The 2021–22 season was Rochdale A.F.C.'s 115th in existence and first season back in League Two since the 2013–14 season following relegation last season. Along with the league, the club also competed in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
Manager changes On 30 June, Dale announced they reluctantly agreed to release manager Brian Barry-Murphy from his contract.
Robbie Stockdale was appointed as the new manager on July 10, signing a two-year contract with the club.
First-team squad Statistics
Goals record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total19FWJake Beesley912012210 FWAlex Newby6000623MFLiam Kelly50016419FWJosh Andrews310152DFCorey O'Keeffe21025611FWConor Grant40004720FWDanny Cashman201035DFMax Taylor300038MFJimmy Ball3000318MFAbraham Odoh30003118MFAaron Morley1100229MFTahvon Campbell2000213MFJimmy Keohane200029FWLuke Charman200021514MFGeorge Broadbent1000126DFMax Clark100016DFEoghan O'Connell1000116MFMatt Done10001Total 5143462
Disciplinary record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total 16DFEoghan O'Connell1000000100000110022DFCorey O'Keeffe600100100000800312DFJeriel Dorsett500100000000600418MFAbraham Odoh30000010000040059 FWJake Beesley30000000000030014MFGeorge Broadbent30000000000030023MFLiam Kelly2000000001003005DFMax Taylor200000000100300920FWDanny Cashman10000000010020033GKJoel Coleman20000000000020029MFTahvon Campbell2000000000002008MFJimmy Ball2000000000002007MFStephen Dooley20000000000020013MFJimmy Keohane1000000001002001515DFSam Graham1000000000001003DFAidy White10000000000010011FWConor Grant10000000000010017DFPaul Downing1000000000001001GKJay Lynch1000000000001004DFJimmy McNulty1000000000001009FWLuke Charman100000000000100Total 51002003004006000
Pre-season friendlies Rochdale announced they would play friendly matches against Luton Town, Barnsley, Fleetwood Town, Rotherham United, AFC Fylde and Stalybridge Celtic as part of their pre-season preparation.
Competitions League Two
League table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches Dale's fixtures were announced on 24 June 2021.
FA Cup
Rochdale were drawn at home to Notts County in the first round and Plymouth Argyle in the second round.
EFL Cup
Rochdale were drawn away to Harrogate Town in the first round Shrewsbury Town in the second round and Burnley in the third round.
EFL Trophy
Rochdale were drawn into Northern Group D alongside Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool U21s and Port Vale. The dates for the group stage fixtures were revealed on July 8.
Transfers Transfers in Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 29 July 2021 CB Sam Graham Sheffield United Free transfer 2 August 2021 CB Max Taylor Manchester United Free transfer 5 August 2021 LB Aidy White Heart of Midlothian Free transfer 6 August 2021 GK Joel Coleman Fleetwood Town Free transfer 24 August 2021 CM Liam Kelly Feyenoord Free transfer 15 September 2021 CB Jesper Laurence East Thurrock United Undisclosed 20 January 2022 CF Luke Charman Darlington Undisclosed 21 January 2022 LB Max Clark Fleetwood Town Free transfer 27 January 2022 CF Tahvon Campbell Woking Undisclosed 28 January 2022 RB Corey O'Keeffe Mansfield Town Free transfer 31 January 2022 CM James Ball Solihull Moors Undisclosed
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref. 3 August 2021 CM George Broadbent Sheffield United 1 January 2022 3 August 2021 RB Corey O'Keeffe Mansfield Town 1 January 2022 6 August 2021 CF Danny Cashman Coventry City End of season 10 August 2021 CF Josh Andrews Birmingham City End of season 20 August 2021 CB Jeriel Dorsett Reading End of season 13 January 2022 CB Paul Downing Portsmouth End of season 30 April 2022 GK Jake Eastwood Sheffield United 7 May 2022
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until Ref. 23 October 2021 GK Bradley Wade Guiseley 7 December 2021 9 December 2021 CB Joe Dunne Stafford Rangers End of season 9 February 2022 GK Brad Kelly Mossley March 2022 23 March 2022 DF Sam Graham Notts County End of season 24 March 2022 CM Ethan Brierley Spennymoor Town 29 April 2022
Transfers out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 17 May 2021 LW Kwadwo Baah Watford Undisclosed 30 June 2021 CM Lewis Bradley Free agent Released 30 June 2021 CM Harrison Hopper York City Released 30 June 2021 CM Matty Lund Salford City Contract expired 30 June 2021 RB Ryan McLaughlin Morecambe Released 30 June 2021 DF Paul McShane Manchester United Released 30 June 2021 CM Jimmy Ryan Free agent Released 30 June 2021 DM Conor Shaughnessy Burton Albion Free transfer 9 July 2021 CF Stephen Humphrys Wigan Athletic Undisclosed 9 July 2021 CM Oliver Patrick Accrington Stanley Free transfer 12 July 2021 MF Ethan Pye Stockport County Free transfer 4 August 2021 CM Oliver Rathbone Rotherham United Undisclosed 10 January 2022 CF Jake Beesley Blackpool Undisclosed 11 January 2022 CM Aaron Morley Bolton Wanderers Undisclosed
References