The 1948–49 season saw Rochdale compete for their 21st season in the Football League Third Division North.
Statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Division 3 North | F.A. Cup | Lancashire Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  WAL
|
Bill Roberts | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF |  ENG
|
Bill Watson | 44 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Arnold Bonell | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Cecil Heydon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Walter Price | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Don Partridge | 38 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Cyril Lawrence | 15 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
George Eastham | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Jack Livesey | 35 | 9 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Cyril Brown | 9 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  SCO
|
Tom Dryburgh | 45 | 8 | 39 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Wally Birch | 48 | 7 | 41 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| MF | SCO
|
David Reid | 15 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Jackie Arthur | 32 | 3 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Jackie Moss | 25 | 8 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Eric Wood | 41 | 6 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| GK | ENG
|
Les Bywater | 27 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Ron Rothwell | 25 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Alan Middlebrough | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Jimmy Britton | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | SCO
|
Ronnie Hood | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | SCO
|
Alex Hawson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | SCO
|
George McGeachie | 23 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Jack Connor | 24 | 12 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| GK | ENG
|
Trevor Churchill | 16 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Billy Woods | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Harry Hubbick | 21 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
Tom Jones (prev. Derby County) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| ENG
|
Jimmy Cheetham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Final league table
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gateshead | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 41 | 28 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 30 | 1.190 | 45 |
| 6 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 49 | 28 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 39 | 1.119 | 45 |
| 7 | Rochdale | 42 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 37 | 1.038 | 45 |
| 8 | Stockport County | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 44 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 40 | 1.089 | 43 |
| 9 | Wrexham | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 21 | 40 | 0.903 | 43 |
Source: rsssf.com
Competitions
Football League Third Division North
| 21 August 1948 1 | Hartlepools United | 6–1 | Rochdale | Hartlepool |
Price  Richardson Hawkins Watson (o.g.) |
Report | Brown |
Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 10383 |
| 24 August 1948 2 | Rochdale | 3–0 | Gateshead | Rochdale |
| Wood Livesey Arthur |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 9955 |
| 28 August 1948 3 | Rochdale | 3–4 | Darlington | Rochdale |
| Brown Wood |
Report | Clarke Quinn Milner |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 12326 |
| 30 August 1948 4 | Gateshead | 2–1 | Rochdale | Gateshead |
| Weddle Small |
Report | Livesey |
Stadium: Redheugh Park Attendance: 7410 |
| 4 September 1948 5 | Oldham Athletic | 0–1 | Rochdale | Oldham |
| Report | Wood |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 18065 |
| 7 September 1948 6 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Carlisle United | Rochdale |
| Moss |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 8343 |
| 11 September 1948 7 | New Brighton | 1–2 | Rochdale | New Brighton |
| Lyon |
Report | Livesey Moss |
Stadium: Tower Athletic Ground Attendance: 8385 |
| 16 September 1948 8 | Carlisle United | 1–1 | Rochdale | Carlisle |
| Walshaw |
Report | Birch (pen.) |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 12539 |
| 18 September 1948 9 | Rochdale | 3–1 | Chester | Rochdale |
| Arthur Dryburgh Moss |
Report | Best |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 11965 |
| 25 September 1948 10 | Southport | 3–1 | Rochdale | Southport |
| Wyles Banks |
Report | Livesey |
Stadium: Haig Avenue Attendance: 9643 |
| 2 October 1948 11 | Rochdale | 3–0 | Crewe Alexandra | Rochdale |
| Wood Dryburgh Reid |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 10836 |
| 9 October 1948 12 | Rochdale | 4–1 | Accrington Stanley | Rochdale |
| Wood Dryburgh Moss |
Report | Parker |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 11151 |
| 16 October 1948 13 | Rotherham United | 3–1 | Rochdale | Rotherham |
| Guest Grainger Shaw |
Report | Birch (pen.) |
Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 16750 |
| 23 October 1948 14 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Hull City | Rochdale |
| Birch (pen.) |
Report | Harrison |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 14967 |
