By Pete Oliver

Simpson returns to his old club on Sunday

Footballing glory is not a phrase readily associated with Rochdale.

The Lancashire club have not tasted promotion since 1969 and have spent the last 29 years bumping along in the basement division.

Cup highlights have also been few and far between, bar an appearance in the second ever League Cup final in 1962.

However, times are changing and in front of the live BBC cameras on Sunday, Dale take on Wolves at Molineux seeking a first appearance in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

It is almost unchartered territory, but player-manager Paul Simpson is not ready to rest on his laurels and just take the club's biggest ever pay-cheque and run.

"We have now matched, I believe, the furthest the club has ever been, so why not be the ones who take us even further," he told BBC Sport.

"That's what we've talked about all season. Instead of the all the negativeness that normally comes from around this club and people moaning and whingeing about different things, why not be positive?

"Why not go and achieve something, not only for yourself but for the club as well?"

We know if they perform and play to their potential they will come out on top Paul Simpson

Simpson has already guided his side past Peterborough, Bristol Rovers, Preston and Coventry.

And he has his sights on a hat-trick of Division One scalps against the club he helped reach the semi-finals five years ago.

"It's always nice when you back to one of your former clubs. But it wouldn't really matter who we played in the fifth round of the FA Cup, I would enjoy going there," he said.

"That's just gives a little extra spice to it, the fact that it's Wolves and my former club.

"We know if they perform and play to their potential they will come out on top.

Simpson spent a successful spell with Wolves

"But if we can start well, get into their faces early on, silence the crowd, which will be very noisy early on, we will give ourselves a chance, and that's what we'll go there to do."

Simpson spent three years with Wolves after giving lengthy service to Manchester City, Oxford United and Derby County.

And he will again direct operations from midfield, with his trusted left foot still capable of unlocking defences and delivering pin-point set-pieces.

Since upsetting Coventry, Rochdale have won back-to-back league games to keep alive their slim hopes of repeating last season's play-off finish.

"We know that we've under-achieved so far this season," added Simpson.

I'm quite sure that their priority is the league - hopefully they'll think the FA Cup is a distraction Paul Simpson

"Since the Coventry game there has been a really good spirit among everybody and a real will to fight for each other.

"That's something that has got us two results and now hopefully that spirit will come through in the Wolves game.

"The win against Coventry gave everyone a real confidence boost, not just the players but I think the whole club got a real boost from it."

The club has also benefited financially with Sunday's game taking the proceeds of the Cup run beyond �500,000.

That is money the 36-year-old Simpson hopes will enable him to keep key players and strengthen his squad for the future.

Distraction

It is still small beer compared with Wolves' playing budget, but Simpson hopes the fact Wolves have bigger fish to fry will help Dale pull off one of the great cup shocks.

He added: "I'm quite sure that their priority is the league.

"Hopefully they'll think the FA Cup is a distraction and they'll have their eye on the next league games and we can go and exploit that.

"I've got a hell of a lot of respect for their manager Dave Jones and also for people like Terry Connor and John Ward who work on the staff.

"They are good people and I hope they do get the success in the league, but not in the FA Cup."