Football: Rochdale AFC Supporters win IFA North West Cup

Rochdale Supporters Football Team

Rochdale Supporters Football Team have triumphed over Preston North End to win the Internet Football Association (IFA) North West Cup.

Dale beat Preston 4-3 in the final at Cheadle Town FC on Saturday 18 May after thrashing local rivals Bury 6-1 in the semi-final.

On their way to the final, they also recorded victories against Salford 5-4, Halifax Town 6-1, and Manchester United 10-1.

Speaking of their win, manager Jonny Hall said: “It felt brilliant to win; it’s the first time Rochdale has ever won the NW Cup. Also a nice feeling for all the players, it’s been a long season.

“We’ve travelled a total of 2,650 miles this season so for everyone to be rewarded at the end was a good feeling.”

In 2015/16, Rochdale Supporters were crowned national champions after defeating Preston North End B Supporters in the Challenge Cup.

They reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup the following year.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/110105/rochdale-supporters-trust-fc-reach-ifa-cup-semifinals

The Challenge Cup is the IFA’s season-long knockout competition, which first took place during the 1997/98 season and has since gone from strength to strength, with 30 teams from across the UK entered into the 2016/17 tournament.

Teams are drawn on a national basis from round one, as the tournament takes shape and teams ‘criss-cross’ the UK in search of cup glory. The semi-finals are played at a neutral venue, while the IFA Cup Final takes place on the Friday night before the annual WorldNET tournament.