Dale travel to Grimsby on first day

Rochdale will face Grimsby Town on the first day of the 2008/09 season after the release of the fixtures this morning (Monday 16 June). Dale will travel to Blundell Park on Saturday 9 August and Rochdale manager Keith Hill hoping for a third straight win there in his time as Dale boss. The 4-0 win away at Grimsby a News Year Day two seasons played a major part in Hill getting the manager's job full time and that was followed up with a 2-1 win last season.

Home supporters will get their first taste of the action three days later when Oldham travel to Spotland for the first round of the Carling Cup, while the first home league game comes the following Saturday (16 August), against Barnet. The following Saturday Dale travel to Bradford, the scene of one of last season's most famous victories when Adam Le Fondre scored in the 90th minute to give Dale a 2-1 win.

The games that all Dale fans will have been looking for, the two fixtures against Bury, will be played at Spotland on Saturday 30 August, with the reverse at Gigg Lane on 7 March.

The seasonal fixtures start with the longest away trip on the calendar as Dale travel to Exeter on Saturday 20 December, followed by a home game on Boxing Day against Shrewsbury. A visit to relegated Port Vale follows on Sunday 28 December and, with no game on New Year's Day, Dale will next be in action on Saturday 3 January when Accrington visit Spotland.

Other games to look out for include those against conference Champions Aldershot, who come to Spotland on Saturday 25 October with the reverse on Saturday 31 January.