Hornets open new Heritage Centre

The Kingstone Press Championship One trophy in the Rochdale Hornets museum

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Rochdale Hornets unveiled their new heritage project yesterday (Thursday 16 January).

Volunteers helped turn an un-used storeroom at Spotland Stadium into a display on all things rugby league in Rochdale and a workbook and education programme are expected in the future, whilst the website is also now up and running.

Terri Davey, the Community Manager at Hornets, gave a presentation outlining the details of the project which was funded by a £52,700 grant from the heritage lottery fund.

Work began on the project over eight months ago through archiving and interviews whilst photographs were donated from people within the community.

The project has four themes, Hornets post 1970, Fiji, Rugby in the Community and Women in Rugby.

There are two rooms, a classroom and a museum display with a large emphasis based on interactivity.

The museum displays the Kingstone Press Championship One trophy from last season’s play-off final win over Oldham Roughyeds. Also on display are the boots worn in last year’s World Cup by legendary Fiji captain Petero Civoniceva, who donated them to the project following his retirement from the game.

Mark Wynn, the chairman of Rochdale Hornets, was in attendance for the unveiling. He said: “The Fijians came in and looked at it when they played here in the World Cup and they were impressed.”

“It means the lads have got something to aspire to, to be part of another chapter in the history of the club.”

When talking about the club’s chances of survival in a higher division, he was realistic, saying: “Staying up would be like winning the cup.”

Steve Ingham, who sponsored the project, said “It’s great really, turning something that doesn’t get used into something like this. It’s community led too which is important I think.”

The project will be running a ‘reminiscing day’ in the near future, where people are invited to be interviewed with their anecdotes of rugby league in the Rochdale area.