Jay Freeman
BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

To say it has been a miserable few years for Rochdale is a massive understatement.

Dale finished eighth in League One in 2014-15 on their return to the third tier, having been relegated in 2011-12.

A 10th-placed finish and ninth-placed finish followed in the two seasons afterwards as Rochdale established themselves as a team well run both on and off the pitch.

Towards the end of the 2010s, Rochdale gave Manchester United a scare at Old Trafford, coming from a goal down to eventually lose on penalties.

Luke Matheson, then just 16 years old, scored the equaliser that night at what looked like the start of a blossoming career for the academy graduate.

This was an era of lucrative cup ties at Tottenham and Newcastle ties and lucrative moves off the pitch. Matheson joined Premier League side Wolves for £1m while Dan Adshead left for Norwich for £750,000.

But the good times screeched to a halt when Covid made its impact across the English football pyramid, with Dale's seven-season stay in League One coming to an end in 2021 under the management of Brian Barry-Murphy.

A hostile takeover failed during that summer and Rochdale managed to maintain their position in League Two on their first season back last term, but things deteriorated in 2022-23.

Jim Bentley took over from Robbie Stockdale after the club lost their first four games of the season. However, having won just six of his 32 league games, he was sacked in March and Jim McNulty has been unable to stop the downward spiral.

Image source, Rex Features

• Leyton Orient are crowned champions after a 2-0 win over Crewe.
• Rochdale's 102-year stay in the English Football League comes to an end after a 1-0 defeat to Stockport confirms their relegation.
• Hartlepool look almost certain to join them after a 2-0 loss in the crunch clash with Crawley left them six points from safety with two to play.
• Second-placed Northampton came from behind to beat Harrogate 3-1.
• Mansfield beat third-placed Stevenage to boost their playoff hopes.
• Andy Cook scored twice but Bradford conceded a 97th minute equaliser to draw with Gillingham.
• Matty Lund scored a 97th-minute winner for Salford after managerless Walsall looked to have secured a 2-2 draw.
• Carlisle beat Barrow 1-0 to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.
• Swindon hammered AFC Wimbledon 5-1 and Colchester enjoyed a 4-1 win over Sutton.
• Newport won 3-1 away at Doncaster and Tranmere beat Grimsby 2-0.

Image source, Rex Features

• Plymouth remain on top after coming coming through a stern test provided by relegation-threatened Cambridge.
• Ipswich cruised past fellow promotion hopefuls Peterborough, with Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin and Freddie Ladapo on the scoresheet in a 3-0 win.
• Sheffield Wednesday survived a scare to come from a goal down to defeat Exeter to keep themselves in the automatic promotion picture.
• Slobodan Tedic's double earned Barnsley a 2-0 win over Oxford who are now only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
• Bolton edged past Shrewsbury to move up to fifth and Derby moved into the playoff spots with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burton thanks to David McGoldrick's penalty.
• Wycombe's promotion hopes are over after a home loss to Lincoln.
• Relegation-threatened Accrington lost to Portsmouth but Morecambe gave their survival hopes a big boost with a 3-2 win at Charlton.
• MK Dons aren't yet safe after losing to Fleetwood.
• Port Vale beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 and Cheltenham triumphed in El Glosico with a 3-1 win over relegated Forest Green.

Image source, Rex Features

• Wigan take their survival fight to another day as they beat play-off chasing Millwall 2-1.
• Relegation-threatened QPR stun champions-elect Burnley and end their unbeaten home record thanks to a late winner from Chris Martin.
• Blackpool also keep their survival hopes alive with a 1-0 win at Birmingham City.
• Coventry beat 22nd-placed Reading to move up to fifth in the table, while Norwich have Sam McCallum sent off and are hammered 3-0 at home by Swansea to leave their top six hopes looking distant.
• Rotherham fall to a late 2-1 defeat at Bristol City and Cardiff are held to a draw by Stoke. The Millers host the Bluebirds on Thursday in a huge game at the bottom of the table.
• Hull beat listless Watford 1-0.

Ok, that was a lot.

Time to look at the headlines across the league after a mad Saturday in the EFL.

Give this post a thumbs up if your team did the business today and down if things didn't go your way.

Joe Thompson
Former Rochdale and Tranmere midfielder on Squad Goals

Leyton Orient are League Two champions and the fans have come on the pitch. There are absolute scenes.

Congratulations to Richie Wellens and his men - they are much-deserved winners.

A huge result for QPR as they end a seven-game winless run to give an enormous boost their Championship survival hopes.

Meanwhile Burnley's wait to win the Championship title goes on AND their unbeaten home run under Vincent Kompany comes to an end.

Who predicted this result at the start of the day?!

Coventry hold out for eight minutes of time added on at the end of the game and they go up to fifth in the table.

Reading remain third from bottom and their survival hopes are fading.

Image source, Rex Features

After 102 years, Rochdale are relegated from the EFL.

A MASSIVE win for Wigan and their survival fight goes on and they will not be relegated from the Championship tonight.

Millwall's play-off push suffers a blow as they are defeated at the DW Stadium.

Image source, Getty Images

All over at St Andrew's and Ian Poveda's second-half goal for Blackpool against Birmingham looks set to keep them in the Championship for now.

The Seasiders live to fight another day.

Eight minutes added on at Turf Moor.

This is a game with massive implications at both ends of the Championship!

Tough one to take for the Millers this.

The strugglers' levelled after the break through Jordan Hugill's penalty and then had chances to take the lead.

They couldn't take them and experienced forward Andi Weimann popped up in time added on to win it for the home side.

Ozan Tufan's first-half penalty enough to give Hull the points.

Watford's struggles continue.

Joao Pedro spurned a one-on-one in the first half for the visitors and Ismaila Sarr almost lobbed the goalkeeper late on.

Oh, what could have been for struggling Cardiff.

The home side recovered from going a goal down but in-form Sory Kaba, who had levelled for them, saw his penalty saved by Jack Bonham.

Still, another point in the right direction at least.

It's not over at Turf Moor just yet.

QPR are still pushing for a late winner as Ilias Chair draws a save from Ari Muric.

Tense stuff.

Image source, PA Media

Wonderful day for Swansea.

Joel Latibeaudiere headed a corner in to give them a first-half lead.

A second header, this time Liam Cullen at the back post, doubled the advantage.

Sam McCallum was then sent off for the hosts for denying a clear chance and Olivier Ntcham finished a lovely move in the second half.

Notts County have stifled the Maidstone comeback.

Ruben Rodrigues has made it 4-2 and they look like they are doing their bit to ensure Wrexham can't afford to take it easy in this evening's game against Boreham Wood.