SPOTLAND
Spotland was a League ground for 103 seasons
from 1 Jul 1921 to 30 Jun 2023
The 127th ground used for a League game
Current capacity: 10,249
Opened: 1907
TENANTS
Teams that have used this ground as a home
| Team | From | To | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochdale A.F.C. (1896) | 1 Jul 1900 | 31 May 1901 | |||
|
|
Rochdale | 2 Sep 1907 | Current | The club was a founder member of the Football League Division 3 [N] in 1921 and was also involved in a Football League Play Off Match at the neutral venue of Wembley Stadium. |
LEAGUE EVENTS
Promotions, relegations and ground moves associated with this ground
GROUND HISTORY
adapted from "The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds"
When Rochdale AFC was formed in 1907 they commenced playing here and bought the freehold for Β£1,700 in 1914. The pitch was sited on the north side of the cricket square and the facilities included a stand on the north side. Alterations had been made by the time that the club joined the Football League in 1921, the cricketing area had been dispensed with and a main stand, which suffered damage on three subsequent occasions, built on the south side. The installation of covers on the north side and at the east end in the 1920s was the last improvement made in pre-WWII years. Some ground levelling took place in 1948 with the spoil forming additional banking in the south east corner. The record attendance of 24,231 was subsequently set at the FA Cup 2nd Round tie v. Notts County (1-2) on December 10th, 1949. Apart from the installation of a cover at the west end in 1961 and construction of terracing at the east end and some re-roofing around the ground in the 1980s the ground remained unchanged until a new 1,852 seat main stand was constructed on the south side in 1992.
Further improvements subsequently carried out included the construction of all seater stands on the north side and at the east end giving a capacity at the start of the 2007/8 season of 10,262 with 8,342 seats. The pitch size was 114 x 76 yards.
Further improvements subsequently carried out included the construction of all seater stands on the north side and at the east end giving a capacity at the start of the 2007/8 season of 10,262 with 8,342 seats. The pitch size was 114 x 76 yards.
GROUND DETAILS
adapted from "The Extreme Groundhoppers Guide"
- Ground address
- Spotland Sandy Lane, Rochdale, OL11 5DR
- Main phone
- 0870 822 1907
- Ticket prices
- Adults Β£20, Concessions Β£14, 1 Adult + 1 under 16 Β£25, Additional Adult Β£18 (Max 2 Adults), Additional under 16 Β£7 (Max 3 under 16's per adult)
- Food & drink
- At the ground itself, there are two bars to choose from, Studds is located underneath the Pearl Street Stand and is worth a visit, if only to sample the large range of tasty pies & pasties. The Ratcliffe Arms is located at the car park entrance to the ground, on Sandy Lane. This pub has SKY TV and on my last visit had a mixture of home and away fans.
If you arrive early, the Cemetery Hotel, located at the bottom of Sandy Lane at 470 Bury Road Great traditional, multi-roomed local with well-kept cask ales. Friendly and relaxed atmosphere also services food. Well worth a visit.
- If driving
- Exit the M62 at Junction 20 and take the A627 (M) towards Rochdale. At the end of the A627 (M) you should be in the left hand lane to turn left at the traffic lights into Edinburgh Way. Now follow the road and with Tesco on your left, go straight through the next set of lights (approach in the middle lane) into Roch Valley Way. At the next crossroads (where the Cemetery pub is on the corner) go straight onto Sandy Lane, where the ground can be found after approx 1200 yards on the right. Car parking at the ground is now for permit holders only, as there is a "residents only" parking scheme in operation in streets around Spotland. So I continue on past the ground and at the crossroads take a left into Edenfield Road on the left is a car park for dental surgeons on the left which is quite big car park there its only 6 minutes from ground and is not used after midday on a Saturday and is the entrance to Denhurst Park.
- Public transport
- Train to Rochdale that is served by trains from Wigan, Manchester & Leeds, and is around two miles away from the ground. But its only 28 minutes walk on to the main road as you leave the station there is a roundabout in front of you. Cross it, keeping to the left and take the second left into Lower Tweedale Street. And at the second cross roads walk up turn right into More Street and then cross over the road and then turn left into Drake street and walk along till you get to Manchester Road and then cross the Manchester Road via the pedestrian crossing. Now the left hand side of the dual carriageway, carry on in the same direction as before, then turn left into Dane Street and this becomes Mellor Street after Asda, then at the end of Mellor Street turn left along Edenfield Road and then left again into Willbutts Lane for the ground.
The train to Bolton then walk three minutes to Ash Street and take the 471 first bus to Bury Interchange then the 468 Rosedale Transport to Sandy Lane and its two minutes to the ground or at Rochdale Rail Station take a five minute walk over to Station Road at Nye Bevan House and take the 438 First Bus to Sandy Lane its two minutes to the ground
MAP
Spotland