Football Ground Guide: Spotland, Rochdale FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? Westrose Leisure & TDS Stands (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? Thwaites Beer End (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Horners Main Stand (photo) Admission Prices Ground Layout Programme Price Local Rivals Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2009-2010 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu
What's The Ground Like?
The ground has benefited greatly with the construction of three new stands over the last ten years and is quite picturesque, with a number of trees being visible behind the stands. The latest addition is the smart looking Westrose Leisure Stand at one side of the pitch, which was opened during the 2000/01 season. This single tiered stand replaced a former terrace and has a capacity of 4,000. On the other side is another single tier, the all seated Horners Main Stand. This has a number of supporting pillars and some executive boxes at the back. At one end the Total Digital Solutions (Pearl Street) Stand is the third of the new stands. This is also all seated and serves as a Family Stand. It has a couple of supporting pillars that are right at the front of the stand. The Thwaites Beer (Sandy Lane) end is the only terraced area remaining. This small terrace has in recent seasons had a roof erected. There is a Police Control Box located in one corner, between the Main & Pearl Street Stands. Spotland is shared with the Rochdale Hornets rugby league team. Top Of Page
Westrose Leisure & TDS Stands
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away supporters are housed in the Willbutts Lane Stand (recently renamed the Westrose Leisure Stand), where the view of the action and the facilities are pretty good. Up to 3,650 supporters can be accommodated in it and normally away fans are confined to the centre of the stand. If required, then this stand can be split between home and away fans. The acoustics are excellent, so away fans can really make some noise from within it. This, coupled with both home ends singing and the obligatory drummer, makes for a good atmosphere. If Rochdale do score then 'The Chelsea Dagger' by the Fratellis blasts out around the ground from the p.a. system. I would say that Spotland in my book, is one of the best footballing days out in the country. Friendly & knowledgeable fans, good stewards, good facilities, three pubs located at the ground, a great range of pies on offer and not a bad atmosphere to boot. In other words, all the right elements to make for a great day out. Add a pretty lady on my arm, my team winning six nil and I'll think that I have been transported to heaven! Top Of Page
Where To Eat & Drink?
At the ground there are two bars to choose from, Studds & the Ratcliffe Arms. Studds is located underneath the Pearl Street Stand and is worth a visit, if only to sample the large range of tasty pies & pasties on offer at Ł1.50 (which are also available inside the ground). You can even have a pie and peas for Ł1.80. No real ales here, but the bar has with lots of memorabilia/pictures on the walls and some lovely looking barmaids which softens the blow. The Ratcliffe Arms is located at the car park entrance to the ground, on Sandy Lane. This pub has SKY TV and on my last visit had a mixture of home and away fans. A couple of minutes walk along Willbutts Lane, is the Church Pub, which seemed to be the favoured haunt of away fans. Also on Willbutts Lane, is a small chip shop, with lengthy queues. If you arrive early, the Cemetery Hotel, located at the bottom of Sandy Lane and on the corner with Bury Road, is also worth a visit. This comfortable historic pub has a range of real ales on offer and again friendly clientele. Otherwise alcohol is available inside the ground, although it is cans poured into plastic glasses. Top Of Page
Thwaites Beer End
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Exit the M62 at Junction 20 and take the A627(M) towards Rochdale. At the end of the A627(M) you should be in the left hand lane to turn left at the traffic lights. Go straight on over the roundabout (approach in the middle lane) into Roch Valley Way. At the next crossroads (where the Cemetery pub is on the corner) go straight onto Sandy Lane, where the ground can be found on the right after approx 3/4 mile. Car Parking at the ground is now for permit holders only, so it is a case of either street parking or using the matchday parking facility at Oulder Hill School. The school is located on the way up to the ground, on the left hand side, along Sandy Lane (it is then a 10 minute walk uphill to the ground). If you do elect to park on the street then be wary of the "residents only" parking scheme, as otherwise you could end with a parking ticket for your trouble. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
By Train
Rochdale is served by trains from Manchester & Leeds, and is around two miles away from the ground So I would recommend taking a taxi, but if you do decide to walk it will take you around 30-35 minutes to do so. Immediately as you leave the station there is a roundabout in front of you. Cross it, keeping to the left and take the second left into Lower Tweedale Street. Follow this street until its end where it meets Manchester Road. Turn right along Manchester Road (which is a dual carriageway). Pass Drake Street and then cross the Manchester Road via the pedestrian crossing. Now the left hand side of the dual carriageway, carry on in the same direction as before. Turn left into Dane Street (where you will see a large ASDA store) and this leads into Mellor Street (A6060). At the end of Mellor Street turn left along Spotland Road (A680) and then left again into Willbutts Lane for the ground. Thanks to Björn Sandström for providing the directions. Top Of Page
Co-Op Electrical Main Stand
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Admission Prices
Home Fans: Co-Op Electrical Main Stand: Adults Ł19, Concessions Ł12, Under 7's Free TDS Stand: Adults Ł17, Concessions Ł10, Under 7's Free Family Area: Adults Ł15, Under 16's Ł5, Under 7's Free Thwaites Beer Stand (Terrace): Adults Ł14, Concessions Ł9, Under 7's Free Away Fans: Westrose Leisure Stand (Willbutts Lane): Adults Ł20, Concessions Ł12 Please note that a maximum of 3 children can be admitted per accompanying adult. Concessions apply to Over 65's and students in full time education. Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Programme
Official Programme: Ł3 Top Of Page
Local Rivals
Bury, Burnley, Oldham, Manchester United & Manchester City. Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2009-2010
For the Rochdale fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
24,231 v Notts County FA Cup 2nd Round, December 10th, 1949. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 3,222 (League Two) 2007-2008: 3,057 (League Two) 2006-2007: 2,898 (League Two) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of Spotland
Mark Horler (Torquay United) 12/9/09 Jordan Pattison (Bradford City) 1/4/08 Kevin Wrenn (Carlisle United) 2/5/06 Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Rochdale & Manchester page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.

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