Rochdale Football Club News Round-Up

Rochdale AFC news

Goodall set for pastures new

Alan Goodall could soon officially become a former Rochdale player by signing for Luton Town, that is according to local Luton newspaper the Luton News. The Luton News understands that there are a number of clubs interested in Goodall's services but that Luton are the front runners to secure his signature.

Goodall's departure from Rochdale has been in the offing for a number of months. He is currently out of contract at Spotland and it appears increasingly unlikely that he will sign the deal that the club offered to him at the end of last season. Indeed, Dale boss Keith Hill already appears to have replaced Goodall by signing left-back Tom Kennedy from Bury.

New Kit is a Hit

The new centenary home shirts are selling well and now fans can get the shorts to match. A manufacturing problem meant that the shorts did not arrive in the club shop with the shirts but the white shorts are now available in all sizes for supporters to purchase. There is also a wide range of Centenary-based memorabilia on sale in the shop.

The shirts are proving to be the most popular in Dale's hundred year history. Following rapid sales this week the club have had to place another order with manufacturers Nike so that they do not run out of certain sizes. With the purchase of a new shirt, supporters get the chance to appear in the club's biggest ever team photo on Monday 23 July.

Spotland to go smoke free

To come into line with the up-coming government legislation, Spotland will become a no-smoking stadium on 1 July, in time for the coming season. Bars and lounges will become smoke free from this date.

The move comes after the results of a football league survey, in which 43,000 fans took part, showed that 80% of people wanted some form of smoke free policy in football grounds, whilst 50% wanted an outright ban.

Chairman of the Football League, Lord Brian Mawhinney said: "We aim to get more families and more young fans coming along to watch their local football league clubs and this policy will ensure that doing so does not have a detrimental effect on their health."

Club says get your clubs out!

Rochdale football club will be hosting a golf tournament as part of the continuing centenary celebrations.

The event will be played by teams of 4, under Stableford Rules at Castle Hawk Golf Club on Friday 21 September.

Following the conclusion of the golf, there will be a Presentation Dinner in the Horner's Lounge at Spotland. Golfers will receive a three course meal and prizes will be given out to the winners of the tournament and for winners of typical golf tournament competitions such as longest drive, nearest-the-pin and best dressed team.

The cost is £160 per team and a full English breakfast will be provided for teams willing to tee off before 11.45am. Individual tickets, for the Presentation Evening only, are priced at £20 per person.

To enter a team or to book for the evening dinner, contact Stuart Ashworth or Mike Brookes at the club.

News of former Dale players

When Dale face Northwich Victoria in a pre-season friendly on August 4, the opposition team and management will be packed with former Dale players. This week Neil Redfearn became the manager of the 'Vics', whilst Gareth Griffiths was already part of the their management team. Redfearn, who achieved fame as a player at Barnsley when they reached the Premiership, lies fifth in the all time football league appearance list and joined Dale in March 2004. He made just nine appearances but was an important factor in helping the club to avoid relegation in that season.

Even though he was released this summer and is yet to find a new club, former striker Clive Moyo-Modise has managed to earn a call up to the South African national team to play in the Sasol Eight Nation tournament this week. The tournament is being used as a springboard for South Africa to look at new players in preparation for their Olympic and All Africa Games qualifying campaigns.