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An open letter to Andrew Kelly
at 18:20 3 Jul 2021

Dear Andrew

I’d also like to plead / beg for you not to share your shares. Littleborough born and bred the Dale has been my only team since the age of six. I am now 43. It is and always will be whilst in existence my only club.

At the age of six I attended my first match with my Grandad it was against Crew Alexander and yes we lost this was in the days of fans of just over 1000 vic Hallam was manger. The next year I was a mascot against Halifax Town we drew 1-1. My Grandad had arranged it for me as a treat, I still remember that day now, was one of the best days of my life. These where just two of many games I watched with my Grandad I still now from my seat in the Pearl street look at our spot in the Sandy Lane and in my mind see him, flat cap and a ploom of smoke from his pipe rising into the roof of the Stand. When I’m at Spotland I’m still with my Grandad

January 13th 2007. Rochdale had recently sacked there manger and Keith Hill was in charge. My Dad Harry asked If I was going to the game. I was and he said he would like to come with me. We had a pre match pint in Pearl street bar and took our seats for the game. Rochdale played unbelievable football that day it was the start of no fear football. Sadly we lost to a certain Rikki Lambert goal. Me and my dad left that day purring of the football we had just seen. That was to be the very last thing with my dad. It was our last pint together, our last father son thing together, our last Dale game together. He died the following weekend from terminal prostate cancer. I will always remember Rochdale for giving me the last thing me and my dad did together.

I have a son Zak, he’s 14 and attended his first Dale game at the age of four. He collects all his shirts from every season. It was only during the lockdown he went through them all and said he’d like to get them all framed. His favourite shirt is the one signed by all the players when we played Leeds UTD in the Fa Cup he was mascot like his dad had been. My phone, memories stories are full of our games together dads and lads trips away, him moaning at me when I’m being too negative!! Like me the club is in his blood. he won’t have the chance to watch the Dale with his Grandad but together we go for him, create our own memories and I hope like the generations before him he takes his son/ daughter and I can take my Grandchildren

So that’s it, that’s my plea. This club is family, it’s memories, it’s passed through generations, it gives us more than football. Good people have helped that happen it’s roots values, love spread and passed through us all. It’s egacy can live on if allowed to be nurtured by those who love it for what it is. Please don’t sell your shares protect something that is much much more than what these people see it has.

I know as a local man like myself deep down you know where the heart of this club needs to be with and a selling of the shares will lead to one thing

Yours in hope
SW

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