Keith Hill's 400th managerial milestone

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Keith Hill returned to Spotland in 2013

In a week where Rochdale Football Club realised a ten year vision and secured ownership of Spotland Stadium, another milestone was reached on Saturday as Manager Keith Hill took to to the dug-out for the 400th time as Dale manager.

Hill was first appointed as manager in January 2007 after a spell in care-taker charge. He led the club to the play-offs on two occasions before securing promotion to League One.

He then steered the club to its highest ever league finish before departing for Barnsley in 2011.

Hill returned to Spotland in 2013 and has achieved a second promotion with the the club, as well as bettering Dale's previous highest league finish.

He admits he is very proud to be manager of Rochdale Football Club.

He said: “I’m very proud and privileged to be managing this football club. 

“What I’ve achieved during my time at this football club has been tremendous. It hasn’t been a fluke – it has been planned.

“We’ve recruited some unbelievable players, retained some unbelievable players and sold some unbelievable players.

“While we’ve done all that within our planning, we’ve had big success – two promotions, two play-off opportunities and achieved our highest ever league finish in League One twice.

“I’m really pleased to be and have been part of the management set-up of the football club while we’ve established and re-secured the ownership of the stadium. That was really important to me for us to establish a continued identity going into the next 20 or 30 years, knowing that we own the stadium and we can really anchor roots down in the community."