Rochdale AFC under 15s qualify for Premier League Floodlit Cup

Rochdale AFC’s under 15s have qualified for the Premier League Floodlit Cup.

They finished top of their qualifying group at a tournament on Sunday, after beating Bury and Wigan Athletic, and drawing with Barnsley.

Category Two and Category Three sides were invited to qualify for this season’s competition, which was launched last year for Category One teams. Category One teams are predominantly Premier League clubs.

Rochdale are one of just eight Category Two and Category Three clubs from across the country to have secured qualification to the elite competition.

The youngsters will now compete in a league style format, and have been drawn in Group C alongside Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Manchester United. The teams will play each other twice.

The Premier League Floodlit Cup was launched to give young players the opportunity of playing competitive football, whilst allowing them to adapt to the demands and conditions of evening matches that senior players face on a regular basis.