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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? 08:51 - May 29 with 6244 viewscuriouslocal

Allow me to introduce myself,

I'm an avid football fan, born in Leeds but raised in Rochdale. However, when introduced to football in 2006 (the world cup) I became obsessed with Thierry Henry and thus, my dad pushed me to become an Arsenal fan. However, after starting to lose my passion with the modern game due to the lack of passion and atmosphere of fans in the top tier and the commercialisation of the game being the only thing that breeds success in the prem, I have started to turn my head towards more local teams in order to re-find my love for the game.

My question is: is it acceptable for me to go from supporting the team I always have as a kid to a lower league side in order to rekindle my love for football? And why should I support a team like Rochdale who are not known for being the most glamorous team in terms of trophies or big crowds? Any insights into this and the history of the club are much appreciated!
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 08:52 - May 29 with 4741 viewsfitzochris

Easiest answer is to turn up for a game next season and judge for yourself.

Blog: Rochdale 2018/19 part three: Getting points on the board

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 09:11 - May 29 with 4690 viewsDaleiLama

In terms of football, you aren't going to see PL standard play. In fact the last 2 seasons have not always been easy to watch, whereas the previous handful were very much more attractive.

Cashflow (at least for fiscally responsible clubs) is king at this level and players are sold and brought in on loan with a degree of regularity, which means a fair turnover of personnel each year = you never know quite what you'll get in terms of league position (battled for survival the last two campaigns).

What you do usually get is a good sense of community in a club, you'll be close to the action (mostly) wherever you stand/sit, you'll see a team which battles each week (some more than others) and you'll still matter to the club as a supporter (mostly).

At £150-£250/ST, if you can commit to more than half a season, the ST is very good value and you might even start to enjoy it!

I would wholeheartedly endorse Fitzochris's advice.

PS You aren't allowed to film games
[Post edited 29 May 2019 9:12]

Up the Dale - NOT for sale!
Poll: Is it coming home?

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 10:10 - May 29 with 4599 viewsSandyman

I know a few Dale regulars who have turned away from the likes of Man Utd to become season ticket holders at Dale. Once you get into the swing of it, you may well become hooked like the rest of us. Give Dale a try with a cheap season ticket. You'll get 23 games for the price of 3 or 4 at Arsenal and the travel costs will be minuscule in comparison You'll find everybody friendly and sociable. You'll likely get into a pre-match routine if you fancy a pint beforehand, discovering a favourite haunt where the friends you can make hang out. You'll learn the history as you go along, good and not so good!
Don't expect Champions League titles, world class players or "prawn sandwich" luxury. Do expect a good honest matchday experience at a relatively decent standard that will rekindle your passion for the game.
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:06 - May 29 with 4520 viewschalky_ncfc

Supporting a club that's in the top four leagues is soooo last year,non league football is where its all at next season

Poll: Do you now think that Notts have suffered enough since Munto?

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:26 - May 29 with 4484 viewselectricblue

There is nothing wrong with supporting another club like Arsenal if you live in another town or city but attend local football matches where you reside...

Many many people do the above so you dont need to fall out of the love of Arsenal..
Attending Rochdale home matches may rekindle your football passion and may even change your loyalties.....

My all time favourite Dale player Mr Lyndon Symmonds

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:29 - May 29 with 4480 viewsSandyman

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:06 - May 29 by chalky_ncfc

Supporting a club that's in the top four leagues is soooo last year,non league football is where its all at next season


NCFC might get their place back if bury get liquidated / thrown out of the league. How unfashionable would that be?
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:43 - May 29 with 4458 viewsCleedale

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:06 - May 29 by chalky_ncfc

Supporting a club that's in the top four leagues is soooo last year,non league football is where its all at next season


Allegedly there was some leak? @ the bury meeting last night that Plymouth and Notts C have been alerted and to be prepared to possibly moving up a division. (NOT btw from finishing position but post relegation).

Seems like efl urgently require verification from said club as fixtures are out 20th, one day after court meeting, which would of course be way too late if they are STILL looking into 'potential' buyers.

Anyway, that really is digressing chalky (and on the wrong thread)!

In reply to OP about Rochdale...sure you'll see some bad games but you'll also see what survival is all about. Real players playing real footie on realistic wages and usually giving their best and often more. And, the real opportunity to see future talent in the making of which we've seen (quite) a few gems pass through the books on their way to play at much higher levels. And, just as importantly, kept the club where it is at it's present level through sales and add-ons.

You can't beat it!
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 12:02 - May 29 with 4415 viewsD_Alien

I'll add to the above the prospect of meaningful participation in the most eclectic, fervent, insightful, idiotic, funny, exasperating, sick, all-too-human (referencing Nietzsche) football messagebourd (sic) in the wurld (sic)



[Post edited 29 May 2019 12:05]

Poll: What are you planning to do v Newport

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 15:35 - May 29 with 4208 viewsSheffdale

And in addition to all the above, which I heartily endorse, is a plug for the Exiles section of the Dale Trust which gives out of town supporters a chance to catch up twice a season at home and away with hospitality thrown in. A tenner joins you to a thriving Trust which sets out to provide a link between club and fans and raises money for local causes

https://www.daletrust.co.uk/category/exile-news/
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 15:57 - May 29 with 4181 viewskel

Hmmm...
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 16:52 - May 29 with 4081 viewschalky_ncfc

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:29 - May 29 by Sandyman

NCFC might get their place back if bury get liquidated / thrown out of the league. How unfashionable would that be?


I haven't seen that anywhere else so I'm going to take it with a massive pinch of salt

Poll: Do you now think that Notts have suffered enough since Munto?

