When it comes to
talking about Rory McArdle, it's very easy to forget
just how young he actually is. Because he's been in and
around the first team at Dale for three full seasons
now, and because he's in his second spell at the club,
you could easily be mistaken for thinking that he was in
his mid to late 20's rather than someone who only
recently celebrated their 21st birthday. Such is his
rise at Dale.
For there was a time
when McArdle was not considered the talent that he is
now. In his initial loan spell from Sheffield Wednesday,
he was much criticised in certain quarters and blamed
for a leaky defence. McArdle wasn't helped by the fact
that the team on the whole were struggling, and the
defence seemed to change week in week out.
However, there were
no doubts that this spell made him a much better player.
Eyebrows were raised when Steve Parkin returned to
Hillsborough to pick McArdle up for a second time - this
time on loan with an agreed transfer to follow once the
transfer window re-opened. Those doubters were soon
proved very wrong.
Given the benefit of
a regular defensive partner, McArdle formed an almost
instantaneous partnership with Nathan Stanton, and they
were backbone of a Dale side who fought off any fears of
relegation within a month or so of Keith Hill taking
over. Before the end of that season, McArdle had won
many plaudits for his displays, and humble pie became
the top seller at the Spotland matchday kiosks.
His strength at the
back continued to grow, becoming even more dominant in
his third season at the club, with many supporters now
rating McArdle as the most prized asset at Spotland. We
had many great displays from McArdle which were way
beyond his years, and the memories of his days as the
Dale scapegoat were suddenly long forgotten.
He proved himself to
be a strong threat from an attacking point of view too.
He weighed in with four goals, one of which will be the
one to tell his grandkids about as he scored the goal
which gave Dale the lead in the Play Off final at
Wembley.
McArdle has been a
regular over the years for Northern Ireland U-21 team,
and has captained them on a number of occasions. He has
been tipped by many to make the progression up to full
international during the next season.
He recently signed a
contract extension which will keep him at Spotland until
the Summer of 2010.
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