NORTH WEST UP AND DOWN

Rochdale AFC has spent their entire history looking up the leagues from the bottom. They had been 36 years (the longest ever) in the bottom division since 1976, which came to an end in 2010. It was sometimes known as Rochdale's Division. They were relegated to League Two (the fourth tier) and have been back in League One (third tier) since April 2014, their highest place.

This is where they will be next season. Their midfielder Joe Thompson scored the only goal of the game in the 69th minute yesterday, against play off bound Charlton Athletic, helping The Dale to avoid the drop by one point. Keith Hill's managerial genius strikes again.

This was Joe's first goal since returning to the team in December having been given the all clear from cancer. He has been away from the game with the illness twice (Hodgkin's Lymphoma)and he is in remission. None months ago he could barely walk and had no hair after chemo, he had lost two stone. Apparently they had Jesus on their side.....
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/meet-rochdale-superfan-spain-who-14613099

Wigan Athletic also adds to the regional success by winning the League One trophy after a 1-0 win at Doncaster. This was manager Paul Cook's third promotion in five years having previously done so at Chesterfield and Portsmouth.

Bolton avoided the drop from the Championship and defender Mark Little lost his jacket, wallet and wedding ring in the post match celebrations. Apparently he "gave" the jacket to fan!

Not quite Greater Manchester, but nearby, Blackburn Rovers gained second automatic promotion behind Wigan under Tony Mowbray's watch.

Accrington, of course are up from League Two by 5 points, while Morecambe scraped keeping their place in League Two by 5 goals (difference). I expect you noticed that James Dunne of Swindon was red carded after a clash with James Dunne of Accrington following Swindon's 1-0 win.

Relegated from Rochdale's division are Oldham (who failed to beat Northampton and duly cancelled their end of season party), Northampton, MK Dons and Bury. Not too good for the Greater Manchester region.

Oh yeh, City won the PL, Utd were runners up and Liverpool doesn't come into Greater Manchester. Oh....Ashton Utd beat Grantham in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier Play Off Final.