With Dale travelling to promotion rivals Wycombe at the weekend, one reader has contributed the following article.

As we continue our build up to Saturday’s game at 2nd placed Wycombe Wanderers, the start of manager Keith Hill’s “9 match mini-league” we are urging our supporters to turn out in numbers and get behind the players as they do their utmost to win the game approaching it with the NO FEAR attitude that has served Keith Hill’s charges so impressively in the 27 months he has been in charge.

The vast majority of the true Rochdale supporters are obviously fully appreciative of the incredible work that Keith, with no little help from Dave Flitcroft has done in the last 27 months and Keith wanted to thank the supporters who continue to spend their hard earned cash in pursuit of backing his players. “We are team Rochdale and any success we have had in the past, now or in the future is our success, yours and mine. I’m totally committed to taking this football club, a club I love, on a journey, so please help by supporting the lads. From me personally, I would like to thank you for your continued backing of the players and our ideas.”

The writer is aware of the hurt of being a Dale fan for many years, but looks back to last season when Chairman Chris Dunphy labelled Rochdale fans as “simply the best” following their unstinting efforts to get matches on during last season’s Wembley campaign where 15,000 fans were proud to witness club record appearance holder Gary Jones become the first ever man to lead a Rochdale side out onto the famous hallowed turf.

Despite the loss on the day, it was some reward for the efforts of fans who contribute so much to the wellbeing of the club be it collecting lottery money in the pouring rain, or supporting the players away from home at places like Macclesfield…in the pouring rain!

The fact remains that probably the best and most successful manager we have ever had is enthused when he sees his players run out to such good away support. He knows it lifts the players and would again urge fans to travel in numbers to support the team.

Keith is aware of the history surrounding the club and rightly points out it is nothing to do with him. Indeed, he is determined to be the man who re-writes that history and to give the long suffering Dale fans something to finally shout about come May. This is the best time for fans of a certain age to be a fan with a talented and hungry squad. Now is the time to enjoy supporting Dale more than ever before. Now is the time to believe.

As a club we are lucky when you compare ourselves to Chester, Luton or Grimsby. We used to be in their position until Keith took over and instilled professionalism and pride in the club and its players. We have come a long way in a short space of time and if we are to continue that journey we need all our fans on board.

Given the fact that we stand on the threshold of what might only be the 2nd promotion in the club’s history, Keith is asking for 100% backing. It’s team Rochdale versus the world and the fans are part of that team.

Keith is keen to take to the pitch at Adams Park. He is looking forward to a good competitive game of football. Above all else he wants you to be there shouting from the rooftops.

We’ll see you at Wycombe.

Up The Dale

Photo: Action Images

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