1. Rochdale AFC is a professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. The club was founded in 1907 and are known as The Dale.

2. The club's home ground is the Crown Oil Arena, which has a capacity of 10,249 spectators. The stadium was opened in 1878 and was originally used for rugby.

3. Rochdale were runners up in the 1961-62 League Cup final. Although they lost the final to Norwich City it was the first time a club from the 4th tier had reached the final of a major competition.

4. Rochdale's main rivals were Bury up until their expulsion from the Football League in 2019-20. Other rivals are Oldham Athletic, Burnley and Halifax Town.

5. Gary Jones holds the record for the most league appearances (464).

Home of Rochdale AFC

Opened 1878

Capacity 10,249

Rating: 4.1

(228) Google Reviews

Nice ground especially cos we won
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5 months ago
A decent football ground for this division
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3 weeks ago
Decent place but the toilets oh dear
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5 months ago
Not a bad stadium which has improved a lot over the years its mostly all seated apart from one stand behind the goal the Thwaites beer stand (sandy lane stand) with a capacity of just over 10,000
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2 years ago
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History (from Wikipedia)

Spotland was originally known as St Clement's Playing Fields, after the nearby St Clement's Church. Having previously been used for cricket, it became the home of St Clement's Rugby Club in 1878, until they disbanded in 1897. As well as staging local rugby competitions, the ground briefly hosted two short-lived football clubs – the original Rochdale A.F.C. from 1900 to 1901 and Rochdale Town from 1902 to 1903, but both folded. The present Rochdale A.F.C. was then formed to use the ground in 1907, later buying the freehold for £1,700 in 1914. By the time the club joined the Football League in 1921, a low wooden grandstand had been built on the south side of the ground, once the location of the cricket pavilion. Also by this time, the name of the surrounding area of the town, Spotland, had been adopted as the ground's name.[4]

In August 2016, Rochdale A.F.C. renamed Spotland Stadium the Crown Oil Arena as part of a sponsorship deal by the 
Bury-based fuel company Crown Oil.[1][5] In 2018, due to the winter weather the pitch got into such a bad state that a number of games had to be postponed. Subsequently Rochdale were drawn against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup and the Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was quoted “not a pitch in a condition to play football” after seeing some pictures leading Rochdale to relay the surface in time for their game.[6][7]

Structure and facilities[edit]

The ground has four stands: the Co-Operative Stand (or Main Stand), the Thwaites Beer Stand (the Sandy Lane End), the T.D.S. Stand (Pearl Street End) and the Westrose Leisure Stand (the Willbutts Lane Stand). All are fully seated, apart from the Sandy Lane End, which is a small terrace behind one of the goals.

Things to do in Rochdale.

The Baum.

6 Reviews
Photo of Lee Z.

If you are ever lucky/unlucky enough to find yourself in the centre of Rochdale one day/night, and before the urge to flee becomes too strong you may want... Read More

Photo of Glen C.

A really nice old-fashioned characterful pub on a short cobbled street not far from the center of town. It has a good range of draft real ales and a... Read More

Photo of Ian M.

My favourite beer of the day was Fireside porter. I decided that it was time I visited my mate in Rochdale. Rochdale isn't exactly celebrious, but does... Read More

Cenetta.

2 Reviews
Photo of Steve W.

Staying at the The Royal Toby Hotel you really only have 2 options for dinner; the main restaurant and pub at the hotel and Cenetta across the parking lot... Read More

Photo of Bob R.

You have to look in the back of the Toby Hotel parking lot for this gem of a restaurant. If you want tasty Italian Food and fresh baked bread this is your... Read More