Several stints as captain last season have secured Rochdale centre back Olly Lancashire the club’s captaincy for the upcoming season, manager Keith Hill has confirmed.
The news was delivered at last night’s fans’ forum by Hill after deciding it was a natural choice to select Lancashire, who had already gained sound experience as a skipper.
The former Aldershot, Walsall and Grimsby defender is very familiar with the team and the manager is confident he can be a reliable leader in their new League One campaign.
“He’s integral in the changing rooms, he’s my type of central defender and I think it was a natural transition for him,” Hill told the club website.
“He will be respected and appreciated, as he already is, by all the players in the squad.
“The players really relate to Oliver and they’ve got a lot of respect for him as a player and as a leader.”
The newly promoted side will face Peterborough United at Spotland in their first match of the season this weekend, a tough test for the new captain after United finished in a respectable sixth place last season.
The 25-year old will be hoping to prove himself as a worthy replacement for Peter Cavanagh, who was released in May to join Altrincham.
“We obviously have leadership qualities all over the pitch, but for me, it’s a privilege to give the honour of wearing the captain’s armband to Oliver Lancashire,” added Hill.
Main image courtesy of Rochdale AFC via YouTube, with thanks.