| 30 October 1948 15 | Doncaster Rovers | 1–0 | Rochdale | Doncaster |
| Tindill |
Report | Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 18860 |
| 6 November 1948 16 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Bradford City | Rochdale |
| Moss |
Report | Asquith (pen.) |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 8707 |
| 13 November 1948 17 | Halifax Town | 2–1 | Rochdale | Halifax |
| Hodgkinson Mycock |
Report | Wood |
Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 7743 |
| 20 November 1948 18 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Wrexham | Rochdale |
| Moss Middlebrough |
Report | Boothway |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7760 |
| 18 December 1948 19 | Rochdale | 0–1 | Hartlepools United | Rochdale |
| Report | Sloan |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5803 |
| 25 December 1948 20 | Stockport County | 2–2 | Rochdale | Stockport |
| Barkas Herd |
Report | Moss Dryburgh |
Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 10641 |
| 27 December 1948 21 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Stockport County | Rochdale |
| Dryburgh Birch (pen.) |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 10510 |
| 1 January 1949 22 | Darlington | 6–1 | Rochdale | Darlington |
| Ward Quinn Bower |
Report | Middlebrough |
Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 9887 |
| 15 January 1949 23 | Rochdale | 1–2 | Oldham Athletic | Rochdale |
| Birch (pen.) |
Report | Haddington Gemmell |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 8252 |
| 22 January 1949 24 | Rochdale | 1–1 | New Brighton | Rochdale |
| Connor |
Report | Taylor |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5867 |
| 29 January 1949 25 | Barrow | 0–1 | Rochdale | Barrow-in-Furness |
| Report | Livesey |
Stadium: Holker Street Attendance: 7321 |
| 5 February 1949 26 | Chester | 2–1 | Rochdale | Chester |
| Foulds |
Report | Livesey |
Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 5570 |
| 12 February 1949 27 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–0 | Rochdale | Birkenhead |
| Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 7246 |
| 19 February 1949 28 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Southport | Rochdale |
| Connor |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 4322 |
| 26 February 1949 29 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–2 | Rochdale | Crewe |
| Ferris (pen.) |
Report | Connor |
Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 6062 |
| 12 March 1949 30 | Rochdale | 2–0 | Rotherham United | Rochdale |
| Arthur Connor |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 9840 |
| 19 March 1949 31 | Hull City | 1–1 | Rochdale | Hull |
| Price |
Report | Hood |
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 36509 |
| 26 March 1949 32 | Rochdale | 0–2 | Doncaster Rovers | Rochdale |
| Report | Tindill Barritt |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 8637 |
| 2 April 1949 33 | Bradford City | 1–0 | Rochdale | Bradford |
| Molyneux |
Report | Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 10314 |
| 4 April 1949 34 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Mansfield Town | Rochdale |
| Connor |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3362 |
| 9 April 1949 35 | Rochdale | 1–0 | Halifax Town | Rochdale |
| Connor |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 6885 |
| 15 April 1949 36 | York City | 1–1 | Rochdale | York |
| Storey |
Report | Livesey |
Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 12438 |
| 16 April 1949 37 | Wrexham | 2–0 | Rochdale | Wrexham |
| Rowell 25' Beynon 37' |
Report | Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 8494 |
| 18 April 1949 38 | Rochdale | 2–0 | York City | Rochdale |
| Connor Birch (pen.) |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7758 |
| 23 April 1949 39 | Rochdale | 3–0 | Barrow | Rochdale |
| Livesey Lawrence Connor |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7757 |
| 27 April 1949 40 | Accrington Stanley | 0–0 | Rochdale | Accrington |
| Report | Stadium: Peel Park Attendance: 5446 |
| 30 April 1949 41 | Mansfield Town | 2–0 | Rochdale | Mansfield |
| Chessell |
Report | Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 9885 |
| 7 May 1949 42 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Rochdale |
| Dryburgh Connor |
Report | Williamson |
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 5923 |
F.A. Cup
| 27 November 1948 1 | Rochdale | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Barrow | Oldham |
| Middlebrough |
Report | McIntosh |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 12077 |
| 4 December 1948 1 | Barrow | 2–0 | Rochdale | Barrow-in-Furness |
| Collins Livingstone |
Report | Stadium: Holker Street Attendance: 9570 |
Lancashire Cup
| 9 November 1948 2 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Everton | Rochdale |
| Birch (pen.) |
|
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2372 |
| 16 November 1948 2 | Everton | 0–1 | Rochdale | Liverpool |
| Middlebrough |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 5103 |
| 3 May 1949 SF | Manchester City | 0–2 | Rochdale | Manchester |
| Livesey Connor |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 3812 |
| 10 May 1949 F | Blackpool | 0–1 | Rochdale | Oldham |
| Connor |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 13174 |
