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Rochdale's incredible National League journey from the brink of collapse to cusp of League Two
It has been a whirlwind couple of years for Rochdale, who have gone from the lowest point in their history to the brink of National League promotion.
This season has followed a typically chaotic narrative, which was encapsulated in the club's final-day drama with York City that ended in heartbreak for Jimmy McNulty's side.
However, after overcoming Scunthorpe United in the play-off semi-finals, the Dale now have a second bite at promotion when they face Boreham Wood live and exclusively on DAZN this Sunday.
Rochdale hang on to defeat Scunthorpe United and reach play-off final
Watch Rochdale vs. Scunthorpe highlights
From falling out of the Football League to the edge of liquidation, DAZN News analyses Rochdale's turbulent couple of years ahead of Sunday's showdown at Wembley Stadium.
Rocdale reach all-time low
In 2023, the Dale were relegated from League Two, finishing rock bottom of the table and ending their 102-year stay in the Football League.
Never before had the club played Non-League football, but after years of decline, they had the opportunity to press the reset button, or so they thought.
“It is devastating,” then-director Guy Courtney told The Guardian when speaking about relegation.
“We fought tooth and nail as a collective group to try and avoid that happening, but our budgets have decreased. It’s been very difficult on the pitch, and we’ve been in a trough for a number of years and tried to shake that, but unfortunately, that has not happened. As a board, we are absolutely aware of the impact of that.
Jimmy McNulty was drafted in as interim boss in March of that season, following the departures of Robbie Stockdale and Jim Bentley, and was handed the opportunity to lead the club in the National League.
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Dale saved from liquidation threat
As if things could not get worse for Rochdale, the club launched a desperate plea for investment in February 2024 as they aimed to avoid possible liquidation the following month.
The club's chairman, Simon Gauge, stated that the Greater Manchester club required a cash injection of £2million, having run up losses of more than £1million over the previous year.
Gauge then held an emergency meeting of shareholders at the Crown Oil Arena in a bid to find investors, and their prayers were answered shortly after.
In May of that year, local businessman Peter Ogden and his family completed a £2million takeover of the club, bringing stability off the field, while McNulty guided Dale to an 11th-placed finish.
Why Rochdale missed out on promotion
In what has been Rochale's first stable season in some time, it has still come with pain in the form of missing out on promotion.
Despite finishing the season place on 106 points, just two behind champions York, Dale were banished to the play-offs due to what is currently a cruel and unforgiving system.
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The National League is an anomaly in that there are only two promotion spots available: one automatic place for the side that finishes as champions and one for the winner of the play-offs.
This has understandably caused a stir and resulted in the 3UP campaign, which is pushing for there to be a third promotion spot added, although this has yet to be approved.
National League ambassador and lifelong Hartlepool United supporter Jeff Stelling has often pushed the cause publicly, highlighting how well fifth-tier clubs have gone on to perform in the EFL.
Before Rochdale and York's final-day decider, the clubs released a joint statement detailing how the current system is flawed and unfair, while Minstermen manager Stuart Maynard spoke of his desire to see Dale promoted following the game.
Now, they must hold their nerve against a Boreham Wood side striving to reach the Football League for the first time in their history, having knocked out Carlisle United and Forest Green Rovers in the play-offs already.
Can Jimmy McNulty put icing on the cake?
Having chaperoned the club through the most tumultuous period in their existence, it feels fitting that McNulty could be the man to take them back to where they belong.
In what was a cat-and-mouse title race, Rochdale led the way on several occasions with games in hand on rivals York, but failed to make their advantage count and suffered in the harshest of ways.
The decider against the Minstermen featured two stoppage-time goals and two pitch invasions before York were eventually crowned champions, and while Dale supporters deserve a less stressful play-off final, life does not work that way.
If Rochdale triumphs late on Sunday, then there will be no pitch invasion, but there will be an outpouring of emotion in the stands like never before.
How to watch Boreham Wood vs. Rochdale exclusively on DAZN
The play-off finals for all three divisions in the National League will be available on DAZN for £14.99 with an NLTV Season Pass.
From next season, DAZN will have more National League coverage than ever before with:
- 400+ National League games live on DAZN from the 26/27 season
- Every National League team live at least 30 times a season
- A selection of National League North and National League South matches is available every month
- Every playoff game live
NLTV on DAZN is available on any device, including Smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles, and, for viewers in the UK, your Sky box.
If you do not have the App already, then just follow these instructions....
- Download the free DAZN App from your normal App store on your TV, phone, tablet, or streaming device
- On a laptop or PC visit www.DAZN.com/home
- Select 'Get started' or 'log in'
- Enter your email address, or sign up via the Apple, Google, or Facebook options
- You then have access to all of DAZN's free content, including the Matchroom boxing channel, LIV Golf, and FIFA+
- Then find the National League page and click 'buy now'
For more information and to sign up, head here now.
*3pm Saturday kick-offs are subject to TV blackout restrictions, but available to watch later on Saturday on demand.
