The 2020-21 campaign delivered a heartbreaking end to Rochdale's seven-season stay in the third tier, as The Dale finished a perilous 21st and were relegated to League Two. In a season largely played behind closed doors due to the pandemic, the team fought a desperate battle for survival, anchored by Northern Ireland international Matty Lund, whose crucial 11 league goals were a lone bright spot in a tumultuous year. This difficult year marked a painful chapter that saw the club drop out of League One and remains a defining moment in their recent history.