1967–68 Rochdale A.F.C. season

The 1967–68 season saw Rochdale compete for their 9th consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division.

Rochdale

1967–68 season
Manager	Tony Collins Bob Stokoe
League Division Four	19th
FA Cup	1st Round
League Cup	1st Round
Top goalscorer	League: Joe Fletcher All: Joe Fletcher
← 1966–67 1968–69 →

Statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Division 4		F.A. Cup		League Cup		Lancashire Cup		Northern Floodlit Cup		Rose Bowl
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Les Green	52	0	44+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Steve Melledew	45	8	35+3	7	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	1	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Laurie Calloway	33	1	26+1	1	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	SCO	John Reid	45	3	37+2	3	1+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Graham Smith	50	0	42+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
	DF	ENG	Brian Eastham	16	0	13+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Jack Winspear	18	3	15+1	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Billy Russell	34	2	26+1	1	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	1	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Joe Fletcher	46	16	38+0	15	1+0	1	1+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
	FW	ENG	Reg Jenkins	49	7	42+0	7	1+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Hughen Riley	24	4	17+3	4	0+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	ENG	Brian Taylor	35	0	30+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Vic Cockcroft	45	0	42+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	ENG	Barry Hutchinson	31	5	27+0	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	3+0	1	1+0	1	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	David Crompton	8	0	6+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	IRL	Frank McEwen	10	1	7+0	1	1+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Ray Daubney	3	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	GK	SCO	Bobby Williamson	2	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	David Dow	9	0	7+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Les Harley	7	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Dennis Butler	16	2	15+0	2	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	ENG	Billy Rudd	17	1	16+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Ken Bracewell	5	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	ENG	Ernie Wilkinson	9	0	9+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

Final League Table

Main article: 1967–68 Football League Fourth Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
17	Notts County	46	15	11	20	53	79	0.671	41
18	Port Vale^[a]	46	12	15	19	61	72	0.847	39	Re-elected
19	Rochdale	46	12	14	20	51	72	0.708	38
20	Exeter City	46	11	16	19	45	65	0.692	38
21	York City	46	11	14	21	65	68	0.956	36	Re-elected

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. Due to financial irregularities, Port Vale were made to apply for re-election to the Football League despite not finishing in the bottom four.

Competitions

Football League Fourth Division

Main article: 1967–68 Football League

Newport County v Rochdale

19 August  1967 (1967 -08-19) 1	Newport County	1–1	Rochdale	Newport
	Melling   46'	Report	Calloway   20'	Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 4858

Rochdale v York City

26 August  1967 (1967 -08-26) 2	Rochdale	3–2	York City	Rochdale
	Riley   1', 33' Fletcher   24'	Report	Provan   32' Spencer   72'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2536

Rochdale v Lincoln City

2 September  1967 (1967 -09-02) 3	Rochdale	1–2	Lincoln City	Rochdale
	Melledew   65'	Report	Ford   35', 43'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2467

Hartlepools United v Rochdale

4 September  1967 (1967 -09-04) 4	Hartlepools United	1–1	Rochdale	Hartlepool
	McGovern	Report	Fletcher	Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 8361

Brentford v Rochdale

9 September  1967 (1967 -09-09) 5	Brentford	4–0	Rochdale	Brentford
	Ross   4' Docherty   22' Lawther   45' Melledew   78' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 5646

Rochdale v Bradford Park Avenue

16 September  1967 (1967 -09-16) 6	Rochdale	1–1	Bradford Park Avenue	Rochdale
	Fletcher   58'	Report	Ham   38'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2579

Doncaster Rovers v Rochdale

23 September  1967 (1967 -09-23) 7	Doncaster Rovers	2–0	Rochdale	Doncaster
	Gilfillan   11' Jeffrey   27' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 6530

Rochdale v Hartlepools United

25 September  1967 (1967 -09-25) 8	Rochdale	1–1	Hartlepools United	Rochdale
	Winspear	Report	Bell	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2041

Rochdale v Luton Town

30 September  1967 (1967 -09-30) 9	Rochdale	2–2	Luton Town	Rochdale
	Winspear   38' Jenkins   65'	Report	Buxton   26' Rioch   32'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1884

Barnsley v Rochdale

3 October  1967 (1967 -10-03) 10	Barnsley	1–1	Rochdale	Barnsley
	Bettany	Report	Fletcher	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 4663

Bradford City v Rochdale

7 October  1967 (1967 -10-07) 11	Bradford City	0–0	Rochdale	Bradford
		Report		Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 5174

