Rochdale primed to navigate National League and return to promised land

Rochdale Primed to Conquer National League and Return to Elite Football

A spot in the Football League seems like an insurmountable challenge for many teams, but not Rochdale. The club, which narrowly avoided liquidation last year, has been reinvigorated under new manager Jimmy McNulty and is now sitting pretty at the top of the National League.

With 19 wins from their 24 games so far, Dale is well on course to secure an automatic promotion spot, a feat that has proven elusive for even the biggest clubs. Wrexham, despite their Hollywood-backed status, took three seasons to crack the code, and many other teams are still chasing the top four spots.

Rochdale's latest victory over Eastleigh was a demonstration of their dominance on the pitch, with Tarryn Allarakhia scoring two goals in a 2-0 win. The home side's superiority was evident from the start, but it took until the 54th minute for them to break down their opponents.

While Dale still have some challenges ahead, including three consecutive away games and a new pitch that will be relaid next month, McNulty is optimistic about his team's chances. "We're very proud of our home record," he said after the win. "All credit to the team, they deserve what they're getting right now."

The National League has become an obstacle course, with many teams battling for a spot in the Football League. Carlisle and Southend have been in League One in recent years, while Forest Green Rovers featured in the EFL as recently as 2024. York and Scunthorpe are also strong contenders, and Hartlepool is lurking outside the top seven.

Rochdale's promotion push will undoubtedly be a thrilling ride for their fans, who are hoping to see their team return to the Football League after a 102-year absence. With three points in hand on many of their rivals, plus a healthy goal difference, Dale seems primed to take advantage of any slip-ups from their competitors.

As the season enters its final stretch, the "3UP" campaign is gaining traction, with high-profile managers like Robbie Savage and Mark Hughes backing teams vying for promotion. It's clear that Rochdale are serious contenders, but only time will tell if they can navigate the treacherous path to success.

lol what's with all these top tier teams in non league i mean seriously, how hard is it to stay up? rochdale is probs gonna do it tho, they got a sick new manager and their home record is fire don't get me wrong, wrexham has that hollywood cash but lets be real, its not the same as just grinding it out every week. gotta respect rochdale for keeping it real and trying to make a comeback after almost getting liquidated last year

I'm telling you, Dale has been on fire this season ! 19 wins from 24 games? That's crazy talk! They've definitely got the momentum going for them, and with McNulty at the helm, I think they're gonna be a real force to be reckoned with. Wrexham may have had the Hollywood backing, but they still took three seasons to get there... so yeah, let's not count Rochdale out just yet! Their home record is looking solid, and they've got the goalscoring machine in Allarakhia - that 2-0 win over Eastleigh was a highlight reel moment for sure! I'm loving the "3UP" campaign too... it's great to see some top managers backing their teams to get promoted. Now, let me ask you, do you think they can really do it?

looks like rochdale's on fire just 19 wins in 24 games and they're top of the national league gotta be proud of their team spirit and new manager jimmy mcnulty

I feel like we used to have this kind of excitement in football back in the day, you know when teams were actually fighting for relegation and not just trying to avoid it? It's nice to see Rochdale taking on the challenge and proving people wrong. 19 wins out of 24 games is a good run, but I'm still getting butterflies thinking about the playoffs!

So I'm reading this about Rochdale and their chances of making it back into the Football League... 102 years is a looong time, you know? And now they're sitting pretty at the top of the National League? Sounds too good to be true. Where's the source on that "new manager Jimmy McNulty" guy? Who is he and how did he turn this team around so quickly? I need some proof before I start jumping up and down about Rochdale's promotion hopes And what about all these other teams mentioned - Carlisle, Southend, Forest Green Rovers... which ones have actually done it in the past?

think rochdale's got a good shot at promotion its not like wrexham or any other team in the national league is gonna blow them out of the water, plus they just beat eastleigh 2-0 . mcnulty seems to know what he's doing too, and with all those high-profile "3UP" backers coming on board, it's like they've got a safety net or something . also, have you seen their home record? 19 wins in 10 games, that's some serious momentum . don't get me wrong, there are gonna be ups and downs, but i think rochdale's the real deal

lol 19 wins from 24 games? that's insane!!! rochdale is definitely on track to get promoted, with a healthy goal difference and tons of points in hand! their home record is unbeatable right now, and i'm loving the confidence from jimmy mcnulty

lets look at some stats:
rochdale's xG (expected goals) this season? 53.4%
compared to wrexham, who have an xG of 46.7%
and eastleigh? a measly 42.9%!

meanwhile, the league table is looking pretty uncertain:
there are like 5 teams fighting for top spot, and another 3-4 teams could still get promoted
carlisle and southend might struggle to stay up in league one

anywayz, gotta give credit to rochdale's fans who stuck by the team through thick and thin they deserve a promotion after all that hard work!

I'm loving this season so far in the National League! The competition is fierce, but it's great to see underdogs like Rochdale taking center stage . Those three points over Eastleigh were huge for them and now they're flying high . Can't wait to see how they handle those away games - gonna be intense . And I'm curious to know what the 3UP campaign is all about... hoping it brings some positive energy to the league !

I'm loving this season so far ! The National League is getting more intense by the day, and it's awesome to see Rochdale on fire ! 19 wins in 24 games is impressive, and I think they've got a great shot at promotion . Their team spirit and chemistry are undeniable, and Jimmy McNulty is doing a fantastic job of motivating them .

It's also awesome to see some big names like Robbie Savage and Mark Hughes backing the underdogs - the "3UP" campaign is all about giving teams with heart a chance to shine . Of course, there are still challenges ahead, but I think Rochdale's squad depth and squad cohesion will take them far . Fingers crossed they make it back to League football in style ️!

Dale's on fire ️! With their home record looking solid, you gotta think they've got a good shot at promotion . Only question is, how long can they keep this up?

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s crazy how far Rochdale has come. They were literally struggling last year but now they’re dominating the National League and everyone's talking about their chances of getting promoted . The manager, Jimmy McNulty, seems really confident and you can tell he believes in his team, which is awesome to see . I mean, sure, there are still challenges ahead, but if anyone can do it, it's Dale . And let’s be real, the National League has become like an obstacle course for teams trying to get promoted...anyone who can get over that hurdle gets a trophy

I'm loving the vibes from Rochdale right now ! Their resurgence under Jimmy McNulty is no surprise considering they've been rebuilding their team and squad since last season. 19 wins in 24 games? That's some serious momentum . Eastleigh didn't stand a chance against them, that 2-0 win was all but done by the 54th minute .

The thing is, most teams struggle to stay consistent in the National League, and Rochdale have managed it so far. It'll be interesting to see how they cope with away games, especially with their new pitch getting relaid next month . Carlisle, York, Scunthope... these are all strong contenders too, so you've got a real dogfight on your hands .

If Rochdale can keep it up, that 102-year wait to return to the Football League will be over in no time ! The fans must be over the moon . I'm definitely keeping an eye on this team and how they navigate the final stretch of the season .