Sports college at Rochdale AFC expands

Rochdale AFC Community Trust Sports College Heywood

Rochdale AFC Community Trust has announced that it will run an expanded Sports College programme in 2023/24.

With almost a decade of service and hundreds of pupils achieving university places, scholarships and jobs in the sport industry, Rochdale AFC Sports College is looking for its next intake and has some exciting developments for next year’s students.

As well as making use of facilities at the Crown Oil Arena, learners will now have exclusive use of the fantastic facilities at Heywood Sports Village.

A full size 3G for training and matches as well as a small sided 3G, gym, pool and classroom facilities will host the newly expanded program, which will now also cater for Level 2 learners and a degree programme.

An education first programme, the Rochdale AFC Sports College is the only official post 16 education programme supported and linked to Rochdale AFC, with students representing ‘the Dale’ in the official CEFA League.

Ryan Bradley, community director at Rochdale AFC Community Trust said: “The charity has delivered a further education programme for a number of years with League Football Eduction - the official education partner of the EFL.

“We have been looking at how we expand the programme whilst retain our outstanding quality and the move to Heywood and backing of the club as the only official programme in the borough will stand us in great stead.

“We have a really good offer for school leavers who want a career in sport or a place at university in the UK or abroad whilst also supporting individuals’ football development.”

Simon Gauge, chairman of Rochdale AFC, added: “Rochdale AFC Community Trust are the club’s official charity and have an excellent reputation for serving our community.

“We are delighted they have chosen to expand, and it’s come at an ideal time, as we look to strengthen our academy offer by focussing resource onto our elite teams.

“The community trust will do a fantastic job of delivering the programme going forward.”

The expanded Sports College provision replaces the current ‘Elite Development Squad’ model, which has operated at Heywood Sports Village in recent years, as the clubs official Further Education programme in the Rochdale borough.

If you are a year 11 pupil/parent, you can find out more or make an enquiry here: www.rochdaleafccommunity.org/sports-college/