Rochdale
Floodlights
Spotland Rebirth
Groundtastic takes a look at Rochdale’s reconstruction programme
Just a decade ago Rochdale
AFC and their Spotland Stadium were in a perilous state.
Owing to designation under
the Safety of Sports Grounds
Act, the capacity had been
cut to 9500, there were only
738 seats in the ground, old
terraces were crumbling and
the team were struggling on
the field.
The Dale were high on the
‘endangered clubs’ list and
things had to change before
the club floundered. Now,
The entrance to Spotland (Paul Claydon)
within ten years, the club
have recovered to the point
where Spotland has virtually been rebuilt, the team are doing nicely and average gates are on the
way up. This is the story.
It all began in 1907 when the current Rochdale AFC were formed by local Rugby enthusiast Harvey Rigg. Two other clubs had already tried their luck with the round-ball game in the town but had
lasted no longer than a few seasons. Rigg at the time ran the St. Clements Playing Fields and the
local Rugby League side, the Hornets, played elsewhere. Needing tenants for the playing fields he
instigated the new football club which subsequently took up residence on the site later to become
known as Spotland.
Things went quite nicely for the new club and seven years after formation they were able to purchase Spotland for £7,000 and by 1921 had secured a place in the Football League. A main stand
was built on the ground but during their first Football League campaign it sustained damage when
part of the roof was blown off during a gale.
By the late 1920’s covered accommodation had been added to the cinder terraces
along the Wilbutts Lane side and the Pearl Street end. At this time Spotland had a
rather obvious slope and in 1948 action was taken to level the pitch. The earth was
extracted from the site and piled up at the Pearl Street end resulting in a large
grassy mound in one corner. This mound later had crush barriers installed and
stood for many years as one of the most notable features at the ground.
Groundtastic
page 28
Issue 23