Kick it out at Spotland

Youngsters from Belfield Community and Heybrook Primary Schools with Dale stars Chris Dagnall and Will Buckley on 'Kick It Out' day at Spotland.

Rochdale's last home game saw the annual 'Kick It Out' day at Spotland and to demonstrate Rochdale's support of the 'One Game, One Community' message the Club’s Community Cohesion Officer Azmat Khan organised a 5-a-side tournament during week leading up to Dale's game against Aldershot.

The competition incorporated all Primary Schools taking part in the cohesion project.

The two leading teams from the tournament were invited to act as ball boys at the Rochdale game and take part in the final on the pitch at half time.

Belfield Community and Heybrook Primary Schools produced a hard fought draw with the latter taking the trophy after a penalty shoot out.

Dale’s Community Cohesion Project is now in its third year, delivering coaching sessions with funding from the Football Foundation setting up this project that sees the Club developing links with the BME community.

There has been an increase in training and playing opportunities amongst 8-16 year olds across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and the number of volunteers, coaches and officials has also gone up.