MEN’S FOOTBALL
On the pitch, the story has been so well documented that it almost doesn’t need repeating. Last summer, Jimmy bolstered his coaching staff, added to the strong core of players from the season before and forged a team that would go on to break numerous Club records and ultimately earn us promotion back into the Football League, via a spectacular victory at the home of football.
The quality of the football on display at times over the season from this team was matched only by the, quite frankly, scarcely believable levels of resilience, togetherness and belief shown at crunch points towards the end of the season.
A return to the EFL within three years was a stated aim of ours, and to have achieved that a year early is a testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of our First Team staff and players. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to them all for achieving this remarkable feat and for bringing so much joy to the Club and its supporters.
To those players who will be moving on from the Club, they leave with our thanks and best wishes for the next step in their careers, in the knowledge that they have forever cemented their names in the hearts of Dale supporters.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
After achieving promotion ahead of the start of the 2025/26 season, a creditable fifth-place finish was the outcome of our first season at step six, in the North West Women’s Regional League set up.
In time, we would like to see our Women’s team competing at the equivalent level of the pyramid as our Men, with two promotions being required to achieve that aim.
Further funds have been committed ahead of the 2026/27 season, which will see contact time via training significantly increased, as well as improvements in support services such as Sports Science, Medical and Analysis.
We also expect to host a larger number of Women’s fixtures at The Crown Oil Arena moving forward, and we encourage supporters to get behind the players and staff at these games.
YOUTH FOOTBALL
2025/26 was the first season in which we were unable to operate a boys Academy setup under the Premier League Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). However, we were able to reintroduce boys teams from U8-U16, playing in the Junior Premier League.
Following promotion, we are now able to reapply for an Academy Licence under EPPP, and should we be successful in achieving this Licence, the current boys teams will provide the foundation for the EPPP Academy to build upon.
As well as providing a pathway for young aspiring professional footballers within the Borough, the financial importance of our Academy cannot be overstated, with many supporters fully aware of our proud record of Academy graduates featuring for us before progressing their careers at higher levels of the game.
Under youth development rules, we were not permitted to offer scholarship contracts to players in their U16 year during the 2023/24 season. Amongst others, this group included two youth internationals in Igor Tyjon and Mateus Mane. Contingent fees associated with the latter have already proved lucrative, with the potential of more to come.
In terms of girls youth development, we look forward to welcoming a new U16 team to our performance pathway ahead of next season, who will compete in the North West Girls Super League. Additionally, we hope to be in a position to announce an exciting new partnership for U17-U19 girls in the coming weeks.
THE PITCH
It’s hard to reflect on matters on the pitch this season without mentioning the pitch itself! There were some dark days in mid-autumn when we were faced with a team that was flying in the league and a pitch that was almost certainly going to undermine their campaign. When we first considered carrying out a full rebuild of the pitch in mid-winter, we didn’t even know whether it was technically possible. Ultimately, that was the approach we took. There was a high degree of jeopardy involved, but it was hugely pleasing to see the project completed on time and under budget. That would not have happened had it not been for the sterling efforts of our advisors, OBI Sports, our contractors, Mallinsons, and so many people at the Club who worked tirelessly to make the process as smooth as possible in the circumstances. Our thanks also go to Accrington Stanley for providing our ‘home away from home’ whilst the pitch was being built. We now have a foundation under the surface of the pitch, which should serve the Club for decades to come.
This summer’s renovation got underway this week, which involves removing the top layer of the surface and the existing sand underneath. Fresh sand will be laid, followed by the seeding process, before the growth period over the summer.
CLUB AND SUPPORTER ENGAGEMENT
It has been heartening to see strengthening engagement between the Club and various supporter groups over the course of the season. Our Club Advisory Board completed its inaugural year and has become a brilliant forum for the exchange of information and ideas. The Club has worked closely with the Dale Trust, which continues to deliver excellent initiatives for Dale fans and the wider Rochdale community. Her Game Too has been increasingly active, and it was great to see the levels of fun and engagement during their dedicated match against Boston United. Finally, the team at Dale 1907 have worked tirelessly all season long to bring flags, colour and atmosphere to the Crown Oil Arena (and Accrington Stanley and Wembley!) and we are hugely thankful for the impact they have had.
COMMUNITY
RAFC Community Trust
The RAFC Community Trust has once again played a central role in connecting the Football Club with the people and places it represents. Across the 2025/26 season, matchdays at the Crown Oil Arena have become a powerful platform for community engagement, with 6,146 community tickets distributed, including 1,715 to primary school pupils, 54 grassroots teams welcomed across themed matchdays, 80 mascots creating lifelong memories, and over £1,100 raised through bucket collections for local and national causes.
That impact was also reflected at the Club’s Player of the Year awards, where Sam Beckwith was named the men’s Rochdale AFC Community Trust Player of the Year and PFA Community Champion for 2025/26, recognising his commitment to supporters, sponsors and community engagement throughout the season.
