As such, we profile all 23 of Dale’s opponents for the 2026/27 season.
Accrington Stanley
MANAGER | John Doolan (57yo)
STADIUM | Wham Stadium (5,450)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 16th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Paddy Madden (6)
LAST MEETING | 30th Aug 2022 – Accrington 3-3 Dale (EFL Trophy)
NEW SIGNINGS | Joe Anderson (CB, Barrow) / Tom Moore (CB, Southport) / Louie Moulden (GK, Norwich) / Stefan Mols (FW, Tamworth) / David Tutonda (LB, Rochdale)
Barnet
MANAGER | Dean Brennan (45yo)
STADIUM | The Hive Stadium (6,500)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 8th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Callum Stead (13)
LAST MEETING | 22nd Feb 2025 – Dale 0-4 Barnet (National League)
NEW SIGNINGS | Zac Williams (CB, Crewe) / Craig Farquhar (CB, Crystal Palace) / Brandon Comley (CM, Walsall) / Charlie Lakin (CM, Walsall) / Isiah Noel-Williams (FW, Hemel Hempstead) / Jack Maskell (FW, Darlington) / Tom Knowles (FW, Forest Green) / Taye Ashby-Hammond (GK, Stevenage) / Will Wright (CB, Swindon) / Oisin Gallagher (CM, Lincoln)
Bristol Rovers
MANAGER | Steve Evans (63yo)
STADIUM | Memorial Stadium (12,500)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 14th
TOP LEAGUE SCORERS 25/26 | Ellis Harrison & Fabrizio Cavegn (11)
LAST MEETING | 5th Nov 2022 – Bristol Rovers 1-0 Dale (FA Cup)
NEW SIGNINGS | Richie Smallwood (CM, Tranmere) / Kofi Balmer (CB, Motherwell) / Ben Purrington (LB, Cambridge Utd) / Tommy Leigh (CM, Bradford) / Tom James (RB, Leyton Orient) / Ciaran Kelly (CB, Bradford) / Bobby Kamwa (FW, Newport) / Jack Aitchison (CM, Exeter)
Cheltenham Town
MANAGER | Steve Cotterill (61yo)
STADIUM | The EV Charger Points Stadium (7,066)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 18th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Isaac Hutchinson (15)
LAST MEETING | 25th Apr 2014 – Dale 2-0 Cheltenham (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Charlie McCann (CM, Barrow) / Jordan Shipley (CM, Port Vale) / Pierce Sweeney (CB, Exeter) / Joe Tomlinson (LB, MK Dons) / Shaun McWilliams (CM, Rotherham) / Wyll Stanway (GK, Barrow)
Chesterfield
MANAGER | Paul Cook (59yo)
STADIUM | SMH Group Stadium (10,600)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 6th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Lee Bonis (13)
LAST MEETING | 24th Feb 2024 – Chesterfield 2-2 Dale (National League)
NEW SIGNINGS | Junior Eccleston (CB, Sutton) / George McEachran (CM, Grimsby) / Jack Simpson (CB, Leyton Orient) / Alfie Pond (CB, Wolves) / Remeao Hutton (RB, Gillingham) / Danny Anisjko (FW, Nott’m Forest) / Fraser Bryden (FW, Crusaders)
Colchester United
MANAGER | Danny Cowley (47yo)
STADIUM | JobServe Community Stadium (10,105)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 12th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Jack Payne (13)
LAST MEETING | 14th Jan 2023 – Dale 1-2 Colchester (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Sean Raggett (CB, Rotherham) / Jake Leake (RB, Oldham) / Paul Digby (CM, Dundee)
Crawley Town
MANAGER | Colin Kazim-Richards (39yo)
STADIUM | Broadfield Stadium (6,134)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 22nd
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Harry McKirdy (8)
LAST MEETING | 25th Mar 2023 – Crawley 2-0 Dale (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Stephen Duke-McKenna (CM, Harrogate) / Priestley Farquharson (CB, Walsall) / Jude Arthurs (CM, Bromley) / Pemi Aderoju (FW, Peterborough) / Omari Mrisho (RB, Huddersfield)
Crewe Alexandra
MANAGER | Lee Bell (43yo)
STADIUM | Mornflake Stadium (10,153)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 11th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Josh March (11)
