1980–81 Rochdale A.F.C. season

Rochdale 1980–81 football season

Rochdale
1980–81 season
Manager	Peter Madden
League Division Four	15th
FA Cup	1st Round
League Cup	1st Round
Top goalscorer	League: Barry Wellings All: Barry Wellings
← 1979–80 1981–82 →

The 1980–81 season saw Rochdale compete in their 7th consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division.

Statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Division 4		F.A. Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	WAL	Chris Pearce	7	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0
	MF	ENG	Alan Jones	47	6	40+4	5	1+0	1	2+0	0
	DF	ENG	Eric Snookes	44	0	41+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0
	MF	ENG	Dave Esser	39	7	34+2	7	1+0	0	2+0	0
	DF	ENG	Alan Weir	28	0	19+6	0	1+0	0	2+0	0
	MF	ENG	Dennis Wann	41	6	38+1	6	0+0	0	2+0	0
	MF	ENG	Nigel O'Loughlin	47	2	44+0	2	1+0	0	2+0	0
	DF	ENG	Brian Taylor	43	6	41+0	6	1+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Mark Hilditch	47	12	44+0	12	1+0	0	2+0	0
	FW	ENG	Barry Wellings	49	14	46+0	14	1+0	0	2+0	0
	MF	ENG	Eugene Martinez	47	5	44+0	4	1+0	0	2+0	1
	DF	ENG	Peter Burke	42	2	41+0	2	0+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Jimmy Seal	24	1	16+7	1	0+0	0	0+1	0
	DF	ENG	Eddie Cliff	5	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Bobby Hoy	4	0	3+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	SCO	Graeme Crawford	42	0	41+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Bob Higgins	6	0	4+1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0

Final League Table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GD	Pts
13	Bournemouth	46	9	8	6	30	21	7	5	11	17	27	−1	45
14	Bradford City	46	9	9	5	30	24	5	7	11	23	36	−7	44
15	Rochdale	46	11	6	6	33	25	3	9	11	27	45	−10	43
16	Scunthorpe United	46	8	12	3	40	31	3	8	12	20	38	−9	42
17	Torquay United	46	13	2	8	38	26	5	3	15	17	37	−8	41

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Competitions

Football League Fourth Division

Stockport County v Rochdale

16 August 1980 (1980-08-16) 1	Stockport County	2–2	Rochdale	Stockport
	Booth 35' Sword 62' (pen.)	Report	Hilditch 25' Esser 45'	Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 2739

Rochdale v Scunthorpe United

19 August 1980 (1980-08-19) 2	Rochdale	4–0	Scunthorpe United	Rochdale
	Hilditch 37', 52' Burke 42' Taylor 72'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2427

Rochdale v Hartlepool United

23 August 1980 (1980-08-23) 3	Rochdale	1–1	Hartlepool United	Rochdale
	Hilditch 12' Snookes	Report	Brown 70'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5230

Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale

29 August 1980 (1980-08-29) 4	Tranmere Rovers	3–1	Rochdale	Birkenhead
	Evans 17' Lumby 46', 89'	Report	Esser 80'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1828

Rochdale v Torquay United

6 September 1980 (1980-09-06) 5	Rochdale	2–1	Torquay United	Rochdale
	Martinez 5' Wann 50'	Report	Taylor 30' (o.g.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1777

Peterborough United v Rochdale

13 September 1980 (1980-09-13) 6	Peterborough United	2–2	Rochdale	Peterborough
	Cooke 56' Quow 63'	Report	Wellings 29' Hilditch 64'	Stadium: London Road Stadium Attendance: 3906

Hereford United v Rochdale

17 September 1980 (1980-09-17) 7	Hereford United	3–0	Rochdale	Hereford
	Jones 34' Price 71' Hicks 90'	Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2475

Rochdale v Bradford City

20 September 1980 (1980-09-20) 8	Rochdale	0–2	Bradford City	Rochdale
		Report	McNiven 7', 33'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3221

Bournemouth v Rochdale

27 September 1980 (1980-09-27) 9	Bournemouth	2–1	Rochdale	Bournemouth
	Morgan 42' Massey 75'	Report	Hilditch 32'	Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 2557

Rochdale v Hereford United

30 September 1980 (1980-09-30) 10	Rochdale	0–0	Hereford United	Rochdale
		Report	Hicks	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2328

Rochdale v Wigan Athletic

4 October 1980 (1980-10-04) 11	Rochdale	3–0	Wigan Athletic	Rochdale
	Wann 43', 48' Hilditch 87'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3479 Referee: DT Richardson

Lincoln City v Rochdale

8 October 1980 (1980-10-08) 12	Lincoln City	3–0	Rochdale	Lincoln
	Neale 12' Hobson 24' Peake 36'	Report		Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 3641

