Gary Smethurst Cooper (born 15 February 1955) is an English former footballer who played as a forward for Rochdale, Southport, Lancaster City and Horwich RMI. He also had trials with Bolton Wanderers and Oldham Athletic without making a first team appearance.
The Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in England. Its largest town is Rochdale and the wider borough covers other outlying towns and villages, including Middleton, Heywood, Milnrow and Littleborough. It is the ninth-largest district by population in Greater Manchester with a population of 226,992 in 2022.
Rochdale Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. The team currently competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English league system. Nicknamed 'The Dale', they have played home matches at Spotland Stadium since 1920 and, until 2019, contested derby matches with Oldham Athletic and previously with Bury.
Rochdale is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. In the 2021 census the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wider borough. Rochdale is in the foothills of the South Pennines and lies in the dale (valley) of the River Roch, 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Oldham, and 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Manchester.
The Rochdale Hornets are a professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, competing in the League 1, the third tier of European rugby league. The Rochdale Hornets are one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league clubs. Their main local rivals are Oldham, Salford Red Devils, Swinton Lions, Halifax and the Huddersfield Giants.
The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, founded in 1844, was an early consumers' co-operative, and one of the first to pay a patronage dividend, forming the basis for the modern co-operative movement. Although other co-operatives preceded it, the Rochdale Pioneers co-operative became the prototype for societies in Great Britain. The Rochdale Pioneers are most famous for designing the Rochdale Principles, a set of principles of co-operation, which provide the foundation for the principles on which co-ops around the world operate to this day. The model the Rochdale Pioneers used is a focus of study within co-operative economics.
Spotland Stadium, known as the Crown Oil Arena for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose sports stadium in the Spotland area of Rochdale, Greater Manchester which is home to Rochdale A.F.C. and Rochdale Hornets R.F.L.C. The venue has a capacity of 10,249.
The 2010–11 season is Rochdale's 104th year in existence and their first season in League One following promotion from League Two the previous season. Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, Football League Cup and Football League Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.
The 2011–12 season is Rochdale's 105th year in existence and their second consecutive season in League One. Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, Football League Cup and Football League Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.
The 2012–13 season is the 92nd season of competitive football for Rochdale A.F.C., a professional English football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Rochdale return to Football League Two for 2012–13 following a two-season stint in League One which ended with a last-place finish in 2011–12. Rochdale began their 2012–13 Football League Two season with a 0–0 draw with Northampton. They entered into three cup competitions in the first round due to the league table they are in. John Coleman's and Jimmy Bell's contracts were terminated by Rochdale on 21 January 2013 following a poor run in form.
The 2014–15 season was the 94th season of competitive football for Rochdale. Rochdale returned to Football League One for 2014–15 following promotion in 2013–14 Football League Two.
The 2016–17 season is Rochdale's 110th year in existence and their third consecutive season in League One. Along with competing in League One, the club will participate in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.
The 2013–14 season was the 93rd season of competitive football for Rochdale, and their second consecutive season in League Two.
The 2009–10 Rochdale A.F.C. season was the club's 89th season in the Football League, and the 36th consecutive season in the bottom division of the League. Rochdale finished the season in 3rd place in League Two and won automatic promotion to League One, ending a period of 36 years in the fourth tier.
The 2017–18 season is Rochdale's 111th year in existence and their fourth consecutive season in League One. Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
The 2018–19 season is Rochdale's 112th year in existence and their fifth consecutive season in League One. Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.
The 2019–20 Rochdale A.F.C. season was the club's 113th year in existence and their sixth consecutive season in League One. Along with competing in League One, the club participate in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy. The season covered the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.
The 2005–06 Rochdale A.F.C. season was the club's 85th season in the Football League, and the 32nd consecutive season in the bottom division of the League. Rochdale finished the season in 14th place in League Two.
The 2002–03 Rochdale A.F.C. season was the club's 82nd season in the Football League, and the 29th consecutive season in the fourth tier.
The 2001–02 Rochdale A.F.C. season was the club's 81st season in the Football League, and the 28th consecutive season in the fourth tier.
The 2021 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 6 May 2021 to elect members of Rochdale Borough Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections. One-third of the seats were up for election.