1973–74 Rochdale A.F.C. season

The 1973–74 season saw Rochdale compete for their 5th consecutive season in the Football League Third Division. They finished in 24th and last position and were relegated into the Football League Fourth Division

Rochdale
1973–74 season
ManagerWalter Joyce
League Division Three24th
FA Cup2nd Round
League Cup2nd Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Leo Skeete
All: Leo Skeete

Statistics

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No. Pos Nat Player Total Division 3 F.A. Cup League Cup Lancashire Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Rod Jones 9 0 8+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG Graham Smith 36 0 30+0 0 3+0 0 2+0 0 1+0 0
DF   ENG Keith Hanvey 43 3 39+0 2 2+0 1 2+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Steve Arnold 43 1 37+3 1 2+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG Arthur Marsh 30 1 25+0 0 3+0 1 1+0 0 1+0 0
MF   SCO Len Kinsella 9 1 7+0 1 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
FW   ENG Alan Taylor 42 3 36+0 1 3+0 1 2+0 1 1+0 0
MF   ENG Paul Brears 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
FW   ENG Bill Atkins 5 1 4+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 1 0+0 0
FW   SCO Malcolm Darling 8 3 7+0 2 0+0 0 1+0 1 0+0 0
MF   ENG Bobby Downes 48 5 41+1 4 3+0 1 2+0 0 1+0 0
FW   ENG Leo Skeete 32 10 26+1 9 3+0 0 2+0 1 0+0 0
MF   SCO Peter Gowans 32 1 25+4 1 2+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Paul Fielding 14 0 12+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG Colin Blant 10 0 9+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG Dick Renwick 10 0 7+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
GK   ENG Mike Poole 43 0 38+0 0 3+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
DF   SCO Jimmy Burt 4 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Keith Bebbington 28 3 23+0 3 3+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
FW   ENG Mike Brennan 30 3 26+1 3 0+1 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
MF   ENG Lee Brogden 17 5 7+6 3 3+0 2 0+0 0 1+0 0
DF   ENG Barry Bradbury 13 0 8+2 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Eamonn Kavanagh 4 0 2+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
FW   ENG Gary Cooper 6 0 6+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Stan Horne 27 3 27+0 3 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG Jimmy Grummett 20 2 18+2 2 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG Ian Buckley 6 0 6+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG David Seddon 8 0 8+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG David Carrick 10 3 10+0 3 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Don Tobin 10 0 7+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
DF   ENG Roger Denton 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Final League Table

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Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Port Vale 46 12 6 5 37 23 2 8 13 15 35 0.897 42
21 Cambridge United 46 11 7 5 36 27 2 2 19 12 54 0.593 35 Relegated
22 Shrewsbury Town 46 7 7 9 24 24 3 4 16 17 38 0.661 31
23 Southport 46 4 14 5 19 20 2 2 19 16 62 0.427 28
24 Rochdale 46 1 12 10 24 38 1 5 17 14 56 0.404 21
Source: rsssf.com

Competitions

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Football League Third Division

