SOUTH ASIAN DEVELOPMENT CENTRE LAUNCH

Aimed at breaking down traditional barriers to academy football for South Asian families, the centre is already making a tangible impact within our community.

It runs as an exciting extra addition to our pathway, meaning our standard Development Centre training sessions will still take place as normal.

Reflecting on last season, the club delivered a development centre that unfortunately clashed with Madrassa timings. This logistical hurdle unintentionally limited attendance and prevented many children from South Asian backgrounds from participating.

Learning from those challenges, major changes were implemented for this campaign. The newly structured sessions are now proudly hosted directly at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday mornings, providing an inspiring, high-quality environment for young talent.

The programme caters to a wide range of age groups, running all the way from Under-8s through to Under-16s, delivered in small groups.

The ultimate goal of the SADC is to create a clear, accessible pathway into elite football. By providing top-tier coaching and removing the barriers that previously stood in the way, the club hopes to nurture, refine, and develop these young players into the Rochdale AFC stars of the future.

We look forward to watching this talent grow right here at the stadium. Keep an eye out for these rising stars!

Sessions are invite only. For further information, please contact community@rochdaleafc.co.uk