Steve Whitehall is the guest of honour in hospitality when Dale play Scunthorpe United on tomorrow, he will undoubtedly be letting us know of his time at Rochdale back in the 90’s plus news of his son, Danny, who should be in the opponents line up for another tough fixture.
Steve’s debut for Dale was on the opening game of the season 1991, against York city in a 1-1 draw with first Dale goal coming in the Rumblelows Cup against Carlisle in a 4-1 victory, where he scored two goals followed by his first League goal against Rotherham United.
Reflecting on his time at Dale “I loved my time at the Dale as it was my first contract as a professional footballer following eighteen months playing for Southport and at the same time working as Executive Officer for the Civil Service, so to leave full time work and part time football to just play football was fantastic, best job ever. Getting into the first team for the start of my first season was brilliant but being relegated to substitute towards the end of the season was a bit disappointing, there was some rumours about if I scored too many goals more money would have to be paid to Southport. By the start of the second season I was first team regular and had a run of consecutive games, which I believe was at least hundred also had a run of five seasons as the Club’s leading scorer”
On the match at Anfield in the FA Cup “Probably the best day and worst moments were on the same day and game, playing Liverpool at Anfield in the third round of the FA Cup up against a full strength team, it was most memorable against two England defenders. This also transpired as my worst result in professional football”
In a long career in professional football, he also played for Mansfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Chester City, Nuneaton Borough, Southport, Marine, Bamber Bridge, plus Northwich Victoria and Southport.
Steve is currently working for Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh NHS Trust as AHP having qualified as a physiotherapist in 1999, with spare time taken up by playing at Alder Root Golf Club.