1987–88 Rochdale A.F.C. season

The 1987–88 season was Rochdale A.F.C.'s 81st in existence and their 14th consecutive in the Football League Fourth Division.

Rochdale

1987–88 season
Manager	Eddie Gray
Fourth Division	21st
FA Cup	1st Round
League Cup	2nd Round
Top goalscorer	League: Lyndon Simmonds All: Lyndon Simmonds

Statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Division 4		F.A. Cup		League Cup		A.M. Cup		Lancashire Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Keith Welch	57	0	46+0	0	1+0	0	4+0	0	3+0	0	3+0	0
	DF	ENG	Geoff Lomax	53	0	44+0	0	0+0	0	4+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0
	DF	ENG	Peter Hampton	29	1	19+0	1	1+0	0	4+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0
	MF	ENG	Shaun Reid	38	1	28+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	1	3+0	0	3+0	0
	DF	ENG	John Bramhall	48	4	40+0	4	0+0	0	4+0	0	2+0	0	2+0	0
	MF	ENG	John Seasman	42	2	32+1	1	1+0	0	4+0	0	1+0	1	3+0	0
	MF	ENG	Brian Stanton	37	1	25+7	1	0+0	0	0+3	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	WAL	Lyndon Simmonds	54	15	43+0	12	1+0	0	4+0	1	3+0	2	3+0	0
	MF	SCO	Mark Gavin	32	6	23+0	6	1+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0
	DF	ENG	Jason Smart	44	3	36+0	3	1+0	0	4+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0
	MF	ENG	Simon Holden	29	2	15+10	2	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+1	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	Derek Parlane	26	4	19+0	3	1+0	0	3+0	1	1+0	0	2+0	0
	FW	ENG	Mark Hunt	4	1	1+0	1	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+1	0
	DF	ENG	Dean Walling	14	2	8+4	2	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Nigel Thompson	5	0	3+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Ronnie Coyle	31	2	23+1	1	1+0	0	4+0	1	2+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	AUS	Zacari Hughes	4	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Derrick Parker	9	2	6+1	1	0+0	0	1+0	1	1+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	David Mycock	12	0	9+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Lee Warren	34	1	31+0	1	1+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Andy Duggan	5	0	3+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Stuart Mellish	12	0	12+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	John Moore	10	2	10+0	2	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	WAL	Carl Harris	16	2	15+0	2	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Paul Hancox	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Ernie Moss	10	2	10+0	2	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Danny Crerand	3	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Alan Young	1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Jamie Doyle	3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	3+0	0

Final League Table

Main article: 1987–88 Football League Fourth Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
19	Hereford United	46	14	12	20	41	59	−18	54
20	Stockport County	46	12	15	19	44	58	−14	51
21	Rochdale	46	11	15	20	47	76	−29	48
22	Exeter City	46	11	13	22	53	68	−15	46
23	Carlisle United	46	12	8	26	57	86	−29	44

Source:

Competitions

Football League Fourth Division

Main article: 1987–88 Football League

Hereford United v Rochdale

15 August 1987 (1987-08-15) 1	Hereford United	0–0	Rochdale	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2652 Referee: KA Cooper

Rochdale v Peterborough United

22 August 1987 (1987-08-22) 2	Rochdale	1–1	Peterborough United	Rochdale
	Parlane 42'	Report	Riley 39'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1770 Referee: JL Watson

Halifax Town v Rochdale

28 August 1987 (1987-08-28) 3	Halifax Town	1–2	Rochdale	Halifax
	Holden 11'	Report	Simmonds 47', 53' (pen.)	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 2275 Referee: NJ Ashley

Rochdale v Crewe Alexandra

31 August 1987 (1987-08-31) 4	Rochdale	2–2	Crewe Alexandra	Rochdale
	Gavin 38' Stanton 79'	Report	Platt 21', 26'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2346 Referee: KS Hackett

Scunthorpe United v Rochdale

5 September 1987 (1987-09-05) 5	Scunthorpe United	1–0	Rochdale	Scunthorpe
	Dixon 1'	Report		Stadium: Old Show Ground Attendance: 1959 Referee: JW Lloyd

