yorkshire League (One, Two, Three)

Cup competitions

FA cups	FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final) Charity Shield FA Trophy (Final) FA Amateur Cup
Football League cups	League Cup (Final) Watney Cup

European competitions

Club seasons
First Division	Arsenal Blackpool Burnley Chelsea Coventry City Crystal Palace Derby County Everton Huddersfield Town Ipswich Town Leeds United Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Nottingham Forest Southampton Stoke City Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers
Second Division	Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Bristol City Cardiff City Carlisle United Charlton Athletic Hull City Leicester City Leyton Orient Luton Town Middlesbrough Millwall Norwich City Oxford United Portsmouth Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield United Sunderland Swindon Town Watford
Third Division	Aston Villa Barnsley Bradford City Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol Rovers Bury Chesterfield Doncaster Rovers Fulham Gillingham Halifax Town Mansfield Town Plymouth Argyle Preston North End Port Vale Reading Rochdale Rotherham United Shrewsbury Town Swansea City Torquay United Tranmere Rovers Walsall Wrexham
Fourth Division	Aldershot Barrow Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Brentford Cambridge United Chester Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Darlington Exeter City Grimsby Town Hartlepool United Lincoln City Newport County Northampton Town Notts County Oldham Athletic Peterborough United Scunthorpe United Southend United Southport Stockport County Workington York City

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