The first competitive fixture of our 2026/27 campaign takes us to Tranmere, in an attempt to reach Round One of the Carabao Cup.
The winners of this tie will head to Bradford City on Saturday 8th August. Both sides begin the season under new stewardship, with our hosts appointing Darrell Clarke in the summer, after they ended the last campaign with two interim managers.
ADMISSION DETAILS
Tickets for the game are on sale via our ticketing site Fanbase.
These are now on general sale, following an original 48-hour period for Season Ticket holders to purchase. Dale fans are housed in the all-seated Cowsheds End, located on the south side of the stadium.
Click HERE for the details.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports +, who will also broadcast all of the Round One ties a week later.
Dale Player makes a return for the new season. We have recently partnered with Urban Zoo, allowing all supporters based in the UK & Ireland to listen to live audio commentary of every Dale match, across all competitions.
Supporters who have subscribed to Dale Player in our previous two seasons will have their existing subscriptions cancelled in the coming days and must sign up with a new account.
Click HERE to sign up for monthly or yearly passes.
PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW
We caught up with Ian Watson ahead of Saturday’s game, who talks through our recent pre-season matches and provides an injury update on Will Jenkins and Sam Beckwith.
TEAM NEWS
The gaffer confirmed that both Will Jenkins and Sam Beckwith are awaiting scans on injuries picked up in our friendly with FC Halifax Town on Tuesday.
Laurence Maguire and Kaiden Wilson are absent from Saturday’s squad through injury. Nils Ramming nears a return and could feature in the matchday squad.
THE OPPOSITION
Overview – Tranmere’s six-year stint in League Two was close to coming to an end last season as they finished just two points and two places above the bottom two. The last ten years at the football club has seen three campaigns spent in the National League, back-to-back promotions to reach the third tier, spending one season as they were relegated on points per game and now a large stint in the fourth. Rovers have finished lower each year after losing in the playoff semis in 2021 but they are hopeful of new beginnings this summer. The first of three managers last season was Andy Crosby, who they began well with, going unbeaten in the first four league games. It was their start to 2026 which disappointed with just one win in 19 games, a spell which brought an end to Crosby’s time at the club. Andy Parkinson took temporary charge in March before Pete Wild was appointed as interim. They stayed up on the final day with a draw at home to Grimsby Town, with Harrogate heading down with defeat to Barnet.
Manager – Darrell Clarke – appointed on 26th May 2026. The former Dale midfielder took over the reigns at Tranmere following Pete Wild’s short tenure at the end of the 2025/26 season. Clarke has experience with Walsall, Port Vale and Bristol Rovers in League Two
Last Game – Tranmere Rovers 1-3 Altrincham (Pre-Season).
Top League Goalscorer (2025/26) – Charlie Whitaker (9).
New Signings
Harrison Male (GK)
Joel Senior (RB)
Bobby Faulkner (CB)
Jack McEvilly (CB)
Jacob Slater (LB)
Olly Scott (LB)
Tom Conlon (CM)
Jordan Davies (CM)
Charlie Veevers (FW)
Zane Okoro (FW)
Tom Ince (FW)
Courtney Baker-Richardson (FW)
PLAYED FOR BOTH
There are two current Dale players who have plied their trade at Rovers, starting with Harvey Gilmour who spent two seasons at Prenton Park making over 40 appearances.
A year after Harvey departed Tranmere, striker Mani Dieseruvwe made his way to Merseyside after four years with Salford City. After limited outings that season, Mani joined Grimsby Town in February 2022, helping seal promotion to the EFL for a second time in his career, which would soon turn to three.
On the touchline, their gaffer Darrell Clarke was loaned out to Rochdale in the 2006/07 season from Hartlepool United, appearing 12 times and scoring once in our defeat to Barnet.
WE’VE MET BEFORE
Games Played – 125
Rochdale Wins – 40
Draws – 26
Tranmere Wins – 59
Most recent matchup – Dale 2-2 Tranmere Rovers (18th April 2023).
First ever matchup – Dale 2-1 Tranmere Rovers (8th October 1921).
PRENTON PARK
Our hosts have provided a helpful Away Fan Guide which includes travel, food and drink and much more. Click HERE to access.
OFFICIALS
Referee | Oliver Mackey.
Assistants | William Cavanagh & Joseph Larkin.
Fourth Official | Lewis Raper.
