Former Rochdale Hornets players turn out to support current team in tough Leigh game

Many of the Rochdale Hornets Ex-Players Association who were in attendance

Members of Rochdale Hornets Ex-Players Association came out in force with family and friends on Sunday 11 August to support the current Hornets team in the game against play off contenders Leigh.

There were 70 guests which also included former Wigan, Warrington, Widnes and Great Britain International scrum half Andy Gregory, along with Mike Nicholas, the ex-Warrington, Wales and Great Britain International prop forward.

Although the result did not go Hornets’ way on the field, the support from the ex-players was there in abundance and many supporters also visited the former players after the game to reminisce over the games of yesteryear.

The guests, who were invited by Tony Pratt, chairman Peter Rush – in recognition of the support offered to the club – along with life president Paul Ormerod, welcomed the party to the game.

Also in attendance at the game were two guest speakers, former Hornets favourite Danny Sculthorpe, whom gave a fantastic speech in his role with State of Mind, and inspirational climber Keith Hook, whom recently climbed Ben Nevis seven times in seven days to raise funds for The Stephen Gartland Foundation.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/129138/rochdale-man-raises-3000-for-stephen-gartland-foundation-by-climbing-ben-nevis-seven-times

Former players in attendance included: Frank Hope, Brett Garside, Tony Cooke, Kevin Lowe, Ken Tighe, Bob Welding, Bill Sheffield, Gareth Pratt, Phil McKenzie, Willie Aspinall, Steve Kurtianyk, Mike Ratu, Tony Gourley, Norman Short, Mick Baxter, Alan Hodkinson, Mick Crocker, Tony Pratt, Terry Corcoran and Joe Chamberlain.

They were all joined by family and friends to support Hornets in a very tough game against Leigh, which ended up with the home side losing 18 – 50.