We have come yet to the start of another rugby league season, and with many new players entering the club and a new head coach (Lee Greenwood) spirits are high heading into the new campaign.
With some good performances in the Yorkshire Cup, head coach Greenwood will be hoping to get off to a good start in his new position at the helm of the Rams. First up is an away trip to the Rochdale Hornets, a team which the Rams have good and bad memories of playing against.
Here is your fans away day guide to the Crown Oil Arena or more commonly known as Spotland.
Capacity: 10,000
Address: Sandy Lane, Rochdale, OL11 5DR
Telephone: 01706 648 004
Pitch Type: Grass
Club Nickname: Hornets
Year Ground Opened: 1906
Undersoil Heating: No
Shirt Sponsors: Crown Oil
BACKGROUND
Spotland has benefited greatly due to the construction of three new stands during the last three decades. The last of the new stands to be opened was the Willbutts Lane Stand at one side of the pitch this was opened in 2000. It is a single tiered stand which replaced a former terrace and has a capacity of 4,000.
Moving to the othe side of the stadium is another single tier, the all seated Main Stand, this stand has a number of supporting pillars and some executive boxes at the back. The Pearl Street Stand sits at one end of the pitch, this is the third of the new stands to be built.
Spotland is shared with Rochdale AFC who play in the third tier of the English Football League and in 2016 Spotland was renamed the Crown Oil Arena in a five-year corporate sponsorship deal.
PUBS
If Dewsbury fans are fancying a pint before the match, one pub that might be an option is the Ratcliffe Arms which is located at the car park entrance to the ground, on Sandy Lane. This pub has SKY TV, serves real ale, hot food and is family friendly.
If Rams fans arrive early enough the Cemetery Hotel maybe a viable option, it is located at the bottom of Sandy Lane and on the corner with Bury Road,
DIRECTIONS AND CAR PARKING
Rams fans will need to put the postcode OL11 5DR in to their SAT-NAV’S to find Spotland and from Dewsbury it will take just about an hour to arrive at the Horents stadium.
Car parking is not available at the stadium, however there are various spots where fans can park on streets, however supporters must check if the street spots are for permit holders only.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
If Dewsbury fans aren’t driving to the game on Sunday, there is always the possiblility of going via public transport. Rams fans will need to get a train from Dewsbury to Manchester Piccadilly from there they will be able to get a train direct to Rochdale train station. The main station in the town is a 30-40 minute walk from the stadium, so if you don’t fancy the walk, there are always taxis available. The other option is to get a metrolink tram from outside the station into Rochdale town centre which will shorten the walk to the stadium.
AMBER RIBBON TRAVEL
The Amber Ribbon is running a coach to Spotland for the away fixture against Rochdale Hornets on Sunday 3rd February.
The cost is just £10 and the pick-up points are as follows:
1.00pm – Hanging Heaton WMC
1.15pm – The Timepiece
1.30pm – Mirfield town centre
The coach will leave Rochdale one hour after the end of the game. Contact the Amber Ribbon if you are interested in booking a place on the coach.
LAST TEN MEETINGS
Rochdale 26, Dewsbury 22 (CSR6, 23/9/18)
Dewsbury 27, Rochdale 32 (ChR13, 6/5/18)
Rochdale 6, Dewsbury 38 (ChR3, 19/2/18)
Dewsbury 56, Rochdale 8 (CSR1, 6/8/17)
Dewsbury 40, Rochdale 10 (ChR20, 2/7/17)
Rochdale 46, Dewsbury 0 (ChR1, 5/2/17)
Dewsbury 38, Rochdale 20 (ChR23, 10/8/14)
Rochdale 12, Dewsbury 42 (ChR2, 23/2/14)
Dewsbury 32, Rochdale 10 (NRCR4, 4/3/12)
Rochdale 12, Dewsbury 48 (NRCR3, 14/2/10)
In our last ten meetings with Rochdale we have won eight times.
