Player Profiles 2007-8: Simon Ramsden

He was originally brought to the club on a free transfer in January 2006 from Grimsby Town on a free transfer on the final day of the transfer window as Dale struggled to replace Wayne Evans. Several options in the form of Jamie Clarke, Warren Goodhind and Gary Brown had been tried but it remained a problem area for Dale.

But the former Sunderland defender has put all of that to one side, and firmly established himself as the club's right back pretty much from his first day at the club.

He lost his way a little in the final days of the Steve Parkin era. Despite being almost an ever present up until this point, he lost his place in the first team and certainly looked to be frozen out losing his place to Gary Brown.

But when Keith Hill took over the reigns, it's been Ramsden's shirt ever since and has proved himself to be very much a part of a dependable back four. Indeed, he's even been used as a central defender on more than one occasion when injuries have dictated the starting line up.

And Ramsden has this habit of fulfilling the footballing cliche about players returning to haunt their own sides. Since arriving at Dale, he has scored four goals, three of which were against his former side Grimsby Town - the pick of which was a lovely measured hook. It'd have been a great goal for any striker at any level.

He signed a new two year contract in the Summer of 2006 keeping him at Spotland until the end of the 2007-8 season.