Aldershot v Rochdale

11 October 1980 (1980-10-11) 13	Aldershot	0–0	Rochdale	Aldershot
		Report		Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 3017

Rochdale v Bury

18 October 1980 (1980-10-18) 14	Rochdale	2–1	Bury	Rochdale
	Hilditch 27' Wellings 44'	Report	Farley 53'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4306 Referee: MP Scott

Rochdale v Wimbledon

21 October 1980 (1980-10-21) 15	Rochdale	2–0	Wimbledon	Rochdale
	O'Loughlin 10' Wellings 27'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2391

Crewe Alexandra v Rochdale

25 October 1980 (1980-10-25) 16	Crewe Alexandra	1–0	Rochdale	Crewe
	Guy 77'	Report		Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 3291

Darlington v Rochdale

28 October 1980 (1980-10-28) 17	Darlington	4–4	Rochdale	Darlington
	McLean 15' (pen.), 68' (pen.) Speedie 37' Walsh 48'	Report	Taylor 6' Esser 10' Jones 67' Wellings 89'	Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 1579 Referee: D Hutchinson

Rochdale v Mansfield Town

1 November 1980 (1980-11-01) 18	Rochdale	1–4	Mansfield Town	Rochdale
	O'Loughlin 89'	Report	Mann 25' Austin 43', 48', 58' (pen.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2636 Referee: JD Hough

Rochdale v Lincoln City

4 November 1980 (1980-11-04) 19	Rochdale	1–0	Lincoln City	Rochdale
	Hilditch 61'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2257

Port Vale v Rochdale

8 November 1980 (1980-11-08) 20	Port Vale	1–1	Rochdale	Stoke-on-Trent
	Bowles 50'	Report	Esser 81'	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 2774

Scunthorpe United v Rochdale

11 November 1980 (1980-11-11) 21	Scunthorpe United	1–1	Rochdale	Scunthorpe
	Stewart 4'	Report	Wellings 89'	Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 2030

Doncaster Rovers v Rochdale

29 November 1980 (1980-11-29) 22	Doncaster Rovers	1–2	Rochdale	Doncaster
	Snodin 25'	Report	Wellings 60' Lister 67' (o.g.)	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 2502 Referee: PG Reeves

Rochdale v Southend United

6 December 1980 (1980-12-06) 23	Rochdale	0–2	Southend United	Rochdale
		Report	Mercer 47' Spence 82'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2214 Referee: B Martin

Rochdale v Stockport County

12 December 1980 (1980-12-12) 24	Rochdale	2–1	Stockport County	Rochdale
	Martinez 41' Wellings 74' (pen.)	Report	Mountford 14'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1901

Northampton Town v Rochdale

20 December 1980 (1980-12-20) 25	Northampton Town	3–2	Rochdale	Northampton
	Phillips 7' Denyer 44' Bowen 53'	Report	Wellings 27', 86'	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1705 Referee: CB White

Rochdale v Halifax Town

26 December 1980 (1980-12-26) 26	Rochdale	1–1	Halifax Town	Rochdale
	Wellings 15' (pen.)	Report	Nattress 60'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2628

York City v Rochdale

27 December 1980 (1980-12-27) 27	York City	1–2	Rochdale	York
	Smith 2'	Report	Wellings 46' Martinez 90'	Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 2828 Referee: G Courtney

Rochdale v Crewe Alexandra

3 January 1981 (1981-01-03) 28	Rochdale	2–0	Crewe Alexandra	Rochdale
	Jones 30', 68'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2540 Referee: PN Willis

Rochdale v Doncaster Rovers

17 January 1981 (1981-01-17) 29	Rochdale	2–2	Doncaster Rovers	Rochdale
	Taylor 70' Wellings 87' (pen.)	Report	Snodin 46' Pugh 62'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3021 Referee: JM Warner

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

24 January 1981 (1981-01-24) 30	Rochdale	3–1	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
	Wann 6' Seal 44' Wellings 74'	Report	Kerr 14'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2731 Referee: VG Callow

Hartlepool United v Rochdale

31 January 1981 (1981-01-31) 31	Hartlepool United	2–2	Rochdale	Hartlepool
	Houchen 18', 60' (pen.)	Report	Taylor 70' Esser 75'	Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 3867

Rochdale v Peterborough United

7 February 1981 (1981-02-07) 32	Rochdale	2–3	Peterborough United	Rochdale
	Wann 33' Burke 38'	Report	Quow 48' Gynn 60', 89'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2865 Referee: J Lovatt

