It is just over six months since one of the greatest games to decide a title. Rochdale and York City had clinched a huge 212 points between them heading into an extraordinary final-day showdown at Crown Oil Arena on 25 April. In the end, York City clinched automatic promotion from the National League by the barest of margins, snatching a 1-1 draw courtesy of Josh Stones' stunning equaliser in the 13th minute of stoppage time.
Having ensured promotion in dramatic circumstances of their own through a tough play-off campaign, Rochdale joined them in League Two this term, with the pair facing each other for the first time since their epic fixture. Plenty has changed for both clubs as they adapt to life back in the English Football League (EFL). How are both clubs faring this season?
And will they forever be linked by that historic day? Saturday, 25 April 2026 will live long in the memory of not just both sets of supporters but neutrals as well, with fans across the world choosing to follow a fifth-tier football match on a busy day's action in late April. The game came to life in the final stages.
After York had spurned a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring late on through Stones, Rochdale fans inside the ground began to sense luck may be on their side. Not least when Ian Henderson, Rochdale's cult hero, swung in a peach of a cross with the outside of his foot which was headed home at the far post by Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in the 95th minute. Rochdale fans stormed the pitch in pure elation and emotion.
They thought they were promoted. "As a local radio commentator you want to capture what fans are feeling. As Emmanuel Dieseruvwe headed in on the 95th minute, myself and former Rochdale player Joe Bunney went big," BBC Radio Manchester commentator Alex Whitington said.
"It felt like that was the moment. We stood up to describe the pitch invasion and stayed standing to call Dale home." But that gave the York players, and management staff, time to reset. More than six minutes passed between Rochdale's goal and York restarting the match.
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