Rochdale v Crewe Alexandra

14 October  1967 (1967 -10-14) 12	Rochdale	1–1	Crewe Alexandra	Rochdale
	Winspear   89'	Report	Talbot   56'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2397

Notts County v Rochdale

21 October  1967 (1967 -10-21) 13	Notts County	2–0	Rochdale	Nottingham
	Elliott   45' Bradd   83'	Report		Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 5832

Rochdale v Barnsley

23 October  1967 (1967 -10-23) 14	Rochdale	1–0	Barnsley	Rochdale
	Fletcher	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3368

Rochdale v Port Vale

28 October  1967 (1967 -10-28) 15	Rochdale	3–1	Port Vale	Rochdale
	Hutchinson   52' Reid   70' Jenkins   78' (pen.)	Report	Chapman   24'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2566

Chester v Rochdale

4 November  1967 (1967 -11-04) 16	Chester	0–1	Rochdale	Chester
		Report	Melledew   81'	Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 4068

Rochdale v Chesterfield

11 November  1967 (1967 -11-11) 17	Rochdale	1–4	Chesterfield	Rochdale
	Jenkins   44'	Report	Hollett   55' Randall   56', 70' (pen.) Moore   83'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2391

Exeter City v Rochdale

18 November  1967 (1967 -11-18) 18	Exeter City	3–1	Rochdale	Exeter
	Curtis   10' Banks   11', 65'	Report	Jenkins   79'	Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 4072

Rochdale v Darlington

25 November  1967 (1967 -11-25) 19	Rochdale	1–0	Darlington	Rochdale
	Jenkins   81'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1692

Aldershot v Rochdale

2 December  1967 (1967 -12-02) 20	Aldershot	2–1	Rochdale	Aldershot
	Howarth   16' Burton   62'	Report	Fletcher   82'	Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 4687

Rochdale v Newport County

16 December  1967 (1967 -12-16) 21	Rochdale	4–3	Newport County	Rochdale
	Reid   9', 80' Fletcher   17' Melledew   62'	Report	Hill   25' (pen.) Buck   29' Robinson   47'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1662

York City v Rochdale

23 December  1967 (1967 -12-23) 22	York City	4–1	Rochdale	York
	Jenkins   10' (o.g.) MacDougall   16', 46' Provan   23'	Report	Russell   34'	Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 3329

Wrexham v Rochdale

26 December  1967 (1967 -12-26) 23	Wrexham	2–0	Rochdale	Wrexham
	Beanland   Weston	Report		Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 9767

Rochdale v Wrexham

30 December  1967 (1967 -12-30) 24	Rochdale	3–0	Wrexham	Rochdale
	Showell   30' (o.g.) Jenkins   40' (pen.) Hutchinson   73'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1799

Lincoln City v Rochdale

6 January  1968 (1968 -01-06) 25	Lincoln City	3–2	Rochdale	Lincoln
	Holmes   36' Grummett   55', 67'	Report	Peden   80' (o.g.) McEwen   88'	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 5480

Bradford Park Avenue v Rochdale

20 January  1968 (1968 -01-20) 26	Bradford Park Avenue	0–0	Rochdale	Bradford
		Report		Stadium: Park Avenue Attendance: 3334

Rochdale v Workington

27 January  1968 (1968 -01-27) 27	Rochdale	1–3	Workington	Rochdale
	Fletcher   75'	Report	Tinnion   47' McLean   54' Spratt   78'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1606

Rochdale v Doncaster Rovers

3 February  1968 (1968 -02-03) 28	Rochdale	2–0	Doncaster Rovers	Rochdale
	Melledew   53' Fletcher   75'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1728

Luton Town v Rochdale

10 February  1968 (1968 -02-10) 29	Luton Town	4–1	Rochdale	Luton
	Rioch   14' Allen   24' Buxton   38' Branston   42'	Report	Fletcher   23'	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 10040

Rochdale v Southend United

17 February  1968 (1968 -02-17) 30	Rochdale	0–1	Southend United	Rochdale
		Report	McKinven   12'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2370

Rochdale v Exeter City

24 February  1968 (1968 -02-24) 31	Rochdale	2–2	Exeter City	Rochdale
	Melledew   62' Rudd   75'	Report	Blain   29' Corr   82'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2159

Crewe Alexandra v Rochdale

2 March  1968 (1968 -03-02) 32	Crewe Alexandra	2–1	Rochdale	Crewe
	Smith   65' (o.g.) Tarbuck	Report	Fletcher   44'	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 4570

