Football Season Review

It was a season too far for Rochdale, who were relegated after seven seasons in League 1. Brian Barry-Murphy has been at Spotland for eleven seasons, and this was undoubtedly the toughest for the Irishman. The former defensive midfielder and assistant looked to have this management lark licked after taking over from Keith Hill just over two years. The global Covid-19 pandemic has spared no-one but clubs like Rochdale have been hit particularly hard. Barry-Murphy is used to working with a small squad and begging, stealing and borrowing loan players from their more illustrious neighbours. It was a struggle right from the start, exacerbated by an inability to win at home and a sieve-like defence that would concede 78 goals in 46 matches. Their away form kept their heads above water for a while but a run of one win in 17 games left them with too much to do. They didn’t go down without a fight, with Barry-Murphy hitting on a 3-5-2 formation which got the best out of his side, but the knock-out blow came when they conceded an equaliser seven minutes into injury-time to draw 3-3 at AFC Wimbledon. Like many sides they were hit by injuries to key players and the club will be licking their wounds ahead of a rebuilding job in the summer. Leading goalscorer Stephen Humphrys has already been linked with a move away from the club whilst it remains to be seen whether Barry-Murphy will be given the opportunity to bring the side back up.

Player of the Season: Jimmy Keohane