Here’s the latest from Keith and the team –
We, at the Trust, would like to express our thanks to Keith and his management team for allowing us ample access to the players as their presence is a massive bonus for us with teachers and parents complimenting about the way they conduct themselves either in Schools, half term holiday courses or any other activity that they attend or our behalf.
MASCOTS
Holly Marie Hayden, aged 6 years is really looking to forward today as she is the niece of the Community Trust Manager, Siobhan.
She attends Thornham, St James Primary School, where she takes part in various after school courses and like Siobhan loves playing football. Holly’s favourite player is Ollie Lancashire.
Sam and Oliver Hicks are also hoping to be at the game today but a under 7’s cup final involving Sam being played today may clash with our fixture.
Both attend St Vincents Primary School with their favourite players being Joe Rafferty and Jamie Allen.
Kyle Jones, who is 9 years old on 16th May, is a Rochdale fan, plays for the Clubs Academy, He’s been involved with the Club since he was 4 years old attending the Community Soccer Schools where he was recommended to the Academy. Kyle’s favourite player is Peter Vincenti.
BIRTHDAY TREAT
Charlie McAlistair is celebrating his 7th birthday with his friends joining our popular Saturday Club.
He enjoys going to Dale matches with his mum and dad and loves to chant the songs.
His is always playing football with his friends wishing to turn out for Rochdale AFC when he gets older.
EASTER HALF TERM HOLIDAY MULTI SPORT COURSES
The courses proved extremely popular yet again with 197 boys and girls taking advantage of coaching by Trust staff over the two weeks at Soccer Factory, Wardle Academy and Siddal Moor Sports College.
An added bonus was the presence of several Dale players at the three venues spread round Rochdale taking part in penalty shoot outs, basic coaching drills plus the ever popular question and answer sessions.
All the children were presented with a complimentary ticket for today’s match so hopefully we will able to identify them scattered around the Pearl Street Stand.
We have already arranged courses for the Springbank holidays, week commencing 26th May at the usual venues, so please contact me on the office telephone number for booking or if you want more details.
Finally, as I stated above, this may be is the last time we will be at Spotland for a while so I guess you will, like me, be looking forward to the next campaign in Division One after the wonderful time witnessed this season, especially with the emergence for the young kids in the first team squad.
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
Level Playing Field weeks of action is an annual fortnight for Clubs to showcase the positive work undertaken in partnership with disabled supporters LPF is a registered charity in England and Wales, and acts as a campaigning and advisory organisation to its membership and other parties across all sports.
It believes that being a disabled person is a social issue and that an individual only becomes disabled because of the social, attitudinal and environmental barriers that the individual faces.
Efforts are focused on removing these barriers within football and other sports with members knowing they have succeeded when all fans can enjoy an equal experience at live football matches and other sports events.
They are guided by the following principles:
Anti-discrimination – so that disabled people do not face discrimination arising from poor or misinformed practice.
Equality of opportunity or making things fairer – for disabled people in every aspect of their contact with football clubs.
Increasing the independence and choices that disabled people have.
Individual needs / Diversity – recognising that a disabled person is an individual who, like all others, has his or her own needs, abilities, human rights and responsibilities.
Integration/inclusion – such that services are made accessible to disabled people and offer choice.
Involvement in decision-making – so that disabled people, and/or their advocates, are consulted before decisions which affect them are made.
The social model of disability explains that it is social and physical ‘barriers’ that cause ‘disability’ not impairments.
Here at Rochdale AFC, we fully support the cause and work in the local community with weekly coaching sessions held at the Club for young people and adults plus our annual link up with Redwood School, organising coaching sessions in term time and in the summer holidays.
We have two teams enjoying success in the Greater Manchester Ability Counts League with our Open Age team looking like winning their League plus a high finish for the under 16’s.
Greater Manchester Ability Counts Leagues
Open Age P W D L GD Pts
Rochdale AFC 24 17 4 3 21 55
Manchester United Blue 24 11 4 9 -15 37
Wigan Athletic 23 11 2 10 9 35
You Can 24 9 4 11 -14 31
Manchester City 23 3 2 18 -1 11
Read more at http://full-
Under 16’s (top three placings) P W D L GD Pts
Heyside FC 17 13 0 4 18 39
Manchester United 19 11 3 5 -1 36
Rochdale AFC 20 8 6 6 -4 30
The under 16’s league is competed for by eight teams including Manchester City “B” and “C” teams, Bury, Wigan Athletic, You Can and Midas.
As you can see, we are performing well in both leagues, which proves that the hard work of the Trust coaches is paying off.