Rochdale v Stockport County

12 September 1987 (1987-09-12) 6	Rochdale	0–1	Stockport County	Rochdale
		Report	Edwards 25'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2124 Referee: JJ Timmons

Torquay United v Rochdale

15 September 1987 (1987-09-15) 7	Torquay United	5–0	Rochdale	Torquay
	Dobson 3', 33' Cole 23' McLoughlin 55' Riley 79'	Report		Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 1965 Referee: JM Carter

Exeter City v Rochdale

19 September 1987 (1987-09-19) 8	Exeter City	1–1	Rochdale	Exeter
	Kellow 75' (pen.)	Report	Hunt 35'	Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 2628 Referee: RG Groves

Rochdale v Burnley

26 September 1987 (1987-09-26) 9	Rochdale	2–1	Burnley	Rochdale
	Bramhall 13' Parlane 69'	Report	Oghani 60'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4655 Referee: SJ Lodge

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Rochdale

29 September 1987 (1987-09-29) 10	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2–0	Rochdale	Wolverhampton
	Mutch 2' Bull 76'	Report		Stadium: Molineux Stadium Attendance: 5533 Referee: KA Miller

Rochdale v Carlisle United

3 October 1987 (1987-10-03) 11	Rochdale	1–2	Carlisle United	Rochdale
	Smart 52'	Report	Poskett 48', 77' Clark Bishop	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1940 Referee: H Taylor

Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale

9 October 1987 (1987-10-09) 12	Tranmere Rovers	6–1	Rochdale	Birkenhead
	Muir 25', 56', 84' Vickers 39' Harvey 70' Morrissey 81'	Report	Bramhall 44'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 2303 Referee: JA Ireland

Rochdale v Darlington

17 October 1987 (1987-10-17) 13	Rochdale	1–3	Darlington	Rochdale
	Parker 14'	Report	Stonehouse 46' (pen.), 70' Currie 53'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1471 Referee: KJ Breen

Leyton Orient v Rochdale

20 October 1987 (1987-10-20) 14	Leyton Orient	8–0	Rochdale	London
	Smalley 18' Shinners 32', 75' Hales 35' (pen.), 45' Dickenson 60' Comfort 62', 70'	Report		Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 2995 Referee: WK Burge

Rochdale v Bolton Wanderers

24 October 1987 (1987-10-24) 15	Rochdale	2–2	Bolton Wanderers	Rochdale
	Bramhall 24' Parlane 55'	Report	Thomas 79', 89' (pen.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4294 Referee: WA Flood

Cardiff City v Rochdale

31 October 1987 (1987-10-31) 16	Cardiff City	1–0	Rochdale	Cardiff
	Gilligan 90'	Report		Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3046 Referee: C Downey

Rochdale v Colchester United

3 November 1987 (1987-11-03) 17	Rochdale	1–4	Colchester United	Rochdale
	Simmonds 45'	Report	Wilkins 34', 42' Chatterton 58' (pen.) Hinshelwood 72'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1399 Referee: KS Hackett

Rochdale v Swansea City

7 November 1987 (1987-11-07) 18	Rochdale	2–3	Swansea City	Rochdale
	Simmonds 88' Gavin 90'	Report	Pascoe 66', 86' McCarthy 73'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1253 Referee: BT Stevens

Cambridge United v Rochdale

21 November 1987 (1987-11-21) 19	Cambridge United	1–2	Rochdale	Cambridge
	Benjamin 23'	Report	Simmonds 1' Hampton 63'	Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 2104 Referee: D Hutchinson

Rochdale v Scarborough

28 November 1987 (1987-11-28) 20	Rochdale	1–1	Scarborough	Rochdale
	Coyle 51'	Report	Graham  15' Lowe 71'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1838 Referee: DT Phillips

Wrexham v Rochdale

12 December 1987 (1987-12-12) 21	Wrexham	2–3	Rochdale	Wrexham
	Cunnington 37' Bowden 41' Preece	Report	Gavin 23' Bramhall 30' Simmonds 50'	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 1409 Referee: KP Barratt

