2023 Betfred League 1 Fixtures Announced

Rochdale Hornets will kickstart their 2023 League 1 campaign by playing host to Richard Horne’s Doncaster, in a repeat of this year’s Preliminary Final.

With the first of Hornets’ bye weeks coming in Round 1, Gary Thornton’s side will have to wait until March 5 to get their season underway where they will be hoping to avenge the defeat suffered at the Eco-power Stadium – back in September.

With Swinton Lions having eventually prevailed over The Dons, in the resulting Play-off Final, it leaves just one other Lancashire club in next year’s competition but an all too familiar one in Stuart Littler’s Oldham.

Rochdale more than claimed bragging rights in 2022, triumphing over their nearest rival on three separate occasions – including the unforgettable 50-24 victory at the Vestacare Stadium.

Thornton’s side will get the chance to continue this streak on April 7 and August 20 – in our final home game of the regular season.

However, there will be some familiar faces in the Roughyeds camp following their acquisitions of Lewis Sheridan, Zac Baker and Gregg McNally.

But, the off-season has also seen two players come the other way in the form of Dave Hewitt and Will Cooke.

The two new faces in next year’s competition will be Workington Town and Dewsbury Rams, following their relegations from the Championship.

Hornets will host Workington on April 16 before making the long trip to Cumbria’s west coast on July 9.

Meanwhile The Rams will come to Rochdale on March 26, with the reverse fixture taking place at The Tetley’s Stadium in mid-June – prior to Hornets’ second bye week.

The final round of the season will see Hornets make the 709-mile round trip to The Duchy to take on Cornwall, now coached by Mike Abbott, where Thornton will be hoping his side can emulate the 50-0 victory recorded in their first ever visit to Penryn back in May.

All ten of Rochdale’s home games are scheduled to kick off at the earlier time of 1pm, and season tickets will be on sale within the coming days.