Cub reporter Dale Brookes spent the afternoon with Chris Beech's Youth team as they received a lecture on fire safety proceedures from Stadium Manager Paul Swarbrick.

You may think that at Rochdale football club the players are only here to play football, but try telling that to Chris Beech's first year scholars. The latest crop of youngsters was back at school today to learn about stadium safety. At a football club there is a huge amount of dangers, as many will remember the tragic fire at Valley Parade in 1985 which killed 56 people and over the years Spotland has also seen its fair share of dangers with a bomb being found at the stadium a few years back.

Stadium Manager Paul Swarbrick expressed the need to pay attention to signs and exits around the club. None more noticeable than the laundry room which is full of electrical equipment and clothes making it a potential area of a fire being caused.

Like many busy locations there is emergency lighting around the club in a photo shown by Paul of the corridor with the changing rooms leading on to it in the dark which seen relative clear but in the light there were obstacles everywhere. The lads had it drummed into them to always leave a busy public access place clear, and they might just save lives! Mr Swarbrick also outlined the assembly points around the stadium encase of a fire.

During their stay as scholars the young players will be continuing their education, which will hopefully lead to an NVQ in Sports and Leisure.

 Good Luck Lads!