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 18:32 - May 29 with 3992 viewskel

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 16:52 - May 29 by chalky_ncfc

I haven't seen that anywhere else so I'm going to take it with a massive pinch of salt


Pop(s) on to the bury board, it’s been mentioned there.
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 18:49 - May 29 with 3943 viewsSuddenLad

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 11:06 - May 29 by chalky_ncfc

Supporting a club that's in the top four leagues is soooo last year,non league football is where its all at next season


Or not......

“It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled”

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 18:57 - May 29 with 3919 viewsSuddenLad

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/notts-county-unlikel

“It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled”

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 19:16 - May 29 with 3881 viewssoulboy

If everone supported so callled "glamour teams" there would be no football as we know it. Think about it.
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 20:25 - May 29 with 3822 viewschalky_ncfc

As long as Hardy has sold up and f@#ked off in the very near future then being in non league won't worry me that much now that I've got used to the idea,don't get me wrong I would love to come back to the league but it could be worst,just look at the trouble that Bolton and Bury are in for instance

Poll: Do you now think that Notts have suffered enough since Munto?

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 16:19 - May 30 with 3501 viewsaleanddale

You do need to lower your expectations.

Some of the games are pants and sometimes you get beat at home by 3 or 4.

If you want to support a good honest local team with players on a sensible salary pulling there tripe out AND occasional brilliance / suprises / wins when least deserved then Spotland is a sound option.

In no particular order

Good local boozers pre match
Real Ale in a pint Glass at the stadium ( Dale Bar )
Pint at half time that you have time to drink and re take your seat after a pee pre second half
Your pick of seats
you can even stand if you want to ( Sandy Lane )
£200 season ticket for 23 games
Good crack
Sensible / realistic fans
No trouble
take your seat at 2.50pm
3pm Saturday home games
Your away easy enough
Back in your local maybe depending on where you live for the updated league tables.
A pride in a club that by the grace of god is both self sufficient and punches above our weight
FA Cup games v Giants of football and sometimes getting a draw ( replay ) in the last minute
Local lads given every chance
A good messageboard

Is that enough for you to give the Dale a try?.
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 20:43 - May 30 with 3390 viewscuriouslocal

Would just love to pass on a massive thank you to everyone who's replied! I wasn't expecting such a positive response but I'm blown away by the amount of passion I've seen from Rochdale fans on this message board alone. I'll definitely be turning up to the first home game of the season! Might end up a converted fan yet, who knows :)
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 20:49 - May 30 with 3380 views49thseason

Bring a couple of friends!
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 22:30 - May 30 with 3310 views442Dale

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 20:43 - May 30 by curiouslocal

Would just love to pass on a massive thank you to everyone who's replied! I wasn't expecting such a positive response but I'm blown away by the amount of passion I've seen from Rochdale fans on this message board alone. I'll definitely be turning up to the first home game of the season! Might end up a converted fan yet, who knows :)


How often did you get to see Arsenal live?

Poll: Greatest Ever Dale Game

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 00:44 - May 31 with 3243 viewsdalefertcup2

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 22:30 - May 30 by 442Dale

How often did you get to see Arsenal live?


...And how much did it cost you?
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 09:34 - May 31 with 3127 viewsrochdale_ranger

The last two years have brought many of us Daley’s down to earth with a shock as our style of play reverted to a terrible league two/non league standard. I started following Dale in the Parkin era so haven’t really had to endure some of the garbage older posters have had to endure. I was never into football as a kid then when I was 13 I made a few mates who were Dale fans and have been hooked since, none of them go now but I’ve made loads of other mates through following Dale over the years. Watching live football at any level beats sat at home watching it on the box. Go along with a mate.
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 10:04 - May 31 with 3106 viewsfrenzied

Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 09:34 - May 31 by rochdale_ranger

The last two years have brought many of us Daley’s down to earth with a shock as our style of play reverted to a terrible league two/non league standard. I started following Dale in the Parkin era so haven’t really had to endure some of the garbage older posters have had to endure. I was never into football as a kid then when I was 13 I made a few mates who were Dale fans and have been hooked since, none of them go now but I’ve made loads of other mates through following Dale over the years. Watching live football at any level beats sat at home watching it on the box. Go along with a mate.


im in the same boat as Ranger..having switched from Man Utd to Rochdale ive seen the club

at its best..promotions, relegations, cup runs..some players move on to higher levels

Dawson Holt Lambert etc etc.

As a fan you feel some emotional attachment to the club at this level, the prem is sterile, bland an almost souless experience ..the top 6 aren't gonna change much over the next 10 years..it will always be City Lpool Arsenal Chelsea Spurs Man Utd with an occasional appearance of another team one season and no more.

At lower league levels its much more open to change..who would have bet against neither Pompey or Sunderland getting promoted last season,Luton as champions?,..ok so the quality of the football is what it is but the passion on the terraces is just as great if not more than you find at the tourist littered terraces of the Prem
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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 10:38 - May 31 with 3075 viewsJames1980

It is addictive just renewed for a 3rd season ticket.

'Only happy when you've got it often makes you miss the journey'
Poll: What does Jim need ?

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Why Support Lower League Football and Rochdale? on 12:21 - Jun 1 with 2896 viewsdalelee

100% it's acceptable. Don't see any issue with following a Premier league and supporting your local team. To grow our fanbase we need you to convert!
Get down and see if you enjoy it. I used to watch a division one team in the 80s with my dad, and we attended Rochdale games ad hoc. In all honesty I actually preferred Rochdale games, and as I've grown older and watched Rochdale with more frequency and no longer watch my other team.
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