LAST MEETING | 25th Feb 2023 – Crewe 1-1 Dale (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Jordan Gibson (FW, Doncaster) / Joe White (CM, Newcastle)
Exeter City
MANAGER | Matt Taylor (44yo)
STADIUM | St.James’ Park (8,720)
LEAGUE ONE FINISH 25/26 | 21st
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Jayden Wareham (19)
LAST MEETING | 23rd Apr 2022 – Exeter 2-0 Dale (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Gwion Edwards (FW, Morecambe) / Josh Gordon (FW, Walsall) / Taylor Perry (CM, Shrewsbury)
Fleetwood Town
MANAGER | Matt Lawlor (37yo)
STADIUM | Highbury Stadium (5,327)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 15th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Mark Helm (10)
LAST MEETING | 10th Apr 2021 – Fleetwood 1-0 Dale (League One)
NEW SIGNINGS | Danny Andrew (LB, Exeter) / Josh Thomas (FW, Swansea) / Kane Thompson-Sommers (CM, MK Dons) / Andy Cannon (CM, Wrexham) / Jake Batty (LB, Swindon)
Gillingham
MANAGER | Gareth Ainsworth (53yo)
STADIUM | MEMS Priestfield Stadium (11,582)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 17th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Bradley Dack (7)
LAST MEETING | 18th Feb 2023 – Dale 0-2 Gillingham (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Zane Albarus (CM, Brighton) / James Brophy (FW, Cambridge Utd) / Will Goodwin (FW, Oxford Utd) / Liam Gordon (CB, Motherwell) / Ollie Wright (GK, Southampton) / Lennon MacLorg (GK, Charlton) / Nick Freeman (CM, Shrewsbury)
Grimsby Town
MANAGER | David Artell (45yo)
STADIUM | Blundell Park (9,546)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 7th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Jaze Kabia (19)
LAST MEETING | 11th Mar 2023 – Grimsby 1-0 Dale (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Andy Cook (FW, Bradford) / Joe Foulkes (RB, Kidderminster) / Josh Andrews (FW, Gillingham) / Cian Doyle (CM, Bray Wanderers) / Harvey Cartwright (GK, Hull)
Newport County
MANAGER | Chris Todd (44yo) (INTERIM)
STADIUM | Rodney Parade (7,850)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 20th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Nathaniel Opoku (6)
LAST MEETING | 7th Jan 2023 – Dale 1-1 Newport (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Harrison Biggins (CM, Shrewsbury) / Shaquille Gwengwe (FW, Poole) / Yahya Bamba (FW, Forest Green) / Cameron Norman (RB, Tranmere) / Christian Doidge (FW, Forest Green) / Dan Sassi (CB, Blackpool) / Kyle Cameron (CB, Bromley) / Kieron Evans (CM, Eastleigh)
Northampton Town
MANAGER | Chris Hogg (41yo) (NEW)
STADIUM | Sixfields Stadium (8,203)
LEAGUE ONE FINISH 25/26 | 24th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Tom Eaves (8)
LAST MEETING | 11th Feb 2023 – Dale 1-1 Northampton (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Harvey Saunders (FW, Tranmere) / Zach Jeacock (GK, Lincoln) / James Maxwell (LB, Doncaster) / Janoi Donacien (CB, Chesterfield) / Logan Briggs (CM, Leicester) / Matthew Warhurst (FW, Man City) / Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (CM, MK Dons)
Oldham Athletic
MANAGER | Micky Mellon (54yo)
STADIUM | Boundary Park (13,513)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 10th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Mike Fondop (8)
LAST MEETING | 15th Mar 2025 – Oldham 1-1 Dale (National League)
NEW SIGNINGS | Gus Scott-Morriss (RB, Southend) / Elliott Nevitt (FW, Gillingham) / Ollie Norburn (CM, Notts County) / Keenan Appiah-Forson (CM, Southend) / Noah Chilvers (CM, Ross County) / Ryan Delaney (CB, Swindon) / Zain Tahir (CB, Sheffield United)
Port Vale
MANAGER | Jon Brady (51yo)
STADIUM | Vale Park (16,800)
LEAGUE ONE FINISH 25/26 | 22nd
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Devante Cole (6)
