Rochdale Supporters Trust has a board made up of elected and co-opted members. A list of the Trust Board members can be found below. Individual profiles of the board members are currently being added.

If you would like to help and get involved, or want more information about Rochdale Supporters Trust send us an email via the "Contact Us" page or come and see us at the Trust table in Studds or the Dale Bar.

Ian Bailey - Chairman/Stadium Company Representative

Ian Bailey, also known to many as " Bill ", is a lifelong Dale fan of more than 46 years. His first league game was in 1962 when his grandad blooded him to the first team but for a few years before that he attended reserve games only. It appears that he is the only board member to remember our one and only promotion in the 1968/69 season.

In the `60`s Ian became a member of the Junior Supporters Club and then obviously later on to become an adult member. He was then fortunate enough to become its Chairman in the mid eighties up until the mid nineties.

Following the demise of the Supporters Club and the formation of the Trust he again continued membership and was eventually elected on to the board as your Stadium Company representative before, at the last Trust AGM (2008), becoming your Chairman. Ian is a great believer in these organisations "as I see it as being the link between you the supporter, who attends week in week out, and those who run the football club in all their different guises as well as arranging the various functions and events we organise for and on your behalf."

"I have numerous happy memories from following Dale over the many years I have been attending and have seen many exciting players both in ours and the opposition's teams. Far to many to mention in this short space. I have many happy memories from my time as Chairman of the Supporters Club achieving things I never thought I would and have worked with many good people at the club. I also achieved my lifelong ambition, as we all did, of seeing Dale play at Wembley."

"Finally, I ask you to support the Trust and your current board as we are here to promote the best interests for both you the supporter and the football club and we can achieve much more with you on board."

Michael Shepherd - Treasurer

Michael met Rochdale Supporters Trust board members at the AGM of Supporters Direct in Manchester in 2007 and agreed to take on the co-opted role of Treasurer, a position he has held since November 2007. 

He has been a member of the trust since 2005 along with his daughter and he is a qualified accountant who was born in Manchester. . 

He started going to football matches in the 70's and enjoy football at all levels. 

His favourite Rochdale Player was Grant Holt and Michael was sad to see him leave for
Nottingham Forest in January 2006.

Michael has found working with the trust has been both enjoyable and rewarding. He has enjoyed working with the club and the community and hopes to continue to do so for the good of the game and
Rochdale AFC in particular.

Murray Knight - Secretary (non director)

Murray moved to Littleborough six years ago, and was introduced to the Dale by his wife's friend's husband. His first memorable Spotland moment was the game when Michael Simpkins "almost physically confronted a spectator, who had been providing free counselling on his possible career progression outside football!!"

He joined the Trust three years ago after he was invited to attend a Board meeting as a guest. He "volunteered" to take the minutes, instantly becoming Secretary "illustrating how quickly promotion can be achieved!"

His Simpkins moment has since been overshadowed by the Darlington home game in the play-off semi-final, and our appearance at Wembley. Murray states that he is looking forward to exciting times with the new Trust board formation

Scott Goulding - Membership Officer

Scott has been a Dale supporter for over 25 years and has been on the Trust board since it's formation in January 2004.

Scott's Spotland memories over the years have included; securing league status at home to Stockport; munching on those delicious Hilton's pies (mmmm!), ramshackled main stand; the bizarrae supporters ritual - swapping ends & not forgetting last season's nail biting play-off semi-final.

His Spotland heroes over the years have been Steve Taylor, Lyndon Simmonds, Mark Stuart, Jason Peake, Rickie Lambert & to present day Gary Jones.

"I believe Dale Trust has now rapidly moved forward as a supporter’s body and has a major part to play in the future of Rochdale AFC. It is important that Trust Members are heard and represented regarding development of the football club. It was an honour and a privilege to have been Dale Trust chairman for the past three years. It had not been easy, at times it had been difficult and challenging, but above all this, leading an organisation, which exists, to support the Club we all love was a hugely rewarding experience. I wish to thank members for re-electing me onto the board as Membership Officer"

Francis Collins - Exiles Co-ordinator

Francis' first Dale game was on 12th March 1983 and he has been hooked on the club ever since. He once managed a ten year spell of not missing a game home or away and has worked for the club in varying roles since 1991. In 1994 he launched popular fanzine EGP and in 1999 became the club's first Chief Executive. He left that postion in 2001 to start his own business and joined the inaugural Trust board in 2004.

Francis lists his all-time favourite player as Mark Gavin - "he provided some light at the end of a very long tunnel in a very grim era and was sold to Hearts to help get us out of the Tommy Cannon mess. It broke my heart but taught me we’d always be a selling club!"


His favourite match watching Dale was the play-off semi final against Darlington at home last season. He describes it as "probably the greatest day of my life (not that there’s much competition) where The Dale did actually put me on Cloud 9. "

Keith Hicks - Community Officer

Keith is unique to the Dale Supporters Trust board in that he has actually pulled on a Rochdale shirt as a player. For that reason we shall let Keith explain in his own words his invovlement with Rochdale AFC

"Keith Hicks-a legend in his own back garden!!!
 