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25 August  1973 (1973 -08-25) 1 Rochdale 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Rochdale
Darling   54' Report Bridges   40' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2665
1 September  1973 (1973 -09-01) 2 Walsall 0–0 Rochdale Walsall
Report Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 5211
8 September  1973 (1973 -09-08) 3 Rochdale 0–1 Tranmere Rovers Rochdale
Report Loyden   50' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2749
11 September  1973 (1973 -09-11) 4 Plymouth Argyle 5–0 Rochdale Plymouth
Hore   5'
Rogers   38'
Mariner   55', 80'
Davey   68'
Report Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 7066
15 September  1973 (1973 -09-15) 5 Shrewsbury Town 2–0 Rochdale Shrewsbury
Tarbuck   61'
Durban   88'
Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 2516
17 September  1973 (1973 -09-17) 6 Rochdale 3–3 Bournemouth Rochdale
Hanvey  
Skeete  
Kinsella  
Report Machin  
Boyer  
Cave  
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2108
22 September  1973 (1973 -09-22) 7 Rochdale 2–2 Southport Rochdale
Darling   24'
Skeete   62'
Report Lee   33'
Molyneux   77'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2380
Referee: PN Willis
29 September  1973 (1973 -09-29) 8 Southend United 1–2 Rochdale Southend-on-Sea
Johnson   10' Report Arnold   23'
Taylor   55' (pen.)
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 5039
3 October  1973 (1973 -10-03) 9 Bournemouth 2–0 Rochdale Bournemouth
Powell  
Jones  
Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 8836
6 October  1973 (1973 -10-06) 10 Rochdale 1–1 Huddersfield Town Rochdale
Skeete   32' Report Hanvey   65' (o.g.) Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 3220
13 October  1973 (1973 -10-13) 11 Oldham Athletic 3–1 Rochdale Oldham
Edwards   14', 19 '
Blair   43'
Report Brennan   60' Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 7846
20 October  1973 (1973 -10-20) 12 Charlton Athletic 3–0 Rochdale London
Hales   20', 84'
Horsfield   88'
Report Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 5038
22 October  1973 (1973 -10-22) 13 Rochdale 1–3 Plymouth Argyle Rochdale
Downes   Report Welsh  
Davey  
Marsh   (o.g.)
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1437
27 October  1973 (1973 -10-27) 14 Rochdale 1–1 Grimsby Town Rochdale
Skeete   86' Report Hubbard   63' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1549
3 November  1973 (1973 -11-03) 15 Port Vale 3–1 Rochdale Stoke-on-Trent
Williams   14', 64'
Woodward   84'
Report Skeete   58 ' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3223
10 November  1973 (1973 -11-10) 16 Rochdale 1–3 Watford Rochdale
Brogden   38' Report Farley   6'
Lindsay   80', 89'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1459
17 November  1973 (1973 -11-17) 17 Wrexham 3–0 Rochdale Wrexham
Davies   13'
Smallman   55'
May   69'
Report Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 3793
8 December  1973 (1973 -12-08) 18 Rochdale 1–2 Blackburn Rovers Rochdale
Brogden   28' Report Field   60' (pen.), 80' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 3660
22 December  1973 (1973 -12-22) 19 Rochdale 1–1 Southend United Rochdale
Brogden   44' Report Guthrie   41' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1073
26 December  1973 (1973 -12-26) 20 Chesterfield 1–0 Rochdale Chesterfield
McHale   Report Stadium: Saltergate Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5775
29 December  1973 (1973 -12-29) 21 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 Rochdale Birkenhead
Crossley   Report Downes   (pen.) Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 2766
1 January  1974 (1974 -01-01) 22 Rochdale 0–1 Walsall Rochdale
Report Hanvey   (o.g.) Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2117
Referee: WB Johnson
5 January  1974 (1974 -01-05) 23 York City 2–1 Rochdale York
Jones   28 '
Seal   81 '
Report Horne   30 ' Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 3923
12 January  1974 (1974 -01-12) 24 Rochdale 3–2 Shrewsbury Town Rochdale
Grummett   26 '
Downes   58'
Skeete   68 '
Report Tarbuck   33 '
Hughes  
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 957
20 January  1974 (1974 -01-20) 25 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 Rochdale Brighton and Hove
Beamish  
Towner  
Report Skeete   Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 18900
26 January  1974 (1974 -01-26) 26 Grimsby Town 5–1 Rochdale Cleethorpes
Lewis   45'
Hubbard   60', 65'
Hickman   70', 81'
Report Gowans   31' Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 5548
