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Ex Files - Dave Bayliss
Ex Files - Dave Bayliss
Saturday, 18th Aug 2007 15:09

Our new look interactive Ex Files continues with a look at a former central defender who served the club in two separate spells.

Player Profile: Dave Bayliss

Name Dave Bayliss
Position Defender
Date of Birth 8th June 1976
Born Liverpool
Signed for Dale Trainee
Fee n/a
Debut Dale 2 Barnet 2 - 01.04.95
Other Clubs Luton Town
Chester City
Wrexham
Left Spotland 09.05.03

Dale Stats (to July 2007)

  League Cup Total
Season App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Goals
2005-2006 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
2001-2002 9 0 0 3 0 0 12 0 0
2000-2001 41 0 3 3 0 0 44 0 3
1999-2000 26 3 3 7 0 0 33 3 3
1998-1999 22 3 1 4 2 0 26 5 1
1997-1998 23 6 2 3 0 0 26 6 2
1996-1997 21 2 0 2 0 0 23 2 0
1995-1996 25 3 0 5 1 0 30 4 0
1994-1995 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 171 18 9 27 3 0 198 0 9

Dave Bayliss is a central defender who has represented the club in two separate spells. Having come through the ranks at the club, he came back from a loan spell later on though again it ended on a sourish note with a red card.

Bayliss was the first real product of the youth set up that had been reorganised in the late 80's. There had been others before who had come through and threatened to make it as a professional footballer, such as Jamie Taylor but significantly none of them went on to play more than a handful of appearances.

It was under Mick Docherty that Bayliss first made his appearance in a Dale shirt as a fresh faced eighteen year old, and he did well enough to remain a regular member of the squad during this time. Cruelly, Bayliss was left out of Dale's trip to Anfield in the FA Cup despite being the star performer in the side which had took us there in the first place.

But despite that snub, Bayliss continued to be a regular fitting within the Docherty side and looked to be a real prospect for the future. However that Summer, Docherty was on his way, and Graham Barrow was appointed manager. Upon Barrow's arrival at the club, Paul Butler left the club, but there seemed to be little worry amongst the supporters. In the same way, Butler had picked up where Alan Reeves had left, it was suspected that Bayliss would lead on from where Butler had left, but it wasn't to be.

For some reason, Barrow never really took a shine to Bayliss. Whether it was because Bayliss was a little on the short side for a central defender, we don't know, but Bayliss never really continued the Reeves/Butler dynasty that it was anticipated that he would do.

It didn't do any favours to Bayliss when Barrow brought in the excellent Hill and Johnson who formed an outstanding partnership in the middle that season for Dale, but subsequent signings of the likes of John Pender merely stifled the career of Bayliss to accommodate a mate of Barrow's.

Bayliss was often forced to play at roles such as full back, which was clearly not a role he favoured playing in, and this showed up the weaknesses in his game, as his distribution was not the best. He was a great tackler, but wasn't given enough opportunities to prove this.

Under Steve Parkin, Bayliss became more of a regular in the side, despite there always being another two or three central defenders at the club for competition. He played more games in two seasons of Parkin than he had under three years of Barrow, and the team had benefited from Bayliss' inclusion.

Bayliss had certainly matured as a player, and was no longer looked upon as being the young up and coming player, but more as a player worthy of a first team place. Though we never quite found out why he appeared in the Sky game with Orient with half a tub of gel on his eyebrows.

His departure from the club proved to a little on the sour side, with reports suggesting that there had been a major falling out between Bayliss and then caretaker manager Dave Hamilton, and in that time between Parkin's departure and Hollins' appointment, Bayliss was on his way to Luton Town.

In all honesty, it was probably right for both parties that Bayliss left Spotland. Without wanting to sound critical of someone who served the club well for so many years, but he had probably got a bit stale, and needed a fresh environment for the good of his career.

Indeed, the switch to Luton proved to be a successful one, as he was part of the side that won promotion for the Hatters that season. However, there proved to be another Chapter in the Dave Bayliss Rochdale History book when he returned to Spotland with his new side.

There'd been a bit of banter in the press in the build up to the game, with Bayliss claiming that the Dale players were out to get him sent off. Of course this was all in jest, but it proved to be a self fulfilling prophesy with Bayliss being sent off for a high challenge midway through the second half as Dale went on to record a 1-0 victory. It wouldn't have made matters any better given the fact our winning goal that day came courtesy of a Dave Bayliss deflection. Dale and you know you are!

But despite the sour note, Bayliss continued to be a popular player around the club, making the odd appearance as a supporter when not playing, and it was no surprise when he was brought back for a second spell with the club during the 2005-6 season.

However, it proved to be just a late cameo for Bayliss, as he made four appearances for Dale, the last of which ended with a red card against Wrexham - the side he was on loan to Dale from at the time.

But red card aside, Bayliss will remain a popular character who served the club well.

Interactive Ex Files

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Photo: Action Images



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