1972–73 Rochdale A.F.C. season

Rochdale 1972–73 football season

Rochdale
1972–73 season
Manager	Dick Conner
League Division Three	13th
FA Cup	1st Round
League Cup	1st Round
Top goalscorer	League: Malcolm Darling Reg Jenkins All: Malcolm Darling Reg Jenkins
← 1971–72 1973–74 →

The 1972–73 season saw Rochdale compete for their 4th 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	Gordon Morritt	33	0	31+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Graham Smith	53	1	45+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	4+0	1	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Bobby Downes	34	1	27+2	1	0+0	0	2+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Peter Gowans	52	6	44+0	6	1+0	0	2+0	0	4+0	0	0+1	0
	DF	ENG	Colin Blant	47	0	42+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Len Kinsella	50	0	43+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Dennis Butler	5	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Malcolm Darling	53	12	45+0	8	1+0	0	2+0	1	4+0	2	0+1	1
	FW	ENG	Jack Howarth	25	5	19+0	4	1+0	0	2+0	0	2+0	1	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Reg Jenkins	31	11	22+3	8	1+0	1	2+0	0	2+0	2	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Keith Bebbington	44	3	34+3	3	1+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0	0+1	0
	DF	ENG	Arthur Marsh	43	0	36+1	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	4+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Lee Brogden	31	3	26+2	3	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+1	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Tony Buck	8	1	3+2	1	0+1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Dick Renwick	47	0	41+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Barry Bradbury	6	0	4+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	ENG	Harry Wainman	10	0	9+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Jim Bowie	5	0	1+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	ENG	Rod Jones	9	0	6+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Paul Fielding	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Bill Atkins	22	7	21+0	7	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Charlie Simpson	2	1	1+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Leo Skeete	3	3	3+0	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Dave Hunt	3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+1	0	0+0	0
	GK	ENG	Mike Poole	2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0

Final League Table

Main article: 1972–73 Football League Third Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts
11	Charlton Athletic	46	12	7	4	46	24	5	4	14	23	43	1.030	45
12	Wrexham	46	11	9	3	39	23	3	8	12	16	31	1.019	45
13	Rochdale	46	8	8	7	22	26	6	9	8	26	28	0.889	45
14	Southend United	46	13	6	4	40	14	4	4	15	21	40	1.130	44
15	Shrewsbury Town	46	10	10	3	31	21	5	4	14	15	33	0.852	44

Source: rsssf.com

Competitions

Football League Third Division

Main article: 1972–73 Football League Rochdale v Port Vale

12 August 1972 (1972 -08-12) 1	Rochdale	0–0	Port Vale	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2661

Blackburn Rovers v Rochdale

19 August 1972 (1972 -08-19) 2	Blackburn Rovers	1–1	Rochdale	Blackburn
	Endean 56'	Report	Howarth 83'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 6172

Rochdale v Charlton Athletic

26 August 1972 (1972 -08-26) 3	Rochdale	0–2	Charlton Athletic	Rochdale
		Report	Horsfield 7' Peacock 75'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2584

Southend United v Rochdale

28 August 1972 (1972 -08-28) 4	Southend United	1–2	Rochdale	Southend-on-Sea
	Moore 90'	Report	Jenkins 11' Howarth 30'	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 8862

Swansea City v Rochdale

2 September 1972 (1972 -09-02) 5	Swansea City	2–3	Rochdale	Swansea
	Williams 20' Evans 79'	Report	Jenkins 48' Gowans 69' Howarth 80'	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 2457

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

9 September 1972 (1972 -09-09) 6	Rochdale	1–1	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
	Jenkins 25'	Report	Crossley 28'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2326

Notts County v Rochdale

16 September 1972 (1972 -09-16) 7	Notts County	2–2	Rochdale	Nottingham
	Needham 36' Nixon 88'	Report	Brogden 48' Gowans 74'	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 7991 Referee: AP Oliver

Scunthorpe United v Rochdale

19 September 1972 (1972 -09-19) 8	Scunthorpe United	1–2	Rochdale	Scunthorpe
	McDonald	Report	Darling	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 3710

Rochdale v Wrexham

23 September 1972 (1972 -09-23) 9	Rochdale	1–0	Wrexham	Rochdale
	Brogden 88'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3412

Rochdale v Walsall

25 September 1972 (1972 -09-25) 10	Rochdale	2–1	Walsall	Rochdale
	Brogden Bebbington	Report	Morris	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4749 Referee: H Davey

Grimsby Town v Rochdale

30 September 1972 (1972 -09-30) 11	Grimsby Town	1–0	Rochdale	Cleethorpes
	Worthington 65'	Report		Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 12173

Rochdale v Watford

7 October 1972 (1972 -10-07) 12	Rochdale	1–0	Watford	Rochdale
	Franks 64' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3871

