By Chris Dunlavy
ON A wall at Spotland, the crumbling yet characterful home of Rochdale, a photograph shows a row of shirts, all bearing the names of illustrious alumni.
Rickie Lambert. Glenn Murray. Grant Holt. Adam Le Fondre. This old place has long been a fertile orchard for the English game.
Now, they are growing their own – and how. When the latest Elite Player Performance Plan figures were released, Dale’s name stood out like Ade Akinfenwa at a ballet class.
Ranked first of all Category Three academies.
Ranked second in the whole of the EFL.
Most incredibly of all, rank...
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