Rochdale AFC head coach Jimmy McNulty has written himself into the club’s history by taking Dale back into the English Football League (EFL) after just three seasons in football management.
Jimmy joined Dale as a player from Bury in the summer of 2015 and went on to make 237 appearances in his playing days with the club.
He had two spells as Rochdale’s interim head coach before he was appointed head coach on a two-year contract in May 2023.
He led Dale to a top half finish in the National League in his first season and was rewarded with a new three-year contract in July 2024.
In his second season, Jimmy led Dale to the promotion play-offs but they were defeated by Southend in a play-off eliminator.
That defeat clearly served only to strengthen his resolve and during the summer closed season of 2025 he recruited new players and two new coaches in Jason Taylor and Matt Done.
Dale enjoyed an incredible third season with Jimmy in charge as they won 33 games and amassed 106 points only to be pipped to the league title and automatic promotion at the very last by York City.
Beating Scunthorpe in a play-off semi-final led to a Wembley date against Boreham Wood in the final, which Dale won via a dramatic penalty shootout.
Asked how he feels about the Wembley win and of Dale getting back into the EFL, Jimmy said: “It was so special. I have pure pride to be part of this team that has returned the football club we love to the EFL, after what I must say is quite a short stay in the National League. Three years feels like three years too long, but to turn our fortunes around the way that this team has is amazing.
“The culmination of getting promoted, in our style, with the character this team has shown repeatedly to dig deep, is incredible. What we’ve done will live forever. To get out of the hardest league to get out of, with what we’ve done this season, it felt like some sort of footballing justice was done.
“The significance of this team’s achievements is immense, and I’ll be grateful for it forever.”