The season ended with a fantastic celebration of the wider Rochdale AFC family through the Community Trust’s Play on the Pitch activity. Over several days, the Crown Oil Arena hosted league fixtures, tournaments, training sessions and celebration events involving Sports College teams, Veterans, Walking Football, Dale Fit Club, Ability Counts, Down Syndrome football, Hope Football, Changing Lives, Premier League Kicks, Youth Service provision, partner primary schools, Desmond’s Dragons, Wildcats, Rochdale AFC Ladies and grassroots teams from across the borough. From the Homeless Football team playing their first ever fixture, to over 100 young people taking part in a Friday night tournament, 13 predominantly South Asian heritage teams joining the launch of a new development programme, and around 500 people attending the Rochdale AFC Ladies end-of-season day, it was a fitting reminder that the pitch belongs to the whole community.
Beyond matchdays, the Trust has continued to deliver across health, inclusion, education and employability, while supporting schools, sport, grassroots football and targeted programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds. The continued roll-out of PlayZones across the borough will further strengthen that work, creating more accessible places for local people to play, connect and feel part of the Rochdale AFC family. From the Crown Oil Arena to communities across the town, the Trust’s work remains a vital part of the Club’s identity and its commitment to being a force for good in Rochdale.
A huge thank you goes to our supporters, who, through donating when you purchase tickets or taking part in fundraisers such as the Sleepout, Santa Run and Colour Dash, have supported the work of our official charity.
Dale Futures
Dale Futures is a joint collaboration between the Ogden Trust and the RAFC Community Trust, housed at the Crown Oil Arena and led by Dillon Yates. Over the past 12 months, Dale Futures has continued to establish itself as an important part of the Club’s wider commitment to supporting young people and the local community. Working with pupils at risk of exclusion, persistent absence and disengagement from education, the provision has supported young people with significant SEMH and SEND needs through a relational, trauma-informed and aspirational approach.
During its first full year, Dale Futures supported over 60 pupils through targeted intervention placements, with outcomes including a 97% reduction in suspensions and a significant improvement in attendance, engagement and emotional wellbeing for many young people accessing the provision. Just as importantly, the project has helped pupils rebuild confidence, reconnect with education and develop more positive futures for themselves.
The provision has also strengthened partnerships with local schools, Rochdale Borough Council and wider support services, helping to deliver earlier intervention and more sustainable support pathways for vulnerable young people across the borough.
We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved so far and would like to thank the staff, partners and families who continue to support the vision of ensuring every young person is given the opportunity, care and belief they deserve.
As Dale Futures continues to grow, we remain committed to building something that both the Club and the wider Rochdale community can be proud of for many years to come.
For Generations To Come
When we invested in the club, we believed there was more we could do to support the local community, beyond football. This sparked a new movement, powered by Our Future. For Generations To Come is about enabling like-minded people and organisations to connect, listen, build trust and ultimately come together to shape the place they care about for the next generation.
Over the past year, we’ve been exploring how we can turn that belief in the town, in each other and in the Football Club into real and lasting change. This isn’t something owned by one person or organisation. It’s an open invitation to those who care about Rochdale and want to be part of what comes next.
If you are a local supporter, this is your invitation to get involved with local events and activities across the borough. Subscribe to the newsletter to find out what’s on. The Let’s Talk conversations happen each month and are a great place to start.
If you are an exile, join the Home Wins network. This new group connects people who want to help shape community change from a distance. Visit the website for details.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
It has been a wonderful season for the Club, but the hard work continues throughout the summer and there are a number of exciting projects underway.
Upgrades at the Crown Oil Arena
This summer, the Ratcliffe Bar is being given a makeover, which will improve the fan experience on matchdays, as well as allow the Club to generate more income from events and venue hire. An external facelift, as well as a complete internal renovation, awaits you in time for the start of the next season.
Furthermore, in collaboration with Scratch Catering, we are revamping our food and beverage offering at the Crown Oil Arena. This includes a brand-new full-service kitchen in the Ratcliffe, a refitting of all kiosks in the stadium, menu enhancements and an upgrade to all our point-of-sale systems.
In addition to the above, we are refreshing the tired interior of the David Kilpatrick Main Stand, introducing a trial area of Safe Standing in U Block of the Smith Metals Family Stand, and replacing our dugouts to meet EFL standards.
Training Facility at Bowlee
Another exciting project that many of you will be aware of is the development of a First Team training facility and community hub in Bowlee. This project is a collaboration with Rochdale Borough Council, and we have made great strides over the past few months to take it forward. There will be various public consultations in the coming weeks leading up to a planning application, and we will keep you up to date and let you know when and how you can register your support for what we believe will be a truly transformational project for both our elite football teams and our community efforts.
SEASON TICKETS
Many of you will already know that Season Tickets for the upcoming campaign are now on sale, and we really do encourage you to buy one.
As we return to the EFL, the financial landscape changes considerably. League regulations limit the amount clubs can spend on player wages relative to income and equity investment, which means that for clubs like ours, revenue really matters. Put simply, the more people through the turnstiles at the Crown Oil Arena on a regular basis, the stronger our foundations and the more we can invest in the team.
Buying a Season Ticket is one of the most direct ways you can make a difference. If you can, please also encourage friends and family, even those who haven’t followed Rochdale before, to come along and give it a go. Football is best when it’s shared, and we’d love to see as many familiar and new faces as possible in 26/27.
We continue to invest in the Club because we believe in what we’re building together. We’ll give everything we have, and we’d love you alongside us for every moment of it.
See you at the Crown Oil Arena.
UP THE DALE!
Cameron and Simon
