Simon Gauge, the chairman of Rochdale AFC, stated bluntly, “The club’s existence is at stake.” It comes down to money, as with most things in life. In the upcoming weeks, the Greater Manchester team needs to invest £2 million or risk going out of business.
It is literally a question of life and death in Rochdale, given the shadow cast by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3 billion acquisition of just over 25% of Manchester United. Losing its lone professional sports team would be a significant blow to the town, which is 14 miles north of Manchester and struggles to maintain a strong public image.
In spite of the cold and rain at Spotland, a robust 1,836 fans came to watch Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Wealdstone in the National League. Fans had a week to process the news. For a moment, worries took precedence over issues on the pitch, offering a sense of normalcy amidst anxiety. Desmond the Dragon, the team mascot, made the rounds prior to kickoff. A patient young fan snapped a selfie with the players while they warmed up by jogging, and friends gathered in the stands for their biweekly conversation. Amid discussions about the drizzle and dropping temperatures, they debated whether the formation change would have an impact.
John Leach, a 61-year fan, adds, “We were in the [Football] League for 102 years and now we’re out and really really down – it is bleak.” “When we first arrived at the football pitch, my father and grandfather—who were essentially functional mutes of the northern kind of the day—had very little to say. Over the years, I forged close relationships with my father and grandfather, and I cherish those memories. We used to make frequent trips to away games. I already have everything, so losing the club will just mean losing another piece of my past.
In recent years, football in the North-West has suffered more than most. Bury and Macclesfield have both closed their doors.
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