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Help Required: The Longest Winter

Author Mark Hodkinson would love to hear from Dale fans with memories of the 1973/74 season (the one when Dale won just twice in 46 League games!). He is gathering material for his next book, The Longest Winter, due to be published by Pitch in August.

''I'm keen to hear as many stories as possible from this particular season, which coincided with lots of other grim episodes - the three-day week, the Arab-Israeli war, strikes, petrol shortages, bombings. etc,'' said Mark.

He wants to contact supporters, ex-players, directors and the club's staff (or their relatives) from the early and mid 1970s. ''I'm hoping to write a book that stands as an evocative historical document of a very unusual time in British history, with everything tied into the fortunes of the football club,'' he said.

Please email Mark on: mark@pomonauk.co.uk

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