# 2021–22 Rochdale A.F.C. season

The 2021–22 season is Rochdale's 115th year in their history and first season back in League Two since the 2013–14 season following relegation last season. Along with the league, the club will also compete in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

## Manager changes

On 30 June, Dale announced they reluctantly agreed to release manager Brian Barry-Murphy from his contract.
Robbie Stockdale was appointed as the new manager on July 10, signing a two-year contract with the club.

## First-team squad
### Statistics

    As of 7 May 2022
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | F.A. Cup | F.A. Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Jay Lynch | 31 | 0 | 25+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Corey O'Keeffe | 50 | 5 | 38+4 | 2 | 3+0 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 2 |
| 3 | DF | IRL | Aidy White | 17 | 0 | 7+5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Jimmy McNulty | 14 | 0 | 9+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Max Taylor | 29 | 3 | 19+3 | 3 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | IRL | Eoghan O'Connell | 50 | 1 | 45+0 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | NIR | Stephen Dooley | 44 | 0 | 30+8 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Aaron Morley | 26 | 2 | 19+2 | 1 | 3+0 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Jimmy Ball | 11 | 3 | 11+0 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Jake Beesley | 26 | 12 | 21+0 | 9 | 3+0 | 1 | 2+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Luke Charman | 19 | 2 | 10+9 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Alex Newby | 39 | 6 | 27+9 | 6 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | IRL | Conor Grant | 38 | 4 | 21+12 | 4 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Jeriel Dorsett | 44 | 0 | 35+1 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | IRL | Jimmy Keohane | 32 | 2 | 25+2 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | George Broadbent | 27 | 1 | 13+8 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Sam Graham | 14 | 0 | 11+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Matt Done | 28 | 1 | 13+12 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Paul Downing | 10 | 0 | 10+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Abraham Odoh | 38 | 3 | 17+15 | 3 | 2+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Josh Andrews | 22 | 5 | 7+10 | 3 | 2+0 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Danny Cashman | 29 | 3 | 9+14 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Jake Eastwood | 2 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Liam Kelly | 36 | 6 | 24+6 | 5 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Ethan Brierley | 5 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Joe Dunne | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Max Clark | 23 | 1 | 22+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Tahvon Campbell | 13 | 2 | 13+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 33 | GK | ENG | Joel Coleman | 21 | 0 | 19+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |

### Goals record

    As of 7 May 2022
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | League Two | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | 9 | | FW | Jake Beesley | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | 10 | | FW | Alex Newby | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | 23 | | MF | Liam Kelly | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | 19 | | FW | Josh Andrews | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 4 | 2 | | DF | Corey O'Keeffe | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | 11 | | FW | Conor Grant | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | 20 | | FW | Danny Cashman | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | 5 | | DF | Max Taylor | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | 8 | | MF | Jimmy Ball | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | 18 | | MF | Abraham Odoh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | 8 | | MF | Aaron Morley | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | 29 | | MF | Tahvon Campbell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | 13 | | MF | Jimmy Keohane | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | 9 | | FW | Luke Charman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | | MF | George Broadbent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 26 | | DF | Max Clark | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 6 | | DF | Eoghan O'Connell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 16 | | MF | Matt Done | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 51 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 62 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 30 April 2022
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | League Two | League Two | League Two | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | 6 | | DF | Eoghan O'Connell | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 2 | | DF | Corey O'Keeffe | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 12 | | DF | Jeriel Dorsett | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 18 | | MF | Abraham Odoh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 9 | | FW | Jake Beesley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 14 | | MF | George Broadbent | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 23 | | MF | Liam Kelly | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 5 | | DF | Max Taylor | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 20 | | FW | Danny Cashman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 33 | | GK | Joel Coleman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 29 | | MF | Tahvon Campbell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 8 | | MF | Jimmy Ball | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 7 | | MF | Stephen Dooley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 13 | | MF | Jimmy Keohane | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 15 | | DF | Sam Graham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 3 | | DF | Aidy White | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 11 | | FW | Conor Grant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 17 | | DF | Paul Downing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 1 | | GK | Jay Lynch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 4 | | DF | Jimmy McNulty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 9 | | FW | Luke Charman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 51 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 0 |

## Pre-season friendlies

Rochdale announced they would play friendly matches against Luton Town, Barnsley, Fleetwood Town, Rotherham United, AFC Fylde and Stalybridge Celtic as part of their pre-season preparation.

