Mark Wilbraham, Editor of the club’s official matchday programme, ‘The Voice of Spotland’, takes a look back at Dale events on this date down the years...
CLASSIC MATCH
Tuesday 22nd September 1987
Littlewoods Cup, Second Round, First Leg
ROCHDALE 1, WIMBLEDON 1
Dale had reached round two of the Littlewoods Cup for the second year running and they were again drawn against a top flight side beginning with ‘W’!
Twelve months earlier Vic Halom’s side had faced Watford, who recorded a narrow 3-2 aggregate win.
This time, with Eddie Gray at the helm, Dale were paired with Wimbledon, a club who had been in the Football League for only ten years and whose rise to the First Division was the stuff of fairytales.
The self-styled ‘Crazy Gang’ had ignored reputations on their way to playing among the elite and they arrived at Spotland in eighth place in Division One, albeit on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.
Dale hadn’t won in four league games, but they had arrested a run of losses with a 1-1 draw at Exeter at the weekend to leave themselves in seventh position in the Fourth Division.
The 90 minutes weren’t the most exciting witnessed by the fans that season, but Dale matched their loftier opponents to earn a deserved 1-1 draw.
Both goals came in the first half and both came from the penalty spot.
Wimbledon went in front on 25 minutes after Keith Welch had dropped a cross and pulled down Dennis Wise as he attempted to grab the loose ball. John Fashanu completed the formalities.
Three minutes from half-time Dale were level.
Both Shaun Reid and Lyndon Simmonds were knocked off the ball in the area and referee Ken Redfern had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Simmonds (pictured above) saw his penalty saved by Dave Beasant, but Mr Redfern ordered a re-take and this time the little Welshman sent the ‘keeper the wrong way.
The Rochdale team that night was:
Keith Welch
Geoff Lomax
Peter Hampton
John Seasman
John Bramhall
Jason Smart
Shaun Reid
Ronnie Coyle (Nigel Thompson)
Mark Hunt (Brian Stanton)
Lyndon Simmonds
Mark Gavin
ALSO ON THIS DAY
1959 Stan Milburn scored a hat-trick as Dale recorded a 4-1 home win over Barrow.
BORN ON THIS DAY
Only two former Dale players were born on this day, Steve Carney and Albert Latham.
Carney was a central defender who played five games after joining Dale on loan from Darlington in January 1986. Steve sadly passed away in May 2013, aged 55.
Latham made eight appearances at half-back for the club early in the 1930/31 season.