The BURKS

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Bath University Rochdale Keen Supporters - The BURKS

Welcome to the web site of Rochdale AFC's semi-detached supporters from down south, now in their 45th season of following 'The Dale'. Last Updated: 17th March 2024.
 

Our History

The BURKS were formed by Bath University football loving student friends who in 1978 decided to visit the team that was bottom of the football league, Division 4 as it was then known. The rest, as they say is history...

Founded on 4th November 1978 (Rochdale 2, Crewe Alexandra 1), the BURKS have been following the 'Dale's footballing fortunes through thick and (mainly) thin ever since.

Loyal to the club in the face of adversity, the BURKS match attendances from December '79 to November '83 went without seeing a single win. And then it was not until May 1985 that another win could be celebrated.

Throughout the subsequent decades our numbers have increased to the current day a grand total of 349 BURKS. Each BURK is awarded a cap for match attendance and by May 2023, 4402 caps have been awarded in the 740 matches attended.

Sadly, the 2022/23 season saw Rochdale relegated to the National League, after 102 years as a Football League club. With over half of the teams in the National League teams located "down south", the BURKS will be out supporting Dale and hoping for better days.

Chris Bates
Founder member, Chris Bates, first trip to Spotland in 1978
Chris Bates
Chris returns in 2018 to mark our 40 year anniversary
Read about our current season