Rochdale AFC Football in the Community Trust on behalf of the Club is presently preparing the documentation to gain the Equality Standard Preliminary Award.

The Equality Standard for Professional Football Clubs has been developed by Kick It Out to replace the Racial Equality Standard introduced in 2004.

The aim of the Racial Equality Standard was to provide a framework for clubs to help formalise their commitment to race equality and to help create an environment where spectators, players, managers and administrative staff could participate without fear of discrimination.

This will involve showing that Rochdale AFC can demonstrate a commitment to equality by developing a written Equal Opportunities Policy encompassing all six areas of equality and produce an equality action plan for all areas of operation.

The six areas being: race/disability/religion/gender/sex orientation/age.

The plan will be regularly monitored and will include an assessment of the club's current supporter base, community development targets and ensure that there are clear guidelines for dealing with abuse.

The Club will need to demonstrate its commitment to promoting equality by developing internal policies and procedures.This includes developing a written equality action plan, setting out clear employment policies and practices and encouraging involvement and commitment from club employees at the highest level.

There will be an assurance that the stadium and environment is free from discrimination, which includes monitoring supporter representation plus making efforts to increase levels of participation from under represented groups and individuals at every level of activity.

Quite a lot of the criteria is already in place through the Club's commitment to proving a safe and friendly environment to watch football at Spotland plus the Football in the Community Scheme, which deliverers activities through out the Borough involving all of the areas identified by the award.

This week the Football Foundation extended funding for a second year to enable the Club's Extra Time project in conjunction with Link4Lifeto carry on activities at four venues around Rochdale for senior citizens.

The award is also part of the criteria for Football in the Community to maintain the Football League Trust Silver Award, which has proved such a huge success bringing many Football League Schemes to an extremely professional standard.