Rochdale AFC Community Trust are hosting an evening of culture at the Crown Oil Arena on Wednesday 23rd February (7pm for 7.30pm start).
The event, held in partnership with a number of organisations, will be headlined with a ‘ONE TOWN, TWO CODES’ question and answer sessions focussing on the history of football and rugby league in the Town.
Mark Hodgkinson, author of the Overcoat Men, which focus on historical events at Rochdale AFC, will be part of a panel which also features former Hornet Chairmen Jim Stringer and Mark Wynn, who have co-authored the recent ‘Triumph & Disaster’ book which charts Rochdale Hornets 150 year existence.
There will of course be the chance to purchase both books on the evening for a discounted price.
Simon Gauge, Rochdale AFC Chairman, will also join the panel to draw comparisons between historical events and the current fan led model, looking at how history can shape the clubs future.
You can book on the FREE event here: https://rochdaleafccommunity.org/culture-at-the-crown-oil-arena/
Those attending the evening will also be able to hear from Your Trust Head of Culture Mark Doyle, who will give a special preview of the upcoming exhibition at Touchstones Museum. The 2022 Football Art Prize Competition.
Parallel to that exhibition, artists Alan Ward and Neville Gabie, both of whom have a long history of football related arts projects, have been commissioned by Touchstones Museum to lead on a project specifically related to Rochdale AFC.
Their work has two distinct parts. They are inviting contributions from anyone in the community to create an exhibition in the Gallery of 100 items/stories celebrating Rochdale AFC’s 100 years in the football league.
Hornets Foundation, who completed a Heritage project in 2014, will have on display items from the Heritage room at the stadium, as an example of items and stories that are looking to be unearthed from Dale fans.
The two artists are also developing a community project to re-create the first ever commercially recorded football song!
Long before ‘World in Motion’ and ‘Three Lions’, Rochdale’s Gracie Fields recorded ‘Pass! Shoot!! Goal!!!’ and as part of their commission, Alan and Neville are looking to re-record the song featuring Dale Fans alongside local choirs and community groups that represent the diversity of Rochdale.
Alan will be joining us to share more about both aspects of the project and how you can get involved.
Tea and coffee will be provided on the evening as well as nibbles, courtesy of London League Publications who are the sponsors of the evening.
There will also be a raffle, with funds being split equally between local charities Rochdale AFC Community Trust and Hornets Foundation.
CALL TO ACTION
Alan and Neville are on the look out for Dale’s terrace heroes! As we recreate ‘Pass, Shoot, Goal!!’ for the 21st century, we are looking for fans of Rochdale AFC to help re-record parts of the song, with the opportunity to also feature in a video at the Crown Oil Arena!
If you want to hear more, get in touch: alan@axisgraphicdesign.co.uk