Ben Muir head was the guest of honour at hospitality on Saturday 26th April for the Rochdale match against Hartlepool United, below is the Q&A conversation with Martin Culshaw:
Today’s former player became a Rochdale AFC legend when he scored the winning penalty in the shoot out against Darlington in the 2007/8 play offs sending Rochdale to Wembley for the first time in their history.
Started career at Manchester United where you caught the eye of the international coaches, playing for England Schoolboys at the Under 15’s age group which included playing at Wembley against an Argentina side that featured Carlos Tevez. What was football like for you back then, playing at stadiums like Wembley at just 15 years old? “It was a great experience. I was playing alongside the likes of Jermaine Defoe”
Following your release from Old Trafford, you signed for Bradford City, where you would go on to make over 100 appearances for the Bantams, including some when they were in the Old Division One, which is today’s Championship. It must have been disappointing to leave Manchester United but to land a contract at Valley Parade, playing in front of huge crowds must have been quite exciting for you. Looking at some of your team mates during that time, Dean Windass, Nicky Summerbee, Danny Cadamarteri, Richard Edgehill. Some good names amongst others that played for Bradford then? “Sir Alex Ferguson pulled me to one side and said Bradford were interested signing me and that there were players ahead of me at that stage. I asked him what he thought and he said it would be a great move for me. To be playing Championship football with some great players was probably the best time I had”
After four years at the Bantams, you made the move to the right side of the border when you joined us here at Spotland, initially on loan, scoring the winner on your debut in a 2-1 win at Notts County. How did the move to Rochdale come about? “I’d been injured and was coming back but I couldn’t force myself back into the side. Keith Hill had contacted the club to say he wanted me so I came and had a chat and the move happened”
You really adhered yourself to the Dale fans, especially after scoring two in the 7-2 demolition of Stockport at Edgeley Park? “I remember that game really well, we smashed them that day”
Your loan spell was cut short by the Bradford manager David Wetherall. If I remember rightly there was quite a lot of disappointment surrounding your recall by Bradford. Was there a reason that you can remember that the manager took you back as you only featured once on the final day of the season as a 78th minute substitute? “Bradford were all but relegated so the manager recalled me to see if I could help at all but then didn’t play me! It was really disappointing as we had done well and looked like we might make a last ditch attempt at the play offs but the team ended up only a few points short which was amazing as when Keith took over the side were near the bottom”
That summer you were released by Bradford and signed here on a permanent deal. What was it about Rochdale that made you think, this is the place for me? “I’d really enjoyed my time here so it was an obvious choice when Keith said he wanted to sign me permanently”
You played 36 times for Keith Hill’s side that season in what was a memorable season for many reasons. A penalty win here against Stoke in the League Cup, a second round tie against Norwich, were we held them to a 1-1 draw only to lose on penalties. It was a very good side we had that season with Gary Jones, Tom Kennedy, Glenn Murray, Chris Dagnall to name just a few?
“We had a great side with some fantastic players that went on to have great careers high up in football. It almost made going into work easy with those guys. Towards the end of that season, we went on a fantastic run winning seven of the last 10 games and finished the season 5th meaning a crack at the play offs”
Rochdale hadn’t finished in the play-off places since 2002, I bet the feel-good factor around the lads was fantastic at that time? “Yes the camaraderie was great. We’d go out on weekends with the manager and the players and just bond and get that team spirit going. It was work hard and then enjoy the downtime”
A 1-2 first leg play off defeat at Darlington to a last-minute goal meant we had it all to do in the return leg here, a game that had everything. Darlington scored to make it 3-1 on aggregate before Chris Dagnall and David Perkins took the game to 3-3 on aggregate then David Perkins was sent off during extra time but the game ended all square meaning penalties. You were brought on in the 89th minute of normal time, I bet you didn’t think then how much of a clinical part you would have to play in the history of this football club? “I remember saying to the manager when he said I was going on that I’d score him the winning goal and I suppose I did with the penalty”
Having scored 4 penalties each, a player who would later become a Rochdale player in Jason Kennedy, saw his spot kick saved meaning if the next kick was scored, Rochdale would be through to the final. Up stepped BEN MUIRHEAD. What was the feeling like walking up from the half-way line to take that penalty? “I was nervous, almost as nervous as I am stood up talking today!!!!!”
Did you know what you were going to do as you ran up or was it instinct in the moment? “I didn’t have a clue! As I got to the penalty spot, I decided I’d just smash it and thankfully it went in. It’s all just a blur to me but the celebrations were unreal”
Did you feel the weight of expectation on your shoulders or did you try and block everything out? “I just tried to block out everything. The nerves were huge but thankfully it all worked out”
Walking out at Wembley again must have been a really special feeling too?
“To have played at the old Wembley and then the new one was really special”
How much of a miss was David Perkins who was obviously suspended following his red card? “Massive, he was our play maker. Everything went through him. He just never stopped. The ultimate professional and when he played well, we played well. I’m not sure if the outcome would have been different or not with “Perks” in the side”
Despite only spending one and half seasons here at Rochdale, you wrote yourself into folklore here with people still talking about that penalty to this day? “It’s good to know that, definitely part of history and I’m proud to be part of that”
Another player that you shared a dressing room with was a person we sadly lost last week in Joe Thompson. What was Joe like as a teammate? “He was only a young lad then but he was a great player and such a nice lad. It’s such a shame what he’s been through”
What does Ben Muirhead do with his days now? “I distribute beer! I drink a bit of it too!!!”
