Chris Dagnall was a product of the youth academy at Tranmere Rovers but moved to Spotland in January 2006 for a fee of £15,000. He had represented Rovers since the age of 13 and had been a prolific goalscorer at all levels of the club. He progressed through the youth ranks at Prenton Park to make his debut aged just 17 in September 2003 against Peterborough United.  His first goal for Rovers came in a 3-1 defeat at Luton Town in October of the same year.

The club had high hopes for the youngster after he continued to impress during the 2004/05 season but after limited opportunites under Brian Little in 2005, Steve Parkin moved quickly to sign Dagnall after the departure of Grant Holt to Nottingham Forest.

He is a quick striker with a very direct approach to the game and his Rochdale debut came in January 2006 in the 1-0 defeat by Stockport County. One of his most memorable strikes in his first season came in the shape of an injury time equaliser at Rushden & Diamonds, which was seen as one of the keys to survival by many.

Chris enjoyed a terrific season during 2007/8 forming a potent partnership with Glenn Murray, and despite losing 3 months of the season due to a broken foot, he managed to bag 17 goals from just 32 League starts including a first ever hat-trick in the home against Macclesfield.

Unfortunately Chris suffered cruciate ligament damage during the early stages of the 2007/8 season but returned ahead of schedule to score an incredible 6 minute hat trick against Rotherham, and goals in both legs of the semi-final games against Darlington, as Dale made a first ever trip to Wembley in the League 2 Play Offs, where he started alongside Adam Le Fondre. Chris' goal tally in the following 08/09 season was short of previous totals, but the striker came into form when it mattered, scoring a magnificent volley to earn a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury, and scoring in the 2nd leg of the Play-Off semi-final at Gillingham.