The 2020–21 season was Rochdale A.F.C.'s 114th in existence and their seventh consecutive season in EFL League One, Along with League One, the club contested in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The season covered from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. All matches were played without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Relegation was confirmed on 1 May 2021, when Rochdale lost 2–1 at home to Doncaster Rovers. Manager Brian Barry-Murphy said after the match that he felt responsible for the result. On 30 June 2021, Rochdale released Barry-Murphy from his contract at his own request. Lee Riley and Jim McNulty took temporary charge of the first team.
First-team squad
No. Name Nat. Position(s) Date of birth (age) Apps. Goals Year signed Signed from Transfer fee Goalkeepers1Gavin BazunuGK2002020 Manchester CityLoan12Jay LynchGK2202019 AFC FyldeLoan30Ben ChaltonGK002020AcademyTrainee Defenders2Ryan McLaughlinRB/LB/RM3802019 BlackpoolUndisclosed3Gabriel OshoCB/RB302021 Luton TownLoan4Jimmy McNultyCB/LB20742015 BuryFree5Paul McShaneCB2512019Free agentFree6Eoghan O'ConnellCB6022019 BuryFree15Haydon RobertsCB/LB/DM1902020 Brighton & Hove AlbionLoan19Yeboah AmankwahCB202020 Manchester CityLoan32Joe DunneCB/LB302020AcademyTrainee Midfielders7Stephen DooleyLM/RM8252018 ColeraineFree8Aaron MorleyCM/DM7672017AcademyTrainee13Jimmy KeohaneCM/AM/RM/RB7652019 Cork CityUndisclosed14Oliver RathboneCM/DM/LM164132015 Manchester UnitedFree16Matt DoneLM/LW/LB264322017 Sheffield UnitedFree18Lewis BradleyCM802019AcademyTrainee20Jimmy RyanCM/RM/LM5012019 BlackpoolFree21Matty LundCM/RB/RM162342020 Scunthorpe UnitedUndisclosed23Harrison HopperCM802019AcademyTrainee24Ethan BrierleyCM802020AcademyTrainee Forwards9Stephen HumphrysCF/RW/LW1472020 Southend UnitedFree10Alex NewbyRW/CF2972020 ChorleyFree11Jake BeesleyCF1932020 Solihull MoorsUndisclosed17Fábio TavaresCF/LW/RW3942019AcademyTrainee22Kwadwo BaahLW/RW2832019AcademyTrainee
Statistics
Goals record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total121CMMatty Lund 111001229CFStephen Humphrys1100011313AMJimmy Keohane1000010410CFAlex Newby6001711CFJake Beesley60017622CFKwadwo Baah3000314CMOliver Rathbone3000316MFMatt Done30003917CFFábio Tavares 100126 CBEoghan O'Connell 101028CMAaron Morley20002127 RMStephen Dooley 1000117MFConor Grant1000119MFConnor Shaughnessy100013DFGabriel Osho10001Total 6111366
Disciplinary record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total 121CMMatty Lund 1000000000100110026 CBEoghan O'Connell8000001001001000314CMOliver Rathbone701000100100901422CFKwadwo Baah70000000000070052 RBRyan McLaughlin50000000000050065 CBPaul McShane 400000000000400720CMJimmy Ryan3000000000003007 RMStephen Dooley20000000010030011CFJake Beesley 3000000000003009CFStephen Humphrys300000000000300114DFJimmy McNulty10100000000010110CFAlex Newby 10000000010020016MFMatt Done20000000000020013MFJimmy Keohane200000000000200153DFGabriel Osho10000000000010015CBHaydon Roberts 10000000000010023CMHarrison Hopper 0000000001001001GKGavin Bazunu10000000000010019MFConnor Shaughnessy00100000000000112GKJay Lynch100000000000100Total 62030002006007003
Transfers Transfers in Date Pos. Nat. Name From Fee Ref. 3 August 2020 CF Alex Newby Chorley Free transfer 11 September 2020 CF Stephen Humphrys Southend United Undisclosed 24 September 2020 CF Jake Beesley Solihull Moors Undisclosed 1 February 2021 CM Conor Grant Sheffield Wednesday Undisclosed 1 February 2021 DM Conor Shaughnessy Leeds United Free transfer 26 February 2021 MF Abraham Odoh Charlton Athletic Free transfer
Loans in Date Pos. Nat. Name From Till Ref.25 August 2020 GK Gavin Bazunu Manchester City End of season 7 September 2020 CB Yeboah Amankwah Manchester City End of season 8 October 2020 LB Tolaji Bola Arsenal 31 January 2021 19 October 2020 CB Haydon Roberts Brighton & Hove Albion End of season 21 January 2021 CB Gabriel Osho Luton Town End of season 1 February 2021 CF Jack Vale Blackburn Rovers End of season
Loans out Date Pos. Nat. Name To Till Ref. 3 September 2020 FW Keaton Mulvey Mossley December 2020 19 September 2020 GK Bradley Wade Guiseley End of season 26 September 2020 CM Lewis Bradley Bradford (Park Avenue) 31 October 2020
Transfers out Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee Ref. 1 July 2020 CF Calvin Andrew Unattached Released 1 July 2020 CM Callum Camps Fleetwood Town Released 1 July 2020 CF Matty Gillam Guiseley Released 1 July 2020 CF Ian Henderson Salford City Released 1 July 2020 GK Josh Lillis Barrow Released 1 July 2020 RB Ryan McLaughlin Unattached Released 1 July 2020 CF Aaron Wilbraham Unattached Released 1 July 2020 DM Jordan Williams Blackpool Released 8 July 2020 RB John Stewart Europa Point Free transfer John Stewart Signs Europa Point FC on Twitter. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020. 14 September 2020 CF Morgan Moreland Ramsbottom United Free transfer 1 February 2021 CF Fabio Tavares Coventry City Undisclosed
Pre-season Rochdale announced two pre-season friendlies against Atherton Collieries and Stockport County.
Competitions EFL League One
League table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches
The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.
FA Cup
The draw for the first round was made on Monday 26, October.
EFL Cup
The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports, by Paul Merson. The draw for both the second and third round were confirmed on September 6, live on Sky Sports by Phil Babb.
EFL Trophy
The regional group stage draw was confirmed on 18 August.
References