The 2021/22 season marks 100 years since Rochdale AFC first appeared in the Football League.
On Saturday 27th August 1921, eleven Dale players took to the field at Spotland against Accrington Stanley and thrilled around 7,000 fans with a 6-3 victory.
Reg Owens was the main man that afternoon with a hat-trick. Harry Dennison (2) and Gene Carney (pen) were also on target.
So, the weekend of Saturday 28th August 2021 will mark the 100th anniversary of Rochdale’s debut in the Football League and the club have lined-up something special to mark the occasion.
We are obviously dependent on next season’s fixture list, but we hope to have a home game that weekend. We also hope our opponents would agree to switching the game to the evening of Friday 27th August to coincide with the date from 100 years ago.
The team will also wear a special kit that weekend, which will be based on the strip worn when we entered the Football League.
Dale started their Football League life with a kit comprising black & white shirts, white shorts and black socks.
Working with our kit suppliers Errea, we have come up with a terrific retro outfit that seamlessly marries the styles of 1921 and 2021.
A few modern touches have been included for contractual reasons, but the kit is very different to that worn in the 2007/08 Centenary season and is a fitting tribute to the club’s first-ever Football League side.
The kit will be retained as the third-choice strip for the rest of next season, although we expect its use to be minimal given the other two available outfits.
You can pre-order your kit now via our online store: www.rafcshop.co.uk - stock is expected to arrive early June. Shirts are priced at £45 Adult, £35 Junior and £40 Infant (mini kit).
The club have lots of plans lined up to celebrate our 100th anniversary over the coming months including a special feature on the Wonderwall, limited edition merchandise on sale in our Club Shop and Online Store, a 1920s themed anniversary dinner (Covid permitting) and much more.