## Competitions
### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 15 | Colchester United | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 48 | 60 | −12 | 55 |
| 16 | Walsall | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 47 | 60 | −13 | 54 |
| 17 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 44 | 64 | −20 | 54 |
| 18 | Rochdale | 46 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 53 |
| 19 | Harrogate Town | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 64 | 75 | −11 | 53 |
| 20 | Carlisle United | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 39 | 62 | −23 | 53 |
| 21 | Stevenage | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 45 | 68 | −23 | 47 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 22 March 2022. Source:

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | D | L | W | D | W | W | D | L | L | L | D | D | W | W | D | D | D | D | L | L | W | L | D | D | D | L | D | W | D | W | L | L | D | D | L | L | L | W | D | W | L | W | L | L | W |
| Position | 16 | 15 | 22 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 18 |

#### Matches

Dale's fixtures were announced on 24 June 2021.

### FA Cup

Rochdale were drawn at home to Notts County in the first round and Plymouth Argyle in the second round.

### EFL Cup

Rochdale were drawn away to Harrogate Town in the first round Shrewsbury Town in the second round and Burnley in the third round.

### EFL Trophy

Rochdale were drawn into Northern Group D alongside Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool U21s and Port Vale. The dates for the group stage fixtures were revealed on July 8.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 9 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | Port Vale | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Rochdale | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | ACA | Liverpool U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | −12 | 0 | |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 29 July 2021 | CB | Sam Graham | Sheffield United | Free transfer |
| 2 August 2021 | CB | Max Taylor | Manchester United | Free transfer |
| 5 August 2021 | LB | Aidy White | Heart of Midlothian | Free transfer |
| 6 August 2021 | GK | Joel Coleman | Fleetwood Town | Free transfer |
| 24 August 2021 | CM | Liam Kelly | Feyenoord | Free transfer |
| 15 September 2021 | CB | Jesper Laurence | East Thurrock United | Undisclosed |
| 20 January 2022 | CF | Luke Charman | Darlington | Undisclosed |
| 21 January 2022 | LB | Max Clark | Fleetwood Town | Free transfer |
| 27 January 2022 | CF | Tahvon Campbell | Woking | Undisclosed |
| 28 January 2022 | RB | Corey O'Keeffe | Mansfield Town | Free transfer |
| 31 January 2022 | CM | James Ball | Solihull Moors | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date until |
| 3 August 2021 | CM | George Broadbent | Sheffield United | 1 January 2022 |
| 3 August 2021 | RB | Corey O'Keeffe | Mansfield Town | 1 January 2022 |
| 6 August 2021 | CF | Danny Cashman | Coventry City | End of season |
| 10 August 2021 | CF | Josh Andrews | Birmingham City | End of season |
| 20 August 2021 | CB | Jeriel Dorsett | Reading | End of season |
| 13 January 2022 | CB | Paul Downing | Portsmouth | End of season |
| 30 April 2022 | GK | Jake Eastwood | Sheffield United | 7 May 2022 |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date until |
| 23 October 2021 | GK | Bradley Wade | Guiseley | 7 December 2021 |
| 9 December 2021 | CB | Joe Dunne | Stafford Rangers | End of season |
| 9 February 2022 | GK | Brad Kelly | Mossley | March 2022 |
| 23 March 2022 | DF | Sam Graham | Notts County | End of season |
| 24 March 2022 | CM | Ethan Brierley | Spennymoor Town | 29 April 2022 |

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 17 May 2021 | LW | Kwadwo Baah | Watford | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2021 | CM | Lewis Bradley | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CM | Harrison Hopper | York City | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CM | Matty Lund | Salford City | Contract expired |
| 30 June 2021 | RB | Ryan McLaughlin | Morecambe | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | DF | Paul McShane | Manchester United | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | CM | Jimmy Ryan | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2021 | DM | Conor Shaughnessy | Burton Albion | Free transfer |
| 9 July 2021 | CF | Stephen Humphrys | Wigan Athletic | Undisclosed |
| 9 July 2021 | CM | Oliver Patrick | Accrington Stanley | Free transfer |
| 12 July 2021 | MF | Ethan Pye | Stockport County | Free transfer |
| 4 August 2021 | CM | Oliver Rathbone | Rotherham United | Undisclosed |
| 10 January 2022 | CF | Jake Beesley | Blackpool | Undisclosed |
| 11 January 2022 | CM | Aaron Morley | Bolton Wanderers | Undisclosed |