Hornets sign Corporate Covenant

Rochdale Hornets have formalised their links with the Armed Forces and have been signed a Corporate Covenant Pledge

Rochdale Hornets have formalised their links with the Armed Forces and have been signed a Corporate Covenant Pledge.

The pledge the club has made is to honour the armed forces covenant and support the armed forces community, including all serving personnel, whether regular or reservists, veterans and military families who all contribute massively towards our society.

Ryan Bradley, Chief Executive at Rochdale Hornets, commented: “I am very pleased to formalise our link with the Armed Forces. We have recently uncovered the stories of the four Hornets players who gave the ultimate sacrifice during World War One and it really hit home that as a club we have a part to play in supporting both serving personnel and veterans. We are delighted to be working with the Navy again, after hosting them a couple of years ago when they took on the Town Team, and im sure that we both have things we can learn off each other.”

The club will continue to offer all veterans and serving personnel a concessionary ticket rate to Spotland Stadium and will work more closely with the armed forces community to further develop the club and the borough of Rochdale’s link with the armed forces.

Councillor Alan McCarthy, Lead Member for the Armed Forces said: “I am very pleased to see Rochdale Hornets show their commitment by signing the Corporate Covenant, making fifteen in total already. The military have all made great sacrifices for their country and it is right that we do all that we can to embrace them into our community. I know they have always aimed to be supportive of the armed forces but this reinforces the work they do.

"These businesses recognise the important contribution Armed Forces make towards our country and our community and it is important to formally recognise their support which is what we have done today.”

Hornets will travel to Portsmouth on 16 January for a pre-season training camp, which will also see the Hornets coaching staff share expertise and help prepare the Royal Navy team for their upcoming Challenge Cup fixture.

The principles of the covenant state that they will all endeavour in their business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which include promoting themselves as an armed forces friendly organisation and ensuring the armed forces community are not disadvantaged. In some cases, such as the sick, injured or bereaved, this means giving special consideration to allow them access to public or commercial services that civilians receive.

In addition the covenant aims to highlight the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces; promote greater understanding of the issues facing them and help fully integrate former service men and women into the community.