Rochdale v Newport County

19 December 1987 (1987-12-19) 22	Rochdale	3–0	Newport County	Rochdale
	Walling 15' Gavin 38', 84'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1491 Referee: VG Callow

Burnley v Rochdale

26 December 1987 (1987-12-26) 23	Burnley	4–0	Rochdale	Burnley
	Oghani 1' Farrell 43' Comstive 44' Britton 68'	Report		Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 7013 Referee: T Fitzharris

Rochdale v Hartlepool United

28 December 1987 (1987-12-28) 24	Rochdale	0–2	Hartlepool United	Rochdale
		Report	Baker 32' Whellans 83'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1851 Referee: JB Worrall

Rochdale v Halifax Town

1 January 1988 (1988-01-01) 25	Rochdale	0–0	Halifax Town	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2050 Referee: F Roberts

Stockport County v Rochdale

2 January 1988 (1988-01-02) 26	Stockport County	1–1	Rochdale	Stockport
	Worthington 28'	Report	Gavin 9'	Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 2441 Referee: RF Nixon

Peterborough United v Rochdale

9 January 1988 (1988-01-09) 27	Peterborough United	1–1	Rochdale	Peterborough
	White 25'	Report	Moore 4'	Stadium: London Road Stadium Attendance: 3230 Referee: DR Elleray

Rochdale v Exeter City

16 January 1988 (1988-01-16) 28	Rochdale	0–0	Exeter City	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1431 Referee: PW Vanes

Rochdale v Torquay United

26 January 1988 (1988-01-26) 29	Rochdale	1–1	Torquay United	Rochdale
	Smart 56'	Report	Lloyd 2'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1281 Referee: KA Lupton

Crewe Alexandra v Rochdale

29 January 1988 (1988-01-29) 30	Crewe Alexandra	0–1	Rochdale	Crewe
		Report	Simmonds 10'	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 2107 Referee: JA Ireland

Rochdale v Scunthorpe United

6 February 1988 (1988-02-06) 31	Rochdale	2–1	Scunthorpe United	Rochdale
	Russell 60' (o.g.) Money 88' (o.g.)	Report	Flounders 69'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1455 Referee: KA Redfern

Hartlepool United v Rochdale

13 February 1988 (1988-02-13) 32	Hartlepool United	1–1	Rochdale	Hartlepool
	Toman 46'	Report	Simmonds 75' (pen.)	Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2120 Referee: CC Trussell

Rochdale v Hereford United

20 February 1988 (1988-02-20) 33	Rochdale	3–1	Hereford United	Rochdale
	Moore 32' Simmonds 47' Holden 47'	Report	Stevens 71'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1568 Referee: G Aplin

Carlisle United v Rochdale

27 February 1988 (1988-02-27) 34	Carlisle United	2–0	Rochdale	Carlisle
	Holdsworth 13' Wright 22'	Report		Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 1983 Referee: JW Lloyd

Rochdale v Wolverhampton Wanderers

1 March 1988 (1988-03-01) 35	Rochdale	0–1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Rochdale
		Report	Holmes 21'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2805 Referee: J McAulay

Darlington v Rochdale

5 March 1988 (1988-03-05) 36	Darlington	2–1	Rochdale	Darlington
	Clayton 22', 64'	Report	Seasman 41'	Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 1773 Referee: M Dimblebee

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

12 March 1988 (1988-03-12) 37	Rochdale	0–0	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1622 Referee: TJ Holbrook

Bolton Wanderers v Rochdale

26 March 1988 (1988-03-26) 38	Bolton Wanderers	0–0	Rochdale	Bolton
		Report		Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 4875 Referee: K Walmsley

Rochdale v Cardiff City

29 March 1988 (1988-03-29) 39	Rochdale	2–2	Cardiff City	Rochdale
	Harris 42' Simmonds 70' (pen.)	Report	Bartlett 57' Bramhall 78' (o.g.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1435 Referee: H Taylor

