The Trust are proposing raising funds towards a new 5-a-side pitch at Spotland that will be hugely beneficial to the work the club do in the local community but they need the backing of the Trust members to do so.
We recently approached the Football Club with a view to raising some funds towards a project at the club. Our last significant fundraising was over five years ago now, when the Trust donated £30,000 towards the upgrading of the floodlights at the club, so we felt it was more than about time.
The club suggested that we raise funds towards replacing and upgrading the 5-a-side facility behind the Pearl Street Stand. The current pitch is over twenty years old now and if you’ve seen it recently, it is perhaps a compliment to say that it’s in a poor state. There is a collection of images of it below.
The cost of replacing it is in the region of £70,000 but the Dale Community Trust have obtained a grant from the Football Foundation that will fund 60% of it leaving a figure of around £28,000 to be raised.
The work will see the facility completely revamped. The walls will be knocked, and replaced with fencing, and an up to date 3g/4g surface replacing the old astroturf. There will be proper drainage installed and the floodlights will be upgraded too. Not only that, there will be netting over the top to prevent doors being knocked on with the old “Can we have our ball back please Mister?”
The facility will be a community facility with football/multi-sport usage including the areas in the direct vicinity plus all community groups in Rochdale plus education in conjunction with the Study Centre.
We are looking to raise funds in a number of ways. We will raise funds at our annual Curry Night, a Race Night, crowdfunding, use of Easyfundraising and we’ll be resurrecting the walk to Accrington given that Oldham aren’t on our Fixture list this season.
However, as a democratic organisation, the Trust needs the backing of its members for any donations over £2,000 and as such we are balloting members as to whether to proceed with the project.
All voting members of the Trust (adults / exiles) will receive a ballot form in the post in the next few days that we would like you to return. You can return it via post, via email by scanning it in and returning to info@daletrust.co.uk or by dropping it off at the Trust desk on a Saturday matchday. The deadline is 5pm on Monday 26th November. The ballot papers are numbered simply to avoid duplication and will remain anonymous.
We sincerely hope that you back this project as it will have a massive impact within the local community. Keith Hick’s team do some fantastic work locally and this will only add to what they can do.
Yours Sincerely
Colin Cavanah
Dale Trust Chairman
