With the 2018 World Cup kicking off on Thursday, we’ve taken a look through the 23-man England squad to see which players have come up against Dale in recent years in a competitive fixture.
We reckon there are 10!
Dele Alli (MK Dons and Tottenham Hotspur)
Before making his move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, Dele Alli began his career at MK Dons. He featured for the Dons against Dale on two occasions, both during the 2014/15 season in League One.
Most recently, Alli played against Dale, both at the Crown Oil Arena and at Wembley, for Tottenham Hotspur in the Emirates FA Cup.
Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Goalkeeper Jack Butland was between the sticks for Stoke City when they visited the Crown Oil Arena in the fourth round of the FA Cup back in January 2015.
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
An unused substitute at the Crown Oil Arena, Mauricio Roberto Pochettino opted to start Dier when Rochdale faced Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. He played the full game.
Harry Kane (Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur)
The England skipper made his professional debut against Dale at the Crown Oil Arena in January 2011. The game finished 1-1, however the 17-year-old Harry Kane didn’t score on this occasion.
Fast forward seven years and the forward returned to Rochdale, this time in the FA Cup with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. After coming on as a sub, he netted an 88th minute penalty to give the visitors a late lead. But as we all know, Rochdale were certainly not out of the game and Steven Davies popped up in stoppage time to book a trip to Wembley and fifth round replay.
Harry Maguire (Hull City and Sheffield United)
Maguire has featured against Dale on three occasions during his career, with Sheffield United and Hull City. In 2011/12, he played for the Blades, taking on Dale in the league both home and away.
In 2015/16 when Dale visited the KCOM Stadium in the Capital One Cup, Maguire featured for the Championship side.
Jordan Pickford (Bradford City and Burton Albion)
Jordan Pickford was sent off when he came up against Rochdale at Valley Parade in January 2015, a match that Dale went on to win 2-1.
The on-loan goalkeeper was sent off after 11 minutes for bringing down Matty Done, resulting in a Rochdale penalty. Ian Henderson hit the bar from the spot, but quick thinking saw him duck to avoid the rebound, allowing Peter Vincenti to hit home on the follow up. The Bantams equalised, but Calvin Andrew netted a stoppage time winner to make it a game to remember.
Previously, Pickford managed 90 minutes for Burton Albion against Dale when the two teams met at the Pirelli Stadium in August 2013. Rochdale played all but seven minutes of the match with 10 men, after Peter Cavanagh was dismissed, and it was an Olly Lancashire own goal that proved to be the only one of the game, as the Brewers recorded a 1-0 win.
Nick Pope (York City)
Nick Pope kept a clean sheet on the only occasion that he’s faced Dale during his playing career, as Keith Hill’s side secured a point from a 0-0 draw against York City during the 2013/14 promotion season.
The game was played at the Crown Oil Arena in April 2014.
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur)
The full-back played the full 90 minutes in both FA Cup games against Rochdale.
John Stones (Barnsley)
John Stones, given his professional debut by Keith Hill, came to the Crown Oil Arena with Barnsley in August 2012 to take on Dale in the Capital One Cup. It was the first time Hill had returned to the Crown Oil Arena since departing for Oakwell, and it proved to be a pulsating encounter. Stones was on the scoresheet for the visiting team in the 4-3 (AET) victory for the Tykes.
Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur)
The defender featured for Tottenham Hotspur when they face Rochdale in the fifth round of the FA Cup. He played the full 90 minutes at both the Crown Oil Arena and at Wembley.