LAST MEETING | 22nd Feb 2022 – Dale 1-1 Port Vale (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Jasper Moon (CB, Burton) / Jackson Smith (GK, Barnsley) / Matthew Craig (CM, Tottenham) / Kyle Dempsey (CM, Bolton) / Mason Terry (GK, West Ham) / Oliver Lynch (FW, Luton) / Mo Faal (FW, Wrexham) / Max Watters (FW, Barnsley)
Rotherham United
MANAGER | Alex Bruce (41yo) (NEW)
STADIUM | The AESSEAL New York Stadium (12,021)
LEAGUE ONE FINISH 25/26 | 23rd
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Sam Nombe (12)
LAST MEETING | 7th Mar 2020 – Dale 3-1 Rotherham (League One)
NEW SIGNINGS | Fabio Tavares (FW, Burton) / Aaron Nemane (FW, MK Dons) / Ossama Ashley (CM, Salford) / Jamie Jellis (CM, Walsall) / Jili Buyabu (LB, Sheffield United)
Salford City
MANAGER | Peter Cklamovski (47yo) (NEW)
STADIUM | The Peninsula Stadium (5,108)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 4th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Daniel Udoh (10)
LAST MEETING | 4th Feb 2023 – Salford 2-1 Dale (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Joe Powell (CM, Rotherham) / Will Aimson (CB, Wigan) / Will Norris (GK, Wycombe) / Sam Long (GK, Bromley) / Abraham Odoh (FW, Peterborough) / Macauley Langstaff (FW, Millwall) / Elliot Bonds (CM, Fleetwood) / Luke Molyneux (FW, Doncaster)
Shrewsbury Town
MANAGER | Gavin Cowan (44yo)
STADIUM | The Croud Meadow (9,875)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 19th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | George Lloyd & Will Boyle (4)
LAST MEETING | 24th Aug 2021 – Shrewsbury 0-2 Dale (League Cup)
NEW SIGNINGS | Arkell Jude-Boyd (RB, Cheltenham) / Isaac Fletcher (CM, Barrow) / Josh Davison (FW, Tranmere) / Byron Pendleton (RB, Birmingham) / Jack Price (CM, Brackley) / Joe Gbode (FW, Luton) / Sam Proctor (GK, Aston Villa)
Swindon Town
MANAGER | Ian Holloway (63yo)
STADIUM | The Nigel Eady County Ground (15,728)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 9th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Aaron Drinan (22)
LAST MEETING | 18th Mar 2023 – Dale 4-4 Swindon (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Mitch Clark (RB, Port Vale) / Stephan Negru (CB, Oxford Utd) / Matty Virtue (CM, Fleetwood) / James Debayo (CB, Hull)
Tranmere Rovers
MANAGER | Darrell Clarke (48yo) (NEW)
STADIUM | Prenton Park (16,587)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 21st
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Charlie Whitaker (9)
LAST MEETING | 18th Apr 2023 – Dale 2-2 Tranmere (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Jacob Slater (LB, Brighton) / Tom Conlon (CM, Oldham) / Joel Senior (RB, Bristol Rovers) / Bobby Faulkner (CB, Doncaster) / Zane Okoro (FW, Lincoln) / Jordan Davies (CM, Fleetwood) / Tom Ince (FW, Watford) / Harrison Male (GK, York) / Jack McEvilly (CB, Burnley)
Walsall
MANAGER | Lee Grant (43yo) (NEW)
STADIUM | Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium (11,300)
LEAGUE TWO FINISH 25/26 | 13th
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Daniel Kanu (15)
LAST MEETING | 7th Apr 2023 – Dale 4-2 Walsall (League Two)
NEW SIGNINGS | Andy Dallas (FW, Barnsley) / Lewis Simper (CM, Sutton) / Sven Sprangler (CM, St.Johnstone) / James Connolly (CB, Crewe) / Isaac Moore (CM, Coventry) / Jed Ward (GK, Bristol Rovers) / Tai Sodje (FW, Buxton) / Ryan Leak (CB, Ross County) / Declan Skura (CB, Wycombe) / Reece Smith (FW, Harrogate)
York City
MANAGER | Scott Lindsey (54yo) (NEW)
STADIUM | The LNER Community Stadium (8,500)
NATIONAL LEAGUE FINISH 25/26 | 1st
TOP LEAGUE SCORER 25/26 | Ollie Pearce (34)
LAST MEETING | 25th Apr 2026 – Dale 1-1 York (National League)
NEW SIGNINGS | Mark Shelton (CM, Barnet) / Frankie Maguire (CM, Boston) / Dipo Akinyemi (FW, Derry) / Zak Johnson (CB, Sunderland) / Arthur Read (CM, Colchester) / Charlie McArthur (CB, Newcastle) / Zech Medley (CB, Fleetwood) / Alfie McNally (GK, Fulham)