Rochdale v Halifax Town

9 October 1972 (1972 -10-09) 13	Rochdale	0–0	Halifax Town	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5425

Shrewsbury Town v Rochdale

14 October 1972 (1972 -10-14) 14	Shrewsbury Town	3–2	Rochdale	Shrewsbury
	Hughes 20' Bridgwood 49' Blant 88' (o.g.)	Report	Darling 21' Jenkins 51' (pen.)	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 2502

Rochdale v Bolton Wanderers

21 October 1972 (1972 -10-21) 15	Rochdale	2–2	Bolton Wanderers	Rochdale
	Gowans 28' Jenkins 47'	Report	Byrom 44' Nicholson 78'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7168 Referee: DW Smith

Bournemouth v Rochdale

24 October 1972 (1972 -10-24) 16	Bournemouth	4–2	Rochdale	Bournemouth
	Boyer Gabriel Machin	Report	Bebbington Gowans	Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 11741

Brentford v Rochdale

28 October 1972 (1972 -10-28) 17	Brentford	1–0	Rochdale	Brentford
	Docherty 5'	Report		Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 9201

Walsall v Rochdale

4 November 1972 (1972 -11-04) 18	Walsall	0–2	Rochdale	Walsall
		Report	Howarth 84' Jenkins 86'	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 5682 Referee: KE Walker

Rochdale v Scunthorpe United

11 November 1972 (1972 -11-11) 19	Rochdale	0–2	Scunthorpe United	Rochdale
		Report	Heath 21' Kirk 58'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2551

Rochdale v Chesterfield

25 November 1972 (1972 -11-25) 20	Rochdale	1–2	Chesterfield	Rochdale
	Buck 84'	Report	Large 41' Smith 48' (o.g.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1982

Rotherham United v Rochdale

2 December 1972 (1972 -12-02) 21	Rotherham United	0–0	Rochdale	Rotherham
		Report		Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 4590

Rochdale v Bristol Rovers

9 December 1972 (1972 -12-09) 22	Rochdale	0–0	Bristol Rovers	Rochdale
		Report	Taylor 79'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1792

Rochdale v Oldham Athletic

23 December 1972 (1972 -12-23) 23	Rochdale	0–0	Oldham Athletic	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6702

Wrexham v Rochdale

26 December 1972 (1972 -12-26) 24	Wrexham	3–3	Rochdale	Wrexham
	Ashcroft 49', 64' May 58'	Report	Atkins 23', 42' Darling 39'	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 3958

Rochdale v Blackburn Rovers

30 December 1972 (1972 -12-30) 25	Rochdale	0–1	Blackburn Rovers	Rochdale
		Report	Field 28'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5116

Charlton Athletic v Rochdale

6 January 1973 (1973 -01-06) 26	Charlton Athletic	1–0	Rochdale	London
	Horsfield 38'	Report		Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 5048

Rochdale v Bournemouth

29 January 1973 (1973 -01-29) 27	Rochdale	1–0	Bournemouth	Rochdale
	Darling	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3575

Halifax Town v Rochdale

3 February 1973 (1973 -02-03) 28	Halifax Town	0–0	Rochdale	Halifax
		Report		Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 2422

Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale

6 February 1973 (1973 -02-06) 29	Tranmere Rovers	0–1	Rochdale	Birkenhead
		Report	Atkins	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 8329

Rochdale v Notts County

10 February 1973 (1973 -02-10) 30	Rochdale	4–1	Notts County	Rochdale
	Jenkins 33', 88' Downes 43' Brindley 76' (o.g.)	Report	Nixon 32'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3092

Rochdale v Plymouth Argyle

24 February 1973 (1973 -02-24) 31	Rochdale	0–6	Plymouth Argyle	Rochdale
		Report	Rickard 23', 54 ' Welsh 26', 75' Provan 31' (pen.) Latcham 66'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2622

Watford v Rochdale

2 March 1973 (1973 -03-02) 32	Watford	0–0	Rochdale	Watford
		Report		Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 5338

Bristol Rovers v Rochdale

6 March 1973 (1973 -03-06) 33	Bristol Rovers	0–0	Rochdale	Bristol
		Report		Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 11767

Rochdale v Shrewsbury Town

10 March 1973 (1973 -03-10) 34	Rochdale	1–1	Shrewsbury Town	Rochdale
	Darling 16'	Report	Calloway 73'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2195

Rochdale v Swansea City

12 March 1973 (1973 -03-12) 35	Rochdale	1–1	Swansea City	Rochdale
	Darling 81'	Report	Gwyther 79'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2037

Bolton Wanderers v Rochdale

17 March 1973 (1973 -03-17) 36	Bolton Wanderers	2–1	Rochdale	Bolton
	Byrom 51' Jones 68'	Report	Atkins 6'	Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 18154 Referee: R Tinkler

Rochdale v York City

19 March 1973 (1973 -03-19) 37	Rochdale	1–0	York City	Rochdale
	Bebbington	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2100