Halifax Town v Rochdale

9 March  1968 (1968 -03-09) 33	Halifax Town	2–0	Rochdale	Halifax
	Massie   71' McCarthy   80'	Report		Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 4933

Rochdale v Notts County

16 March  1968 (1968 -03-16) 34	Rochdale	0–0	Notts County	Rochdale
		Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1895

Rochdale v Brentford

18 March  1968 (1968 -03-18) 35	Rochdale	1–1	Brentford	Rochdale
	Melledew   90'	Report	Cockcroft   21' (o.g.)	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1725

Port Vale v Rochdale

23 March  1968 (1968 -03-23) 36	Port Vale	1–1	Rochdale	Stoke-on-Trent
	Chapman   34'	Report	Butler   65'	Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 3151

Rochdale v Chester

30 March  1968 (1968 -03-30) 37	Rochdale	1–1	Chester	Rochdale
	Fletcher   64'	Report	Loyden   20'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2212

Chesterfield v Rochdale

6 April  1968 (1968 -04-06) 38	Chesterfield	0–2	Rochdale	Chesterfield
		Report	Fletcher   19' Kettleborough   71' (o.g.)	Stadium: Saltergate Recreation Ground Attendance: 7159

Rochdale v Bradford City

13 April  1968 (1968 -04-13) 39	Rochdale	3–2	Bradford City	Rochdale
	Fletcher   26', 86' Hutchinson   71'	Report	Leighton   58' Bannister   70'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4625

Rochdale v Swansea Town

15 April  1968 (1968 -04-15) 40	Rochdale	1–2	Swansea Town	Rochdale
	Jenkins   (pen.)	Report	Raybould   Williams	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3076

Swansea Town v Rochdale

16 April  1968 (1968 -04-16) 41	Swansea Town	1–0	Rochdale	Swansea
	Todd   84'	Report		Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 4978

Darlington v Rochdale

20 April  1968 (1968 -04-20) 42	Darlington	2–0	Rochdale	Darlington
	L. O'Neill   48' J. O'Neill   59'	Report		Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 3241

Rochdale v Aldershot

27 April  1968 (1968 -04-27) 43	Rochdale	0–2	Aldershot	Rochdale
		Report	Howarth   63' Gowans   83'	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2001

Rochdale v Halifax Town

29 April  1968 (1968 -04-29) 44	Rochdale	2–1	Halifax Town	Rochdale
	Melledew   Riley	Report	Morris	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1929

Workington v Rochdale

4 May  1968 (1968 -05-04) 45	Workington	0–1	Rochdale	Workington
		Report	Butler   49'	Stadium: Borough Park Attendance: 1405

Southend United v Rochdale

10 May  1968 (1968 -05-10) 46	Southend United	3–1	Rochdale	Southend-on-Sea
	Chisnall   5' Best   40', 68'	Report	Riley   61'	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 5744

F.A. Cup

Main article: 1967–68 FA Cup

Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale

9 December  1967 (1967 -12-09) 1	Tranmere Rovers	5–1	Rochdale	Birkenhead
	Williams   49' Hudson   51', 69', 74' Yardley   71'	Report	Fletcher   55'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 4500

League Cup

Main article: 1967–68 Football League Cup

Rochdale v Bury

23 August  1967 (1967 -08-23) 1	Rochdale	0–1	Bury	Rochdale
		Report	Lindsay	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4848

Lancashire Cup

Rochdale v Manchester United

31 October  1967 (1967 -10-31)	Rochdale	1–1	Manchester United	Rochdale
	Hutchinson			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1981

Manchester United v Rochdale

22 November  1967 (1967 -11-22) Abandoned	Manchester United	1–0	Rochdale	Manchester
				Stadium: Old Trafford

Manchester United v Rochdale

15 January  1968 (1968 -01-15)	Manchester United	7–0	Rochdale	Manchester
				Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 5267

Northern Floodlit Cup

Wigan Athletic v Rochdale

13 February  1968 (1968 -02-13)	Wigan Athletic	3–2	Rochdale	Wigan
			Russell   Hutchinson	Stadium: Springfield Park Attendance: 654

Rochdale v Wigan Athletic

26 February  1968 (1968 -02-26)	Rochdale	1–1	Wigan Athletic	Rochdale
	Melledew			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1146

Rose Bowl

Rochdale v Oldham Athletic

()	Rochdale	1–1	Oldham Athletic	Rochdale
	Lawson  , o.g.'			Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2548

^[1][2]

References

1. Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001 by Steven Phillipps. ISBN 1874427097
2. "The English National Football Archive". Enfa.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2022. ^{[not specific enough to verify]}