Born in Sheffield on March 8, 1954, Rodger grew up a Sheffield United fan but began his career as an apprentice at Sheffield Wednesday.
A striker, he signed straight from school in July 1971, making his first-team debut in November 1972 in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough. His first senior goal followed in a 2-2 draw against Millwall a fortnight later. His goals and enthusiasm soon saw him become a crowd favourite, and he went on to score 54 in 168 League games for the Owls.
In 1980, with Jack Charlton in charge at Hillsborough, Rodger was sold to Oldham Athletic. And at Boundary Park he continued his goalscoring feats, finishing as top scorer in each of his three seasons with the Latics.
At the end of his Oldham contract Rodger opted to move to Portugal to play for Sporting Lisbon. However, he never managed to settle in the first team and, by 1984, he was brought back to England by his old Wednesday manager Len Ashurst, at this point now in charge of Sunderland.
After one season in the top flight with the Mackems, he moved back to Yorkshire to join Barnsley, then a short spell on loan at Rotherham United.
It was in 1988 that Rodger made his final footballing move, transferring to Stockport County in the July. He scored on his debut against Darlington the following August, and went on to an overall record of 14 goals in 29 + (2) senior appearances, the Hatters leading scorer that season.
It was during this time at the end of his career that Rodger started concentrating on life after playing football and studied physiotherapy. After qualifying in his native Sheffield, Danny Bergara, newly-appointed County manager, offered him the post of the club's physiotherapist.
And at Edgeley Park he stayed, celebrating his 20th year as physio in 2009. Players, managers and even owners may come and go, but Rodger seems an almost permanent fixture at County.
In 2006 Rodger was elected into the Hatters' Hall of Fame, and to this day County fans still break into 'Oh, Rodger, Rodger' when the popular physio comes onto the pitch to treat an injured player.
Away from football, Rodger Wylde formed his own rock band, appropriately named Fracture, with former County player Tom Bennett. Fracture can often be found playing fundraisers around the Stockport area.
