Annual community cohesion football match next month between GMP and Bangladeshi Arts & Sports Association aims to raise £5,000

The Community Cohesion Cup will take place on 13 May

An annual community cohesion football match between GMP and the Bangladeshi Arts & Sports Association will take place at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday 13 May.

The 11-aside match aims to raise £5,000 for charities including the Rochdale Mayor’s charity.

Other charities will be decided towards the end of the year, or when a substantial amount is raised.

Known as the Community Cohesion Cup, the match marks the strong relationships being built by GMP and members of its minority groups in Rochdale to tackle social exclusion in society.

Over the last few years, BASA Rochdale has been working proactively with GMP Rochdale.

In 2021, they decided to play a friendly football match to highlight the start of collaboration work, predominantly looking at tackling different elements of community cohesion, bridging the gap between diverse communities and GMP using sports.

This year’s match is the third event, with the teams having won one of the previous games each.

BASA is a non-profit organisation which was set up in Rochdale in 1990. It was created for the Bangladeshi community to keep socially and physically active, from organising football matches to helping anyone and everyone in any way possible, promoting community cohesion and tackling social exclusion, in particular using the power of sports and arts.

Spectators can pay to see the game on the day; with adults paying on the gate for £5 and children just £2.

To donate, please visit:

• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/basarochdalecic