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Difficult to find any positives from today.. Waller has conceded 16 in 5 appearances.... Accrington were quicker, slicker and more direct. We wanted to play possession football on a day that was crying out for pace and directness. But, with a better team sitting in the stands ( or more likely at home keeping warm) you can only play the cards that are dealt...Fate is not being kind to us at the moment. Isn't it always the case that when you have injuries, its never the fringe players with the problems? Sherring is either not very good or completely devoid of confidence, every ball he played was underhit or was simply the wrong ball at the wrong time, Francis is annonymous and the tactic of using two wingers was doomed as soon as their defenders denied them space and stopped them going down the outside. . Once the wingers were nullified it became one way traffic.. no plan B given the players available... I can't see a way forward at the moment, Accy simply ran over us, it was Gillingham on steroids..I think we have been rumbled. Accy probably came on Tuesday night and realised how limited we are and planned accordingly, as will everyone else until we get 6 or 7 injured players back into the team and on the bench...a tough season ahead I suspect...the defence has to improve, the midfield needs bite and guile and the attack needs goals and I dont see how its going to happen this side of Christmas...
Yesterday, I sent an email to Ian Watson via the club , to suggest he investigates the use of Ballet exercises as part of the training regime, the Northern College of Dance is 10 minutes from Platt Lane, sending a couple of our coaches down there for a day or two to learn about Ballet training would be a useful addition to their skill sets... Apparently a number of clubs are adding these exercisies to their Academy training with a view to improving strength and flexibility Equally the rehabilitation from these injuries would be helped by Ballet exercises to help prevent recurrance.
• Arsenal FC: Current first-team manager Mikel Arteta has actively explored and spoken about incorporating ballet concepts into Arsenal's physical training routines to maximize fluidity and body control. • The "Barre" Trend: Rather than calling it "ballet," clubs across Europe routinely feature barre workouts and dynamic hip-mobility drills led by specialized club physiotherapists. This form of training is especially standard during pre-season camps to build "eccentric strength" in the feet, ankles, and inner thighs—muscles that are notoriously prone to groin pulls and sports hernias in soccer players.
Football Injury Vulnerability Cause Ballet Counter-Exercise Biomechanical Fix Hamstring Strain Weakness during high-speed running extension Arabesque Eccentric strengthening of the posterior chain Ankle Sprain Poor landing mechanics or weak lateral stabilizers Tendu / Relevé Increased intrinsic foot strength and proprioception Groin Pull Overuse and tightness in the hip adductors Rond de Jambe Dynamic flexibility and active hip rotational control ACL Tear Knee valgus (buckling inward) during sharp cuts Plié (with strict turnout alignment) Teaches knees to track safely over toes under load
As of October 2026, Rochdale AFC is experiencing a severe injury crisis, with Head Coach Ian Watson confirming that 13 First Team players are currently sidelined. The complete breakdown of injured players and their respective injuries includes:
Player Position. Injury Type Dan Moss Defender Knee (Ruptured ACL — out for the season) Will Jenkins Midfielder Knee (Ruptured ACL — out for the season) Casey Pettit Midfielder Knee (MCL injury — out several months) Nils Ramming Goalkeeper Thigh (Tear — out approx. 10 weeks) Laurence Maguire Defender Calf (Torn calf — out approx. 10 weeks) Bryant Bilongo Defender Hamstring (Pulled hamstring — out approx. 6 weeks) Emmanuel "Mani" Dieseruvwe Forward Hamstring (Pulled hamstring) Tobi Adebayo-Rowling Defender Unspecified match injury (Sustained 20 Oct) Kane Taylor Midfielder Unspecified match injury (Sustained 20 Oct) Ryan East Midfielder Toe injury Jonny Smith Forward Leg injury Devante Rodney Forward Persistent pain / flair-up (underwent steroid injection) Ethan Ebanks-Landell Defender Unspecified pain/mobility injury
It also requires physicallity and Athlicism, both Matheson and Adshead had the required skills but unfortunately not the height, pace or power. Teams at the top of the pyramid simply work on the theory that if you start with 10 youths for a particular position with the requisite skills, one of them will perhaps turn out to be a Premiership footballer, or at least someone that can be sold to a championship club for more than the cost of their training and development. Its hugely cynical, the saving grace being that the majority of those going through the system will eventually find a level at which they can earn a living or add decent money to a wage earned outside football. The Peterborough model is similar but they tend to concentrate on finding forwards rather than defenders on the basis that goalscorers are more likely to attract big money deals, they prey on lower league clubs who have to sell talent to survive, We were one of their victims when they took Nevett. Their player turnover is huge but, I guess if you can make two or three million a year by buying and selling players its not a bad business model.