First game at Rochdale AFC 1970ish supporting Oldham Athletic-ended up being chased down Oldham Road by local hooligans until superior fitness got me out of a sticky position (can you believe that)
 
Visited Spotland again in 1973/74, this time turning out in the big derby match-scored in the Sandy Lane end but unfortunately against Dale (how bad must Dale have been in those days for me to score in the right goal)
 
Signed in 1985 for that demon of a Manager, named Vic Halom with best memories being that fantastic night out at Old Trafford and scoring a goal at Mansfield that nobody saw because of the fog (honest it was me who scored and except for own goals, the only time I managed to hit the target in my playing career here)
 
Finished with a pelvic injury in the first match of the next season and kind of fell in the present position at the Club by being possibly the only person who applied.
 
Since then, had many pleasant memories of life at the top and hopefully will continue for many years to come.

Favourite present player as got to be Gary Jones for his total commitment for every minute of every game he turns out in and ex player is Reg Jenkins, who by the way didn’t score when I marked him."

Peter Brown - Trust Desk Co-ordinator

Peter has been a Dale fan for over 30 years and first came to Spotland when he was a councillor on the then new Rochdale council in 1974, a position he left three years ago

He has enjoyed following the club immensly and has enjoyed watching the likes of Brian Clough and Barry Haslem to name but a couple over the years.Peter became a shareholder  when the chance arose and has taken more shares in the club when they have come avaliable.

Peter names this as the reason that he joined the Trust to try and make The Dale not just a family club but to make it part of the community. "As the present manager has said, he sees Rochdale as a family club and I believe this is the way forward for clubs such as ours as well as sharing with the community and building up this part of the club"

Kelvin Finan - Website Editor/Events Co-ordinator

Kelvin has been a Dale fan since 1990 but can never remember against which team his first game was.  He became a regular attendee both home and away before circumstances in the mid-nineties meant he didn't watch Dale for a number of seasons (thankfully missing the Graham Barrow era).

His return was on the 17th October 2000 where he saw Dale play out a 2-2 thriller at home to Chesterfield which re-iginited his love for the club. Since then he has been a season ticket holder for a number of years and has covered thousands of miles following the club.

Kelvin is a contributor  to popular fans website RochdaleAFC.com and lists working with the legendary Col Cavanah as one of his greatest achievements in life!!!  He names Alan Reeves as his favourite all time Dale player and names his favourite game as the aforementioned Chesterfield match as that was the game when he knew he had returned 'home.'

Jarrod Flett - Marketing Officer

Jarrod was an original member of the Trust board when it was set up in 2004, but left due to work commitments. He runs his own advertising company with fellow Trust board member Francis Collins after jobs in sales and also catering. He helped contribute to the EGP fanzine once he had turned his allegiances from Watford (it’s a long story) to Dale following the Littlewoods Cup match match in the 86/87 season, and lets face it he had less distance to travel for home games.

He says his favourite player has to be Alan Reeves, "player of the season every season."

Rather than a 'best game' Jarrod has 'best games' -  "Darlington Play offs at home, celebrating with your son as that penalty hit the back of the net is something that I will always remember and the Burnley nine men game, into the bears pit and came back with three points. "

Jan Harwood - Media Officer

Jan's first Dale game was in 1988 against Huddersfield in the cup when he was just two years old, so you could say that he didn't know any better! He's been a fan ever since and started going to all home and away matches around eight years ago. Jan plays for the successful supporter's team and has met most of his best friends through watching Dale. He's been writing match reports as part of his job at Rochdale Online for two seasons and say's he does miss being with the fans when he's in the press box, but getting paid to watch the Dale has its benefits!

Paddy McCourt goes down as Jan's favourite Dale player - "He was a bit like marmite with the Dale fans but I don't think we'd seen a player like him before and I doubt we ever will again, I just loved watching the things he could do with the ball." 

He has enjoyed some fantastic moments in his time watching Dale but the Darlington game in the play-offs was the best. "Seeing my Dad as soon as the penalty hit the net, knowing that we were going to Wembley, was amazing, and then celebrating into the night singing Dale songs. It all made Wembley a bit of a damp squib really!"

David Gartside - Fund-raising Officer

David has been a Dale fan since primary school, and started to attend games in 1969/70. He has been a season ticket holder most of that time, and travelled countless miles watching us all over the country through the years.

He has plenty of favourite players including Reg Jenkins, Bobby Hoy, Tony Whelan, Eui Martinez, Grant Holt and Paddy McCourt.

He runs his own asset finance business, having previously qualified in Banking and subsequently Finance. Following this, he moved to a well known PLC where he was a Director for 5 years.

He is married with one daughter, and lives in Shawclough. He plays competitive tennis, and describes himself as fortunate to have represented Great Britain at the European Senior Championships last year.

"I hope to be able to assist the club through my business experience, and continue the excellent work done by the Trust. The Dale is in my blood, and has been a major part of my life, so it's good to be given the chance to help."