Fever pitch

Children from Greave and Wardle meet Peter Cavanagh and Joe Rafferty

Rochdale AFC players, captain Peter Cavanagh and Joe Rafferty took time out of their training schedules to meet youngsters who have attended multi-sports sessions during the summer holidays.

Rochdale Football Club, with partners the Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) Communities First team, have hosted the sessions for almost 100 children giving them the opportunity of professional football coaching.

Children aged 8-12 years from Smallbridge, Falinge, Kirkholt, Back O’th Moss, Greave and Wardle have been learning a new set of skills. Sessions have included volleyball, basketball, athletics and football.

RBH Communities First Co-ordinator, Ruth Sillence, said: “The whole week was a huge success.

"I have to say my favourite part was hearing the buzz of anticipation on the coaches during the journey to the football ground at the beginning of the days.

"It has been an absolute joy to see how the children responded to the coaching and how they each grew in confidence as the day went on.

"Meeting some the Rochdale AFC players was a high point of the week.”