Rochdale v Brentford

24 March 1973 (1973 -03-24) 38	Rochdale	0–1	Brentford	Rochdale
		Report	Allen 35'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1747

Chesterfield v Rochdale

31 March 1973 (1973 -03-31) 39	Chesterfield	2–1	Rochdale	Chesterfield
	Sinclair 44' Large 87'	Report	Simpson 13'	Stadium: Saltergate Recreation Ground Attendance: 3576

Rochdale v Rotherham United

7 April 1973 (1973 -04-07) 40	Rochdale	0–1	Rotherham United	Rochdale
		Report	Mullen 20'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1588

Port Vale v Rochdale

9 April 1973 (1973 -04-09) 41	Port Vale	0–0	Rochdale	Stoke-on-Trent
		Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6413

York City v Rochdale

14 April 1973 (1973 -04-14) 42	York City	1–2	Rochdale	York
	Stone 1'	Report	Gowans 51' Atkins 54'	Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 2387

Oldham Athletic v Rochdale

20 April 1973 (1973 -04-20) 43	Oldham Athletic	0–0	Rochdale	Oldham
		Report		Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 9829

Rochdale v Grimsby Town

23 April 1973 (1973 -04-23) 44	Rochdale	3–2	Grimsby Town	Rochdale
	Wigginton (o.g.) Atkins Skeete	Report	Hubbard Brace	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1911

Rochdale v Southend United

28 April 1973 (1973 -04-28) 45	Rochdale	3–2	Southend United	Rochdale
	Darling 67' Skeete 78' Atkins 87'	Report	Best 26' Johnson 88'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2081 Referee: R Capey

Plymouth Argyle v Rochdale

1 May 1973 (1973 -05-01) 46	Plymouth Argyle	3–2	Rochdale	Plymouth
	Hague Hore	Report	Skeete Gowans	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 9917

F.A. Cup

Main article: 1972–73 FA Cup Rochdale v Bangor City

18 November 1972 (1972 -11-18) 1	Rochdale	1–2	Bangor City	Rochdale
	Jenkins 33' (pen.)	Report	Brodie Marsden	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3181

League Cup

Main article: 1972–73 Football League Cup Blackburn Rovers v Rochdale

16 August 1972 (1972 -08-16) 1	Blackburn Rovers	0–1	Rochdale	Blackburn
		Report	Darling 67'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 6292

Manchester City v Rochdale

6 September 1972 (1972 -09-06) 2	Manchester City	4–0	Rochdale	Manchester
	Marsh Lee Bell	Report		Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 17222

Lancashire Cup

Rochdale v Manchester City

16 October 1972 (1972 -10-16) 2	Rochdale	1–1	Manchester City	Rochdale
	Smith			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1521

Manchester City v Rochdale

8 November 1972 (1972 -11-08) 2	Manchester City	2–4	Rochdale	Manchester
			Howarth Darling Jenkins	Stadium: Maine Road

Rochdale v Bury

13 December 1972 (1972 -12-13) 3	Rochdale	0–0	Bury	Rochdale
				Stadium: Spotland Stadium

Bury v Rochdale

13 January 1973 (1973 -01-13) 3	Bury	5–1	Rochdale	Bury
			Darling	Stadium: Gigg Lane

Rose Bowl

Rochdale v Oldham Athletic

28 July 1972 (1972 -07-28)	Rochdale	1–2	Oldham Athletic	Rochdale
	Darling			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2973

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
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1972–73 in English football

« 1971–72 1973–74 »

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 North, One South)
Levels 7–9	Athenian League (Premier, One, Two) Cheshire County League (level 7 only) Eastern Counties League (level 7 only) Essex Senior League (level 7 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One, Two) 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 (Premier, One, Two) 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 Birmingham City Chelsea Coventry City Crystal Palace Derby County Everton Ipswich Town Leeds United Leicester City Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Norwich City Queens Park Rangers Sheffield United Southampton Stoke City Tottenham Hotspur Wolverhampton Wanderers
Second Division	Aston Villa Blackpool Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol City Burnley Cardiff City Carlisle United Fulham Huddersfield Town Hull City Leyton Orient Luton Town Middlesbrough Millwall Nottingham Forest Oxford United Portsmouth Preston North End Sheffield Wednesday Sunderland Swindon Town West Bromwich Albion West Ham United
Third Division	Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Bournemouth Brentford Bristol Rovers Charlton Athletic Chesterfield Grimsby Town Halifax Town Notts County Oldham Athletic Plymouth Argyle Port Vale Rochdale Rotherham United Scunthorpe United Shrewsbury Town Southend United Swansea City Tranmere Rovers Walsall Watford Wrexham York City
Fourth Division	Aldershot Barnsley Bradford City Bury Cambridge United Chester Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Darlington Doncaster Rovers Exeter City Gillingham Hartlepool United Hereford United Lincoln City Mansfield Town Newport County Northampton Town Peterborough United Reading Southport Stockport County Torquay United Workington

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