Friends Of Tourcoing visit Rochdale Football Club

Friends of Tourcoing and Les Amis de Rochdale at Rochdale Football Club

Representatives from the Friends of Tourcoing and Les Amis de Rochdale visited the Crown Oil Arena on Thursday afternoon, as part of celebrations to mark the relationship between the two towns.

70 British and French members attended the reception at Rochdale Football Club and were treated to a buffet and a tour of the ground.

They posed for pictures with Desmond The Dragon, and also received complimentary copies of Dale’s match-day programmes from this season.

Dale Chief Executive Russ Green commented: “The football club, Rochdale Hornets and the Crown Oil Arena play a big part in bringing good news stories to the town, so we thought it was only right that our French counterparts paid a visit to learn more about the Borough’s two professional sporting teams.

“Being active in the local community is vitally important for us as a football club and we were delighted to team up with the Rochdale based Friends of Tourcoing to offer this reception.

Anne Sutton, who has been a member of Friends of Tourcoing for over 30 years, said: “There’s a friendship there.

“You are learning each other’s cultures, and it’s not just an exchange, you create a bond. Not just with your host family, but with all of the French people.

“It’s great to be able to visit places like Rochdale AFC and show our French counterparts different parts of our community, which the club are a massive part of thanks to their brilliant work.”

The group has lots planned during their stay in Rochdale. The Mayor and Mayoress will officiate a Town Twinning Dedication Ceremony on Edenfield Road, in association with Caldershaw Primary School, which includes the unveiling of a special plaque and a planting session.

Visits to the Hollingworth Lake, Touchstones, the Cooperative Museum and the Ellenroad Engine House are also on the cards, before their time in the Borough culminates with an evening of entertainment at Rochdale Town Hall.