Rochdale's extraordinary season earns National Game Awards Team of the Year honour

Rochdale have been named Enterprise Team of the Year at The Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards, recognition for a season that swung between agony and triumph across every month of the campaign.

The Dale accumulated over 100 points and appeared to have secured the National League North title when they led York City in stoppage time on the final day — only for York to scramble an equaliser in the 112th minute and claim the championship. Journalist and non-league expert Tony Incenzo, who presented the award, pointed to a pitch invasion as a pivotal moment in that collapse. “That was incredible,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for the pitch invasion, they would have held out against York. In the end, York were worthy champions.”

Rochdale’s resilience did not end there. Spotland roared the team through the play-offs and all the way to Wembley, where they faced Boreham Wood in the final. With promotion seemingly slipping away in the closing seconds, Rochdale equalised and went on to win on penalties, securing their return to the Football League.

Incenzo, who attended the final, was full of praise for both sides. “I went to the play-off final at Wembley where Boreham Wood were beating Rochdale in the last few seconds before they equalised and won on penalties,” he said. “Boreham Wood’s Abdul Abdulmalik was brilliant and I think he is one of the best talents I have seen at this level.”

The drama was not confined to the season’s final weeks. In April, Rochdale conceded a 90th-minute equaliser at Braintree before scoring a 99th-minute winner to keep the title race alive — a moment that encapsulated the spirit that ultimately earned them the award.

Incenzo, who has worked in football media for 30 years and recently completed the personal milestone of visiting every non-league ground in the country — finishing at a North West Counties First Division North fixture between Fulwood Amateurs and Thornton Cleveleys — said no club better illustrated the character of the non-league game this season.

Jon Couch, executive editor of The Non-League Paper, underlined the significance of the awards. “These awards are really important because non-league football does not always get the recognition it deserves,” he said. “This is a chance to celebrate everyone involved — the clubs, players, managers, contributors and sponsors who help keep the game alive.”