Date of birth: 19th November 1967
Time at Rochdale: 1991-94 appearances 145, goals 10
Also played for: Norwich City, Gillingham (loan) Chester City, Wimbledon, Swindon Town
Alan Reeves will go down as one of the best central defenders ever to have played for Rochdale, a defender who deserves his own site dedicated to him, rather than just a mention like this.
He signed for Dale in the Summer of 1991 staying at Spotland for three seasons, long enough to ensure hero status for himself. After starting at right back, he soon switched to his best position, central defender, as Dale narrowly missed out on the Play Offs but earned the reputation of one of the best players in the lower divisions being chosen in the PFA Division Three Select Xl in 1994. He was a tall elegant defender, who had it all, an ability to pass and tackle and was useful enough on the ball to go forward himself bagging a few goals during his time as well.
Alan has since gone down as one of the best players to have played for Dale, it’s certainly difficult to think of many better central defenders to have played for the Club in the past twenty years, he is a regular feature in any supporter’s “Greatest Ever Dale XI”
“We had a good little group that travelled in from Liverpool and we were quite a close knit squad, I still stay in touch with a couple of players like Dave Bayliss and Shaun Reid, who was the captain for the time I was there. I have really positive memories of my time at Spotland. To be honest I left Chester City having had a row with the manager as we didn’t see eye to eye so was given a free transfer. It was a case of ‘do you feel sorry for yourself’ at twenty three or do you roll your sleeves up and give it a go’ I was given the chance with Rochdale, worked hard at my game, tried to improve it and three years later I was playing for Wimbledon in the Premier League”
It was always obvious that the player discarded by Chester City was too good for the lower divisions and he broke Dale’s record transfer received when he moved to the Premiership to join Wimbledon for £300K
He left Wimbledon to joined Swindon Town with whom he remained for a number of years as both player, coach and assistant manager.
Later, Alan served as assistant manager for Brentford, from where he left with manager Scott Fitzgerald, later it was announced than he would become the new AFC Wimbledon Development Squad and Academy under 23’s manager.
Career Stats-Football League
1988–1989 Norwich City 0 (0)
1989 → Gillingham (loan) 18 (0)
1989–1991 Chester City 40 (2)
1991–1994 Rochdale 121 (9)
1994–1998 Wimbledon 57 (4)
1998–2006 Swindon Town 208 (12)
Total appearances 444 (27)
Taken from Rochdale FansNet, Rochdale AFC Who’s Who 1973-1999 and Wikipedia, 25th October 2026