The 2012-13 campaign was a season of turbulent return and eventual consolidation for Rochdale as The Dale found themselves back in League Two following relegation. Despite a mid-season managerial change that saw the departure of John Coleman and the familiar, welcome return of former boss Keith Hill, the team stabilized to secure a respectable 12th-place finish. The season was defined by the stunning form of attacking talisman Bobby Grant, whose 15 league goals (16 overall) anchored the attack and proved decisive for mid-table safety. It was a transitional year that saw the club successfully re-establish itself in the fourth tier and remains a chapter remembered for the prolific scoring of their star player.