Swansea City v Rochdale

2 April 1988 (1988-04-02) 40	Swansea City	0–3	Rochdale	Swansea
		Report	Simmonds 39', 55' Moss 75'	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 5367 Referee: RG Groves

Rochdale v Cambridge United

4 April 1988 (1988-04-04) 41	Rochdale	2–1	Cambridge United	Rochdale
	Smart 51' Holden 86'	Report	Fuccillo 62'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1596 Referee: JL Watson

Colchester United v Rochdale

8 April 1988 (1988-04-08) 42	Colchester United	1–0	Rochdale	Colchester
	Tempest 51'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1864 Referee: PS Danson

Rochdale v Leyton Orient

23 April 1988 (1988-04-23) 43	Rochdale	1–3	Leyton Orient	Rochdale
	Moss 38'	Report	Juryeff 26', 47' Castle 68'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1390 Referee: RA Hart

Scarborough v Rochdale

30 April 1988 (1988-04-30) 44	Scarborough	2–1	Rochdale	Scarborough
	Richards 30' Short 44'	Report	Harris	Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1852 Referee: JJ Timmons

Rochdale v Wrexham

2 May 1988 (1988-05-02) 45	Rochdale	1–2	Wrexham	Rochdale
	Warren 29'	Report	Preece 47' Russell 77'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1539 Referee: PL Wright

Newport County v Rochdale

7 May 1988 (1988-05-07) 46	Newport County	0–1	Rochdale	Newport
		Report	Walling 62'	Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 2560 Referee: AN Buksh

F.A. Cup

Main article: 1987–88 FA Cup

Rochdale v Wrexham

14 November 1987 (1987-11-14) 1	Rochdale	0–2	Wrexham	Rochdale
		Report	Carter 1' Buxton 30'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1831 Referee: PL Wright

League Cup (Littlewoods Challenge Cup)

Main article: 1987–88 Football League Cup

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

18 August 1987 (1987-08-18) 1	Rochdale	3–1	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
	Reid 61' Coyle 79' Parlane 87' Simmonds	Report	Mungall 10' McCarrick	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1598

Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale

25 August 1987 (1987-08-25) 1	Tranmere Rovers	1–0 (2–3 agg.)	Rochdale	Birkenhead
	Thorpe 88'	Report		Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 2314 Referee: GR Ashby

Rochdale v Wimbledon

22 September 1987 (1987-09-22) 2	Rochdale	1–1	Wimbledon	Rochdale
	Simmonds 42' (pen.)	Report	Fashanu 26' (pen.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2801 Referee: KA Redfern

Wimbledon v Rochdale

6 October 1987 (1987-10-06) 2	Wimbledon	2–1 (3–2 agg.)	Rochdale	Wimbledon
	Fashanu 67' Cork 72' Young	Report	Parker 52'	Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 2605 Referee: IJ Borrett

Associate Members' Cup (Sherpa Vans Trophy)

Main article: 1987–88 Associate Members' Cup

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers

13 October 1987 (1987-10-13) PR	Rochdale	0–0	Tranmere Rovers	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 920 Referee: JM Key

Burnley v Rochdale

24 November 1987 (1987-11-24) PR	Burnley	3–2	Rochdale	Burnley
	Grewcock 6' Reeves 44' Farrell 77'	Report	Seasman 72' Simmonds 76' (pen.) Coyle	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 2677 Referee: K Walmsley

Preston North End v Rochdale

19 January 1988 (1988-01-19) 1	Preston North End	3–1	Rochdale	Preston
	Atkins 20' Swann 25' Ellis 69'	Report	Simmonds 82'	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 2983 Referee: KJ Breen

Lancashire Cup

Preston North End v Rochdale

1 August 1987 (1987-08-01)	Preston North End	1–0	Rochdale	Preston
				Stadium: Deepdale

Bury v Rochdale

5 August 1987 (1987-08-05)	Bury	2–0	Rochdale	Bury
				Stadium: Gigg Lane

Wigan Athletic v Rochdale

8 August 1987 (1987-08-08)	Wigan Athletic	4–0	Rochdale	Wigan
				Stadium: Springfield Park