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Do us proud!

10/ 5/2008

THE town’s name having been dragged through the mud by sections of the national press this week, Keith Hill’s talented young team can provide a welcome shot in the arm for Rochdale today.

A GMTV report this week painted a bleak portrait of the town – but with up to 3,500 Rochdalians converging on the north east for the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-finals against Darlington (kick off 5.35pm), the club’s following can expose the positive face of Rochdale to a national audience.

For so long, Dale’s terrific core support had little to shout about. But now their team stand just two games away from a maiden appearance at Wembley and a shot at promotion for only the second time in the club’s history.

When the television cameras pan over Dale fans this afternoon, let’s ensure the country sees a more colourful, brighter, positive portrayal of its townsfolk. Wear your colours and wave your flags with pride, cheer the boys on and let’s show the nation there is much more to Rochdale than GMTV’s depiction of a scrounging, downtrodden dump.

Dale fans need little convincing their team can do the town proud – they have every faith in Hill’s side.

And Hill himself was as upbeat as ever as he finalised preparations for the biggest game of the season so far.

Hill insisted his ‘no fear’ mantra would, as usual, be the order of the day when the players take to the field at the Darlington Arena.

"We’ve played 70 league games since Dave Flitcroft and I took charge and we’ve only lost six, so we definitely approach this game with no fear," he said. "Why change the things which have been successful for us?

"I suppose Darlington might want me to change, but I can’t alter the players’ winning ambition. Their ambition is not stupid or misplaced, it’s fearless and is part of the plan. There is a plan to everything we do.

"We see this as a one-off three-hour football match and if we win that match then we go through to Wembley.

"The only reason why we, as a management team, have been given the opportunity to put this plan in place is because we win matches. We all know what football is like – you lose football matches, you lose your job. That’s why we’re really happy with the work we’re doing because by winning matches we are able to see our plan through."

Not to mention providing a much-needed boost to the entire town!

Up the Dale!

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