Rochdale Football Club and Rochdale AFC Community Trust are proud to launch our Seats For Schools Initiative.
The scheme will see each of the 74 primary schools in the Rochdale Borough given access to four free Season Cards for the 2023/24 season.
As a result, over 1700 families from the local area will get the opportunity to watch Dale free of charge across the 2023/24 league season.
"We have a longstanding relationship with many local schools, and we are delighted to extend that offer next year with matchday season tickets for every primary school in the Borough," commented Ryan Bradley, Community Director at Rochdale AFC Community Trust.
"Through our Premier League Primary Stars programme, PPA cover, and competition offer (Utilitia Cup and School Sport Partnership) we currently engage a large proportion of Rochdale schools and have offered tickets as rewards to individuals in the past as well as group tickets for our school of the week and half time game initiatives.
"The offer from the club to offer season tickets for schools to use as they see fit across the season will only strengthen our partnerships and hopefully see many school children and their families enjoy a matchday experience at the Crown Oil Arena."
Rochdale AFC Community Trust provide 300 tickets every match day at the Crown Oil Arena for community groups and programme participants, as part of the clubs commitment to its community. This will continue, in addition to the Seats for Schools Initiative.
This week, Rochdale AFC Community Trust welcomed 120 children from 17 teams to the Crown Oil Arena for a tournament on the main pitch.
Sports Coordinator Graham Hicks, who heads up primary school engagement for the club's official charity commented: "Our tournaments are just a small part of our funded Premier League Primary Stars programme and are a fantastic way to end the school term!
"Children across the borough experienced playing at the Crown Oil Arena, whilst aiming to win the schools cup for their age range. The Premier League Primary Stars programme has inspired over 1300 pupils this year through football-related reading, writing, maths, PSHE interventions, educational workshops, social projects, sports days and more including these exciting tournaments.
"These play-on-the-pitch events wouldn’t be possible without the support of Rochdale Borough School Games and Rochdale AFC, the club’s Seats for Schools Initiative is another fantastic way to support children throughout Rochdale and beyond!"
Next years Premier League Primary Stars funded project is in the process of being finalised, but any schools who wish to get involved with the award-winning Rochdale AFC Community Trust can email graham.hicks@rochdaleafc.co.uk or visit our website here: https://www.rochdaleafccommunity.org/for-schools/
Each school will have 4 season tickets for the Smiths Metal Family Stand, to use for pupil rewards, staff incentives or fundraising as they see fit with no purchase necessary.
Teachers at each school will be encouraged to issue the Season Cards to their students on a rotational basis throughout the season.
Representatives from the Club/Community Trust will be in contact with schools over the coming months with full details on the initiative, in time for the 2023/24 season.
Full details on our Season Cards, including on-sale dates, will be announced next week.