Rochdale Football Club launches ‘school of the week’ initiative

Magnus Norman and Stephen Dooley visit St Andrew’s Primary School, Wardle

Rochdale Football Club and The Dale in the Community Sports Trust are launching a ‘School of the Week’, a new initiative for the 2018/19 season.

The scheme is aimed at getting more children than ever before involved in the matchday experience at the Crown Oil Arena.

Every week, as part of the initiative, Dale in the Community Sports Trust coaches will go into a selected school and deliver a 30-minute presentation to pupils, before being joined by a first team player(s) who will take part in a question and answer session with the children.

The school will then receive an invitation to attend a Rochdale game at the Crown Oil Arena, with thousands of free tickets set to be given away to youngsters throughout the season.

Up to ten year 5 and year 6 pupils will act as flag bearers on the day of the match, whilst others will get involved in a five-a-side game on the pitch at half time against another chosen school.

The initiative kicked-off this week at St Andrew’s Primary School in Wardle, with Magnus Norman and Stephen Dooley visiting the children there.

Pupils from St Andrew’s Primary School will attend Rochdale’s League One fixture against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday 13 October, along with pupils from Greenbank Primary School. Community Sports Trust coaches will be at Greenbank Primary School next week.

Head of Community, Keith Hicks, commented: “The work we do in local schools is very important to us, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to launch this new and exciting initiative.

"We hope ‘School of the Week’ will provide a memorable experience for the children and will be one that they enjoy.

“Months of planning has gone into this, with all primary schools across the Rochdale Borough contacted about the project during the last school year.

"A large number of schools have already pledged their support, but we would love even more to get involved.

“If you’re a head teacher or a teacher at a local school who happens to be reading this article and have yet to respond, it’s not too late to sign up and take part."

To register an interest, email:

Siobhan.McElhinney@rochdaleafc.co.uk