Legends to celebrate the last day of Dale’s Centenary

Rochdale Football Club’s supporters’ branch, the Dale Trust, is to host a special Centenary event on the final day of Dale’s Centenary year.

Tuesday 13 May will be ‘An Audience With’ evening, with special guests Lyndon Simmonds, David Kilpatrick, Alan Reeves, Steve Whitehall and Neil Edwards in The Horners Lounge at Spotland.

All five guests were legends during their time with Rochdale. Lyndon Simmonds saved the club from relegation almost single-handedly in 1986-87 and was said to have been one of the most skilful players to ever grace the Spotland turf before his career was cruelly cut short through injury.

Another of the club’s saviours was former chairman David Kilpatrick. He picked the club up from its lowest point during the 80s after Tommy Cannon’s disastrous spell as chairman. He has become a legend at Dale and his speeches at events like this always provide an entertaining insight into life in the Dale boardroom.

Alan Reeves commanded the highest transfer fee that Rochdale have ever received when he moved to Premiership side Wimbledon in 1994. He was one of the best central defenders to ever play for the club.

Steve Whitehall was one of the club’s greatest goalscorers. He joined Dave Sutton’s side in the early nineties and his goals almost got Dale into the end of season playoffs. He hit 91 goals in all competitions during his six year spell with the club.

Goalkeeper Neil Edwards was a fans favourite during his 279 appearance stay at Spotland. He joined Dale in 1997 and quickly established himself in the team. One of the greatest shot stoppers to ever appear for the club, his lack of height did nothing to stop him becoming a Dale legend.

The event on 13 May will be similar in its structure to a Fans Forum where supporters can take part in a Q&A session with these Dale Greats as well as having the chance to meet them in person and listen to them reminisce about their time at Dale. There will be a late bar until 12.00 where fans can mingle with the legends, swapping memories of eras long gone.

Another former legend at Spotland will host the event. Popular turn Les Duckworth has been persuaded to come out of retirement to take up the microphone once again.

The event is all ticket and is expected to sell out fast. 180 tickets are now on sale at the club’s ticket office priced at £5 for Trust members and £6 for non-trust members. Tickets are available on a first come first served basis and can also be bought at The Trust Desks on match-days in Studds and The Dale Bar.

It all 'kicks off' at 7:30pm in the Horners Lounge, Spotland, on Tuesday 13 May.