Saturday, 25 April 2026 will live long in the memory of not just both sets of supporters but neutrals as well, with fans across the world choosing to follow a fifth-tier football match on a busy day’s action in late April.
The game came to life in the final stages. After York had spurned a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring late on through Stones, Rochdale fans inside the ground began to sense luck may be on their side.
Not least when Ian Henderson, Rochdale’s cult hero, swung in a peach of a cross with the outside of his foot which was headed home at the far post by Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in the 95th minute.
Cue bedlam. Rochdale fans stormed the pitch in pure elation and emotion. They thought they were promoted.
“As a local radio commentator you want to capture what fans are feeling. As Emmanuel Dieseruvwe headed in on the 95th minute, myself and former Rochdale player Joe Bunney went big,” BBC Radio Manchester commentator Alex Whitington said.
“It felt like that was the moment. We stood up to describe the pitch invasion and stayed standing to call Dale home.”
But that gave the York players, and management staff, time to reset. More than six minutes passed between Rochdale’s goal and York restarting the match. The visitors still believed.
In the 13th minute of stoppage time, Stones made no mistake with his second opportunity of the game, managing to squeeze the ball over the line following pinball in the penalty area – sending York up with virtually the final kick of the season.
“There was a split-second moment when then Rochdale boss Jimmy McNulty thought the referee had blown the whistle for full-time, only to find out that in fact the whistle meant his side were staying in the National League – momentarily,” BBC Radio York’s Dave Ward said.
Whitington added: “Stones’ equaliser was bedlam. Not least because from our angle it wasn’t clear if the ball had crossed the line.
“I cried ‘oh no’ four times. I think that encapsulates the emotion perfectly. I may never commentate on another ending like it.”
Rochdale were forced into the play-offs where they eventually produced another comeback, this time against Boreham Wood at Wembley to seal their EFL return.
“The supporters can’t wait to get back – they will love the banter. The rivalry between the fans will be brilliant and all those memories will come flooding back,” Ward added.