This is becoming a decent start to the season, 14 points in the first 10 games is our best haul in tiers 3 or 4 for the last 10 seasons... 1.4 pts per game for the season would take us to a comfortable 64 points.. comparable with our first season in the National League
Season League Tier Points after 10 Games Record after 10 Games Final League Position 2026–2027 League Two (Tier 4) 14 4 Wins, 2 Draws, 4 Losses Season in progress 2025–2026 National League (Tier 5) 25 8 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss 2nd (106 pts - Promoted) 2024–2025 National League (Tier 5) 14 4 Wins, 2 Draws, 4 Losses 4th (74 pts) 2023–2024 National League (Tier 5) 14 4 Wins, 2 Draws, 4 Losses 11th (62 pts) 2022–2023 League Two (Tier 4) 5 1 Win, 2 Draws, 7 Losses 24th (38 pts - Relegated) 2021–2022 League Two (Tier 4) 12 3 Wins, 3 Draws, 4 Losses 18th (53 pts) 2020–2021 League One (Tier 3) 12 3 Wins, 3 Draws, 4 Losses 21st (47 pts - Relegated) 2019–2020 League One (Tier 3) 13 3 Wins, 4 Draws, 3 Losses 18th (36 pts - PPG basis) 2018–2019 League One (Tier 3) 11 3 Wins, 2 Draws, 5 Losses 16th (54 pts) 2017–2018 League One (Tier 3) 9 1 Win, 6 Draws, 3 Losses 20th (51 pts)
The difference the Ogdens have made is not just the availability of finance, it is the simple application fo continuous improvement, which actually goes beyond the immediate requirements and develops the future needs too. Hence, a manager who has the capacity to improve, a new home for training and the academy, huge improvements to the pitch and the ground, these are the building blocks. Players will notice these things and be much keener to come here. Better recruitment will create a better squad, the new Academy home will improve youth recruitment and ultimately will generate the money for more improvements. Continuous improvement , the Honda and Toyota method, applied to any business situation. As we go forward the improvements become smaller, less dramatic but nontheless important. Its a classic strategy that the club has simply never previously had the money to implement, we can now start to look into the future, the age of fire fighting has past, the calibre of new management arrivals is remarkable, lets see where the next 7 years take us.... "Little Rochdale" has gone, its replacement has just started to flex its muscles... Crede Signo....Numquam Respice...Never look back.....
Given that they now send out a post- match email thanking me for attending and with a " how did we do" questionnaire, I guess the next step is to query the list of non- attenders in a similar way.." we noticed you haven't used your ticket for the last few games, is there anything we can do to help"? They may be doing this but as an attendee I don't know.....Hopefully the CAB will get a readout next week...
Combining the ticketing system with a CRM is a powerful tool in these instances. I would urge everyone to fill in and return the questionnaire. Knowing what people are unconcerned about is as important as knowing what bothers them...
It seems that Wilson has found his sea legs in this division, he is looking better every game and Tasker has set a standard that will be hard to beat. Its all beginning to gel nicely, and the pattern is becoming clearer. If Watson can get a tune out of Mani, given the amount of balls that are being pumped into the box from our multitude of wingers, we would be a difficult side to have to contend with.
Appointed as a Junior Minister whilst our MP yes, Tony Lloyd was a Minister in the Foreign Office prior to becoming Rochdale's MP.
Its amazing, (apologies for manager speak), that such an old constituency (1832) has had so little Ministerial representation despite having such high profile MP's as Cyril Smith and Richard Cobden....Nearly 200 years as a constituency and no influence from the front bench must be some sort of record.
Cobden was offered a Baronetcy (inherited Knighthood) following the repeal of the Corn Laws and a place in the Privy Council, but he rejected both and remained Mr. Richard Cobden. It's believed he also rejected 2 offers from both Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston to sit in the Cabinet.
In terms of the House of Lords: Tony Lloyd was given a posthumous life peerage. Baron Lloyd of Brewick Joel Barnett MP for Heywood and Royton was a life peer ...Baron Barnett John Kemp, 1st Viscount of Rochdale he inherited his Barony from his father (a hereditary title tied to the local Kemp textile manufacturing family - as in Kelsall and Kemp), John Kemp was elevated to a Viscountcy in 1960.
If you are looking at a map, its not much help if you dont know where you are.. Recognising where we are as a town within the country and where the country sits internationally gives perspective and position. The UK has to stop pretending it is a major powerhouse on the international stage, it isnt, and as one of the poorest towns in the UK, its going to need something more radical than a nice town hall and some shops to fix its problems..
