IN OPPOSITION
ROCHDALE:
FOUR TO WATCH ROBERT
SÁNCHEZ The Spaniard joined on loan from Premier League side Brighton at the beginning of the 2019/20 season. Brian Barry-Murphy brought in the goalkeeper to provide competition for Josh Lillis who has been between the sticks at the Crown Oil Arena since 2012 after joining from Scunthorpe. He made an instant impact upon his arrival, featuring in most of Dale’s games this season. Last season the 6ft 6in keeper featured in League Two for Forest Green Rovers where he helped them achieve a fifth placed finish.
OLLIE
RATHBONE Was brought up in Manchester United’s Academy, but after being released in 2016, joined Rochdale on a free transfer at the age of 19. Four years down the line and he is still ever-present in Dale’s midfield and is two games away from making 100 appearances for the club. His father is former Birmingham, Blackburn and Preston full-back Mick Rathbone and has also worked in the coaching set-up at Everton in the Premier League.
LUKE
MATHESON One of the most promising prospects to come out of Rochdale in recent times did actually leave the club last month in a transfer to Premier League side Wolves, but Nuno Espirito Santo loaned him back to the Lancashire outfit for the remainder of the season. He made his debut for the club in January 2019, during a 1-1 draw to Fleetwood Town and scored his first professional goal the following September against Manchester United in the EFL Cup third round at Old Trafford. His first league goal came against Bolton last month. Last October he made his debut for England’s U18 team – shortly after his 17th birthday – in what was 5-2 win away to Poland.
IAN
HENDERSON One of the most experienced forwards in League One at the age of 35. Before he arrived at Rochdale he spent three years in Essex with Colchester, but left them in January 2013. Rochdale had faith in the striker, however, signing him on an initial deal until the end of the season. Upon the return of Keith Hill for his second spell in charge of the club that summer, he decided to keep Henderson and seven years down the line he remains one of the most featured players for Dale, making 291 appearances, scoring 110 goals in blue and black.
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