Torquay United v Rochdale

14 February 1981 (1981-02-14) 33	Torquay United	2–0	Rochdale	Torquay
	Bowker 66' Rioch 75'	Report		Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 1628

Rochdale v Bournemouth

21 February 1981 (1981-02-21) 34	Rochdale	0–0	Bournemouth	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1846 Referee: CN Seel

Wigan Athletic v Rochdale

7 March 1981 (1981-03-07) 35	Wigan Athletic	0–1	Rochdale	Wigan
		Report	Taylor 65'	Stadium: Springfield Park Attendance: 6029 Referee: T Farley

Bradford City v Rochdale

8 March 1981 (1981-03-08) 36	Bradford City	2–1	Rochdale	Bradford
	McNiven 24' Staniforth 75'	Report	Esser 81'	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 2926 Referee: A Saunders

Rochdale v Aldershot

14 March 1981 (1981-03-14) 37	Rochdale	0–2	Aldershot	Rochdale
		Report	Sanford 65' Garwood 89'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1834

Bury v Rochdale

21 March 1981 (1981-03-21) 38	Bury	3–1	Rochdale	Bury
	Johnson 54', 63', 87' (pen.)	Report	Hilditch 73'	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 3931 Referee: NJ Ashley

Rochdale v Darlington

28 March 1981 (1981-03-28) 39	Rochdale	0–0	Darlington	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1656 Referee: TL Morris

Mansfield Town v Rochdale

4 April 1981 (1981-04-04) 40	Mansfield Town	2–2	Rochdale	Mansfield
	Wood 16' Lumby 76'	Report	Hilditch 10' Wellings 58'	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 2597 Referee: KA Redfern

Rochdale v Port Vale

12 April 1981 (1981-04-12) 41	Rochdale	2–1	Port Vale	Rochdale
	Esser 28' Martinez 64'	Report	Bowles 85'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2590

Rochdale v York City

18 April 1981 (1981-04-18) 42	Rochdale	3–2	York City	Rochdale
	Taylor 31' Hilditch 65' Jones 89'	Report	McDonald 82', 89' (pen.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1651 Referee: MG Peck

Halifax Town v Rochdale

20 April 1981 (1981-04-20) 43	Halifax Town	2–0	Rochdale	Halifax
	Graham 60', 73' Chambers 90'	Report		Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 2278 Referee: CL Newsome

Wimbledon v Rochdale

28 April 1981 (1981-04-28) 44	Wimbledon	4–1	Rochdale	Wimbledon
	Leslie 5', 11' Hodges 75' Galliers 78'	Report	Wann 40'	Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 3884

Southend United v Rochdale

1 May 1981 (1981-05-01) 45	Southend United	1–1	Rochdale	Southend-on-Sea
	Hadley 57'	Report	Jones 31'	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 10857 Referee: A Gunn

Rochdale v Northampton Town

3 May 1981 (1981-05-03) 46	Rochdale	0–1	Northampton Town	Rochdale
		Report	Denyer 79'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1474

F.A. Cup

Mansfield Town v Rochdale

22 November 1980 (1980-11-22) 1	Mansfield Town	3–1	Rochdale	Mansfield
	Parkinson 13' (pen.), 83' (pen.) Caldwell 57'	Report	Jones 80' (pen.)	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 3280 Referee: JM Warner

League Cup

Carlisle United v Rochdale

9 August 1980 (1980-08-09) 1	Carlisle United	2–0	Rochdale	Carlisle
	Bannon 34' Brown 87'	Report		Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 2257 Referee: A Saunders

Rochdale v Carlisle United

12 August 1980 (1980-08-12) 1	Rochdale	1–1 (1–3 agg.)	Carlisle United	Rochdale
	Martinez 89'	Report	Brown 85'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1806 Referee: K McNally

^[1] ^[2]

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. ^{[not specific enough to verify]}

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1980–81 in English football

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1981–82 »

National teams

League competitions

Levels 1–4	Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)
Level 5	Alliance Premier League
Levels 6–7	Isthmian League (Premier, One) Northern Premier League (level 6 only) Southern League (Midland, Southern) (level 6 only)
Levels 8–9	Isthmian League (Two) Athenian League (level 8 only) Cheshire County League (One, Two) Combined Counties League (level 8 only) Town & Country League (level 8 only) Essex Senior League (level 8 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One) Kent League (level 8 only) Lancashire Combination (level 8 only) London Spartan League (Premier, Senior) Midland Football Combination (level 8 only) Midland League (Premier, One) Northern League (level 8 only) South Midlands League (Premier, One) Sussex County League (One, Two) United Counties League (Premier, One) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 8 only) Western League (Premier, One) Yorkshire League (One, Two)

Cup competitions

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

European competitions

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