3 February  1974 (1974 -02-03) 27 Rochdale 1–3 York City Rochdale
Horne   Report Jones   
Seal  
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2205
5 February  1974 (1974 -02-05) 28 Rochdale 0–2 Cambridge United Rochdale
Report Greenhalgh   31'
Simmons   46'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 588
16 February  1974 (1974 -02-16) 29 Rochdale 1–3 Oldham Athletic Rochdale
Bebbington   85' Report Hicks   11'
Blair   48 '
Lochhead   65'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 5923
23 February  1974 (1974 -02-23) 30 Huddersfield Town 5–0 Rochdale Huddersfield
Lawson   53', 57'
Gowling   65', 84'
Summerill   81 '
Report Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 5679
26 February  1974 (1974 -02-26) 31 Rochdale 1–1 Hereford United Rochdale
Brennan   59 ' Report Rudge   39' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1195
2 March  1974 (1974 -03-02) 32 Rochdale 1–2 Chesterfield Rochdale
Brennan   24 ' Report Bellamy   62'
Wilson   75 '
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1566
5 March  1974 (1974 -03-05) 33 Bristol Rovers 1–1 Rochdale Bristol
Bannister   Report Bebbington   Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 11188
10 March  1974 (1974 -03-10) 34 Southport 0–0 Rochdale Southport
Report Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 1708
13 March  1974 (1974 -03-13) 35 Aldershot 4–0 Rochdale Aldershot
Howarth  
Bell    
Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 1742
16 March  1974 (1974 -03-16) 36 Rochdale 1–1 Charlton Athletic Rochdale
Grummett   89' Report Dunn   71'
Powell   83'
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 850
23 March  1974 (1974 -03-23) 37 Watford 4–0 Rochdale Watford
Morrisey   20'
Scullion   25'
Jenkins   60', 69'
Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5616
25 March  1974 (1974 -03-25) 38 Rochdale 0–1 Bristol Rovers Rochdale
Report Bannister   Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1499
30 March  1974 (1974 -03-30) 39 Rochdale 1–1 Port Vale Rochdale
Horne   33' Report Mountford   60' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 982
3 April  1974 (1974 -04-03) 40 Hereford United 2–1 Rochdale Hereford
Ritchie   48'
Hinch   51'
Report Hanvey   65' Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 6659
6 April  1974 (1974 -04-06) 41 Cambridge United 3–3 Rochdale Cambridge
Shinton   7', 22 '
Cassidy   57'
Report Carrick   25', 58'
Downes   80' (pen.)
Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 2704
13 April  1974 (1974 -04-13) 42 Rochdale 0–0 Wrexham Rochdale
Report Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1119
15 April  1974 (1974 -04-15) 43 Rochdale 2–2 Aldershot Rochdale
Bebbington  
Skeete  
Report Brodie  
Howarth  
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 885
20 April  1974 (1974 -04-20) 44 Blackburn Rovers 3–1 Rochdale Blackburn
Hutchins   19'
Martin   58', 80'
Report Carrick   10 ' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 4517
22 April  1974 (1974 -04-22) 45 Halifax Town 1–0 Rochdale Halifax
Shanahan   88' Report Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 1431
27 April  1974 (1974 -04-27) 46 Rochdale 1–1 Halifax Town Rochdale
Skeete   6' Report Smith   40' Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1320

F.A. Cup

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24 November  1973 (1973 -11-24) 1 Rochdale 2–0 South Shields Rochdale
Marsh   18'
Brogden   21'
Report Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1554
15 December  1973 (1973 -12-15) 2 Grantham Town 1–1 Rochdale Grantham
Benskin   15' Report Brogden   76' Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 3224
18 December  1973 (1973 -12-18) 2 Rochdale 3–5 (a.e.t.) Grantham Town Rochdale
Taylor  
Downes  
Hanvey  
Report Brent Horobin  
Brian Norris  
Mick Chambers    
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1266

League Cup

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29 August  1973 (1973 -08-29) 1 Rochdale 5–3 Hartlepool United Rochdale
Darling  
Atkins  
Skeete  
Taylor  
Embleton   (o.g.)
Report Gauden   
McMahon  
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1856
10 October  1973 (1973 -10-10) 2 Rochdale 0–4 Bolton Wanderers Rochdale
Report Jones  
Lee   
Waldron  
Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 7241
Referee: HP Hackney

Lancashire Cup

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15 October  1973 (1973 -10-15) Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Rochdale Bolton
 
 
 
 
Stadium: Burnden Park

[1] [2]

References

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  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]