Rochdale AFC

Striker Lewis Alessandra is the latest addition to Keith Hill’s Dale side for next season after agreeing to join the club when his current contract expires at the end of June.

The 26-year-old will pen a two year deal with Rochdale on 1st July after completing two years at Plymouth Argyle and he’s delighted to be joining Keith Hill’s side.

“I’m really pleased to be here and I cannot wait to get started,” said Alessandra.  “ I have been a big admirer of the manager Keith Hill for a while.  Keith was the manager of the youth team at Rochdale when I was playing for Oldham Athletic’s youth side and you have to admire what he did with them and what he has gone on to achieve.

“He’s done great things at the club over the years and I’m excited about working under him.”

Lewis is a local lad, born in Heywood and spent all his youth years and his early pro’ years in this neck of the woods.  A move back north was something the striker was looking for despite enjoying his time down south.

“As a footballer you have to be prepared to travel, that is the nature of the job and it is something you get used to.  I had two really good years at Plymouth Argyle and I really enjoyed myself.  I played a lot of games over two seasons and liked I said I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Keith contacted me and I was very pleased not only to be playing for him, but to move up a division and to come back home.  It’s one of the closest clubs to where I was born and I came to Spotland as a kid on a few occasions.  I was here at the school of excellence as an 11-year-old but at the time we didn’t play any competitive games and that’s what I wanted so I left.

“I got picked up by Oldham Athletic and spent eight years there before the manager let me go.  I stayed in the North West and went to Morecambe and got plenty of games under my belt before heading south to Plymouth.

“I believe I have the ability to step up and play at this level and even though pre-season can be brutal at times I can’t wait to get going.”