Some food for thought, Rochdale is one of the poorest towns in the UK , But the UK is becoming a poor Nation Here is the direct comparison of how the United Kingdom would rank if it were dropped into the list of 51 US states (including Washington, D.C.), using the latest per capita statistical benchmarks: ## 📊 The Rankings Overview
* Total Homicide Rate: 51st (Absolute Safest) * The Data: The UK's homicide rate sits at ~0.86 to 1.15 per 100,000 residents. * The Comparison: This is lower than America's safest state, New Hampshire (~1.4 per 100,000), and roughly five times lower than the US national average (~5.0 per 100,000). * Knife Homicide Rate: ~35th (Lower-Middle Tier) * The Data: The UK records ~0.35 to 0.48 fatal stabbings per 100,000 residents annually. * The Comparison: This is slightly safer than the US national average (~0.53 per 100,000), but higher than roughly 15 low-crime US states like Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire. * Children in State Care: ~25th (Middle Tier) * The Data: The UK has a rate of 670 children in care per 100,000 under-18s. * The Comparison: This sits just below the US national average (~700 to 750 per 100,000). It is vastly safer than crisis states like West Virginia (1,710 per 100,000) but higher than restrictive states like New Jersey (137 per 100,000). * Gang Grooming & Exploitation: Top 5 Worst (Highest Tier) * The Data: Driven by highly organized "County Lines" drug syndicates and street rings, the UK processes roughly 110 out of every 100,000 children through formal safeguarding exploitation systems. * The Comparison: This per capita rate of structural youth exploitation places the UK alongside America's highest-risk urban states like California, Texas, and Illinois. * Civilian Unemployment Rate: 43rd (High Unemployment Tier) * The Data: The UK's active unemployment rate sits at 4.9%. * The Comparison: This tracks far worse than the US national average (4.1%), matching high-unemployment states like Washington (4.9%) and sitting just under Washington D.C. (5.9%). * Household Debt-to-GDP Ratio: Top 10 Highest (Upper Tier) * The Data: Driven by heavily leveraged, short-term mortgage debt, UK household debt sits at 77.0% of nominal GDP. * The Comparison: This out-paces the US national baseline (67.7%) and ranks just behind hyper-expensive US real estate markets like Hawaii and California (>80%). * 5-Year Cancer Survival Rates: 51st (Absolute Bottom) * The Data: Due to systemic NHS diagnostic logjams, late-stage detection, and slower treatment timelines, the UK lags globally. * The Comparison: An individual diagnosed with cancer in the UK has a lower statistical probability of 5-year survival (e.g., ~86% for breast cancer, ~17-20% for lung cancer) than a patient in any of the 50 US states. If the UK were a US state, it would rank 51st (dead last) for GDP per capita, placing it behind Mississippi and every single U.S. state. The Reality vs. Public Perception Actual Standing: Data highlighted by the Institute of Economic Affairs shows the UK's economic output per person sits below the lowest-ranking American state. Public Guess: In surveys, the average British respondent guessed that the UK would rank around 7th among US states, assuming it was wealthier than most of America.The Numbers: UK GDP per capita hovers around $57,000, whereas Mississippi (the lowest US state) exceeds $55,800 to $56,000+ in nominal terms, and the broader US average is closer to $93,000.
I feel pleased for Watson and the Board after today. Its clear things are coming together faster now as players return to fitness. Flint is a Master stroke signing and exactly what a young defence needs, a Sergeant Major to give the orders and set the example...There were glimpses of Watsons "system" too, with pace on the wings and Maguire's late arrival to cement the win...standards being set. A good day at the office...
This was recorded before the Newport game, but I haven't seen it before.. interesting in view of the recents events.. Simon and Laura talking about what they are trying to put in place ... interesting from Newport too
Fans forums are mandatory for EFL clubs, I guess enthusiasm for them is different from club to club... Under EFL Regulation 112.1, all member clubs across the Championship, League One, and League Two must hold at least two meetings or fans' forums per season. These forums must invite supporters or their representatives to discuss significant club matters and must feature senior club leadership—such as the majority owner, a board director, or a senior executive
If he is only 80% of full fitness he will have to play, we need his height and leadership. His vocal contribution will be as important as his fitness given the inexperience around him. His presence will give confidence to the kids ..
Sport England is assuming that the current pitches on Bowlee are actually useable when, in fact the area is often waterlogged and unusable, a problem which the proposal will overcome with a soak-away (pond) so in fact, there should be more community use at Bowlee simply because the grass pitches will not be waterlogged for months of every year. That Sport England has been previously disinterested in the quality of the existing pitches speaks volumes ... they were totally disinterested when the pitches in Springfield park were closed...you begin to wonder if Sport England actually has any real interest in grass- roots sport at all, despite boasting that it gets up to £350m a year from the Lottery and Government...They do however seem keen on walking and cycling, and a host of mulicultural ventures .. indeed Sport England's idea of "Sport" seems to encompass a very wide range of a "activities" which do not actually need pitches or specialist equipment which are fit for purpose, or involve any notion of competition. Another expensive quango that noone actually needs......
Detailed Breakdown of the Numbers The total spend is split between Exchequer funding (government tax revenue) and National Lottery Distribution funding. When we extract only the money that goes out the door as direct grants, it breaks down into two distinct financial categories: [1] ( https://sportengland-productio Grants Awarded: £323,200,000 ├── Revenue Grants (People & Programs): £281,300,000 (87%) └── Capital Grants (Physical Facilities): £41,900,000 (13%)
So less than a sixth of Sport England revenue of which the organisation has none of its own and is completely reliant on Government ( income tax) and Lottery ( money that has already been taxed) is actually spent on facilities and yet they are objecting to a scheme that RAFC is funding with RMBC.. a scheme that improves the current pitches and provides a community resource that will help to increase participation in SPORT... make it make sense......
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