Football club's freedom of the borough ceremony next month

Rochdale Football Club

Final arrangements for Rochdale Football club's ceremony to receive the Freedom of the Borough have been made. Rochdale Online revealed that the honour would be bestowed on the club following a special council meeting in July this year

The special ceremony will take place on 2 October.

The Freedom of the Borough is an historic honour with the recipients being presented with an inscribed scroll showing the council’s recognition of their achievements. Representatives of the football club will receive a special casket containing the scroll.

The Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Alan Taylor said: "I would like to put on record our thanks to the players and management at Rochdale Football Club for their achievement in reaching the play-offs for promotion earlier this year. Playing at Wembley was the icing on the cake and I am looking forward to another successful season. The team make a real contribution to our town, and have shown the rest of the country what they are capable of, which reflects very well on the borough as a whole.”

Councillor Colin Lambert, Leader of the Labour group, said that for Rochdale AFC to celebrate 100 years as a sporting club is a magnificent achievement: “Sport is an important part of our community. Many local sports teams across the borough involve thousands of youngsters, and those not so young, every week. The club's involvement with schools and community groups shows their commitment to being more than just a professional football club and I feel this recognition is well deserved.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, who proposed the original motion, said: “I am looking forward to recognising the impact that Rochdale have made to our town. Yes, they might not have won the Champion’s League but they have made such a contribution to our town.

"Rochdale wouldn’t be the same without our Football Club, it is part of the fabric of our town and I hope this honour can kick-start a hugely successful season that ends with promotion.”