As we reach the end of what has been a superb week for the club on and off the field following a thrilling last minute FA cup win at Notts County which sets up a tie in front of the ITV cameras against League One leaders Plymouth Argyle in Round Two on Sunday 5th December 2021 (kick off 12.15pm), I want to provide an update on the activities of the club over the last four months.
Building a sustainably run and fan-owned club
In my very first interview following being elected Chairman, I explained that I wanted to build a strong and capable Board and to carry out the clear mandate given by shareholders at the EGM on 1st June 2021 which is to make Rochdale AFC a sustainably run and fan-owned club competing at the highest possible level.
We now have the full Board in place. These are all committed and experienced individuals with proven track records of success in their specialist fields, who offer both a wide variety of skills and business networks and as fellow fans demonstrate a great passion for the club’s ethos in existing for the benefit of its stakeholders and its supporters.
We have moved quickly in establishing ourselves as a sustainably run and fan owned football club. We have always shown responsibility in our playing budgets and have appointed a superb manager in Robbie Stockdale. As recent results demonstrate, we have the basis of a very talented squad of players.
Further commercial opportunities under a fan-owned model
We shall never rest on our laurels and will keep building and improving the club which means we need to increase the national profile and commercial reach of the club. We are a responsible business building sustainably for all our stakeholders.
I am delighted to be able to inform you that we are a true fan owned community football club, with over 500 different fan shareholders including both Dale Trust and the Community Trust. We are no longer accepting share applications and, like Exeter City, fans make up the clear majority of shareholders.
Financially, the planned divestment of players during the summer and progression in both the Carabao Cup and now the FA Cup, see the club on a sound financial footing for the remainder of the season.
We shall always ensure that we are earning as much as we can from our owned facilities and there will be announcements over the coming months of new events and products that we will be providing.
As with the last six months we all need to work together to make these a success even if it is just promoting the club to friends, neighbours and colleagues and making people aware of our sterling work in the local community.
Pricing for the Plymouth Argyle FA Cup fixture
To recognise the contribution of all our fans, we have made ticket prices as affordable as we possibly can for the Round Two FA cup fixture against Plymouth Argyle.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- £1 for children under 12-years-old;
- £5 for young persons (aged 12 to 21) and concessions;
- £10 for adults.
We hope you will get the word out and encourage friends to join as large a crowd as is possible to cheer on the team and see if the underdog can achieve a cup shock, lets create a superb atmosphere for the cameras and show what a brilliant club we are.
Let us also not forget that before that we have important home League games against Stevenage (23rd November) and Exeter City (27th November) to complete.
Our next game is away at Walsall on Saturday so get down there if you can and support Robbie and the players and let us all keep moving forward as one.
Up the Dale!
Simon
Chairman – Rochdale AFC