Council leader presents footballs

Rochdale council leader Alan Taylor recently presented twenty-four footballs to the Rochdale and District Sunday Football League and the Rochdale Online Alliance League at Rochdale Town Hall.

The presentation was to thank clubs for their patience last winter when the boiler broke-down in the changing rooms at Firgrove and players had to take their mud home with them because there were no hot showers.

The council had to deal with a catalogue of unexpected problems before it could get the hot showers flowing again. First the boiler was too old to repair and had to be replaced. Then it was also found to be lagged with asbestos which had to be removed by experts. Specialists then had to be brought in to empty the old oil storage tank for the boiler, cut it up into small pieces and take it out through a hole in the ceiling. Finally, the new boiler was gas rather than oil fuelled so a gas supply had to be installed.

Council Leader, Alan Taylor said: "It can't have been easy coming off the pitch without being able to jump under a hot shower. The footballs are just to say thanks to the clubs for putting up with it while the boiler was replaced.

"This season is different though. The old boiler has been replaced, the central heating works properly and the changing rooms have been given a make-over."