Goalkeepers:
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Tom Heaton. Date of Birth: 15/04/1986 Height: 6' 1"
On-loan from Manchester United to cover for the injuries to Kenny Arthur and Matty Edwards. Tom made his debut in Dales 3-2 defeat at home to Chesterfield. Previous clubs Cardiff City (loan), QPR (loan), Swindon
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Town (loan), Man Utd.
Danny Taberner.
Taberner a product of Dale's youth academy became Rochdale's youngest ever goalkeeper when, on 11 November 2009, he made his debut in a 2-0 home defeat in the FA Cup to Luton Town. Since then Danny has been on the bench.
Defenders:
Tom Kennedy. Date of Birth: 24/06/1985 Height: 5' 11"
After being released by Bury in 2007 he was snapped up by Keith Hill. Kennedy is an attacking left back and dead ball specialist. The 2008/09 season saw him taking the Player of the Year award, and was also included in the League Two Team of the Season.
Nathan Stanton. Date of Birth: 06/05/1981 Height: 5' 9"
Stanton was signed from Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2007, where he had spent his entire career. Left back Stanton has been chosen for the Divisional Select XI on more than one occasion.
Rory McArdle. Date of Birth: 01/05/1987 Height: 6' 1
Mcardle came on loan from Sheffield Wednesday in 2006 having had a lengthy loan spell with Dale during the previous season. In May 2008 Rory scored the opening goal at Wembley in the end of season Play off Final which ended in a 3-2 defeat to Stockport County.
MillersMAD One to Watch, Chris Dagnall may look to be the favourite for this, but this week we go with a young defender who looks good enough to play at a higher level. How he deals with Le Fondre will be a major influence on the game.
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Craig Dawson. Date of Birth: 06/05/1990
Dawson joined Dale from Radcliffe Borough in 2009, and made his Dale debut at Port Vale in August 2009 due to an injury to Rory McArdle, but has impressed so much that he maintained his place at the heart of defence. A centre-half with a goal scoring ability, he is attracting attention from a number of clubs.
Matthew Flynn. Date of Birth: 10/05/1989 Height: 6' 0"
Flynn signed a two year deal in August, after an initial loan spell from Macclesfield, where he had made 31 appearances in the 2008/09 season for the Silkmen.
Scott Wiseman. Date of Birth: 13/12/1985 Height: 6' 0"
Wiseman made 10 appearances for the Millers in the 2006/07 season, while being on loan from Hull. He went on to sign for Darlington where he made just 19 starts in two seasons, and was released by Darlington after losing to Dale in the 2008 play-offs. The right-back was initially signed on a 6 month contract, but after impressing at right-back in the absence of the injured Simon Ramsden, was offered a contract until the end of the season. Scott was released at the end of the season due to financial restrictions, but following Simon Ramsden's departure to Bradford, he was re-signed in June 2009.
Midfielders:
Jason Kennedy. Date of Birth: 11/09/1986 Height: 6' 1"
Kennedy joined Rochdale in the summer of 2009 on a free transfer after his former club Darlington went into administration. Kennedy signed a new two year deal in the summer, he and Gary Jones have formed a strong partnership alongside in the centre of midfield.
Gary Jones. Date of Birth: 03/06/1977 Height: 5' 10"
When Steve Parkin left in November to join 1st Division Barnsley, Jones followed him four weeks later for a fee of £180,000. After two years and 50 appearances at Barnsley he returned on loan then signed a permanent deal until June 2005 that was again extended before the end of the following season. The midfield engine force signed a new two year deal before this season, and is heading towards 400 appearances for the Dale.
Joe Thompson. Date of Birth: 05/03/1989 Height: 6' 0"
Joe has been in and around the first team for the last two seasons. Thompson can play in a number of positions including striker as he proved when he bagged a first half hat-trick in his side's 4-2 win at Aldershot.
Will Atkinson. Date of Birth: 14/10/1988 Height: 5' 10"
Atkinson joined Dale on loan from Hull City in November, and has played in all Dales games since, the winger scoring two goals in the last game against Morecambe.
Adam Rundle. Date of Birth: 08/07/1984 Height: 5' 10"
After his return from a loan spell with the Millers, and Jason Taylor not being allowed to play in this game, Rundle may well get a start. He first came to Dale as after being released by Mansfield in 2006. Rundle had a stop start career at Dale until Hill arrived who showed more faith in him. Still reputed to be on Ronnie Moore's one to watch list.
Ciaran Toner. Date of Birth: 30/01/1981 Height: 5' 7
Toner was Keith Hill's first signing, after Ciaran's contract had ended at Grimsby Town. Toner's career started at Tottenham Hotspur, but after loan spells at Peterborough and Bristol Rovers he signed for Leyton Orient, after two years he moved on to Lincoln City then Grimsby. Made 36 appearances last season, but only made the bench this season.
William Buckley. Date of Birth: 21/11/1989 Height: 6' 0"
Buckley started out as an apprentice at Oldham Athletic, after he was released by his hometown club Buckley was given a chance at Spotland, his potential became increasingly obvious and he was almost immediately given a professional contract. Buckley is a winger who weighs in with a number of goals of his own as well as being a prolific supplier to others, which makes for a number of clubs watching him. Injuries have played a part in confining him to 12 games this season.
Strikers:
Chris Dagnall. Date of Birth: 15/04/1986 Height: 5' 8"
Dagnall joined Rochdale from Tranmere, where he had come through their youth setup, for a fee of £15,000 in January 2006. He had made his debut for Tranmere aged 17 in 2003. Dagnall suffered cruciate ligament damage during the early stages of the 2007/08 season, but he produced a fairytale return from injury, climbing off the bench to score a nine-minute hat-trick against the Millers. He is up there in the Top scorers list for the division, being just behind his former strike partner Le Fondre with 13 goals, making him another Dale player being watched by other clubs.
Chris O'Grady. Date of Birth: 25/01/1986 Height: 6' 3"
Needs little introduction to Millers fans as O'Grady spent a couple of seasons at Millmoor after signing in January 2007 for £65,000 from Leicester City. He moved to Oldham in the summer of 2008 for an undisclosed fee, mainly after refusing to take a wage deference, as the Millers entered administration. Failing to impress at Oldham Chris spent times on loan at Bradford, Bury and Stockport, before joining Dale in August 2009, making his debut against the Millers. Chris has certainly found his shooting boots this season scoring 12 goals, and being a strong partner for Dagnall.
Kallum Higginbotham. Date of Birth: 15/06/1989 Height: 5' 11"
Kallum is a product of Oldham Athletics youth system, he signed for the Dale after his scholarship ended at Oldham. A quick winger with a good shot Kallum is one for the future. Scored a couple of goals despite just one start, this season has seen him mainly on the bench.
Danny Glover. Date of Birth: 24/10/1989 Height: 5' 11"
Danny came on loan from Port Vale, yet to be in the starting line up, Danny has featured coming off the bench, when his pace and ability to hold a ball up is needed in matches.