Rochdale AFC and Rochdale AFC Community Trust teamed up to deliver a world book day to remember for local schools.
Spotland Primary, St Edward's Primary and Holy Family all joined us at the Crown Oil Arena for activities designed around this years theme: You are a reader!
The children were greeted by Desmond the Dragon and Community Trust Staff, while Dale first team player Alex Newby, pre-reorded a video for the youngsters, talking about the importance of practicing reading.
Graham Hicks, Community Trust Sports Coordinator and Primary Stars Lead, led a ground tour around the stadium, which finished with the children running out of the players tunnel and onto the Crown Oil Arena pitch, which was used as a way to discover and learn poetry.
Gangster Granny, AKA the Community Trust's Alternative Provision lead Ann-Marie Thompson, devised an orienteering activity, with children required to find missing words from book titles around the stadium to complete a short story.
The groups finished off with first team players Paul Downing and Aidy White reading the start of Rochdale AFC’s very own book ‘I want to be a Footballer’, challenging the children to complete the book themselves.
All of the children left with a ‘Dale goody bag, containing the book as well as gifts, tickets offers and details of how they can get involved in the many activities provided by Rochdale AFC Community Trust. There was also the opportunity to pick a free book from a range of titles as well, courtesy of the National Literacy Trust.
For Holy Family, there was a special treat as fan favourite Corey O’Keeffe and new striker Tahvon Campbell called in to talk about the books they like to read and answered questions from the children on everything from who their inspiration was as a child, to who reads the most books – with Tahvon winning that one with a hattrick of books read already this year!
A teacher who attended the day said: “A huge thanks for today. The children absolutely loved the visit to the Football Ground and were buzzing when they got back to school.
“One boy said it was the best trip ever!
“Thanks to all of the people involved in the planning and delivery of the day and for the goody bags and books – the children were made up with those!”
The video of ‘I want to be a Footballer’ led by Aidy White and Paul Dowling was also made available to schools across the borough, many of which showed it in assemblies are classes throughout the day.
WH Smiths vouchers and free books have also been made available to children who need them the most, through the Dale Food Pantry and direct to our partner schools.
Rochdale AFC Community Trust would like to thank the National Literacy Trust for the donation of books and also the Premier League Primary Stars for various resources.