Intro
Currently we hold the Rochdale Borough Sport Club of the Year for 2010.
We have achieved FA Charter Standard (at Development level) – the highest level without open age football possible and have teams at 14 Age groups – Under 6’s up to Open Age (for season 2011/12).
We are seen as one of the best organised and structured Junior Football Clubs, it is actually what other members of the Football Community say about us. This is from a plethora of professional Clubs to local opponents who we meet on a week by week basis, and more importantly it is what their parents say about us being a Family centred club, with the children at the centre of all we do, not just the result of the match we are playing in and it is why more and more parents want their child to play for us.
We also hold the coveted Rochdale ‘Club of the Year’ title having had this awarded to us in direct competition with every other SPORTS club (not just football clubs) of which there are over 250, as recently as July 2010 and are representing the Borough at the Greater Manchester Awards in November with a chance to go to the National awards in London if we win the Greater Manchester Club of the Year title.
We have now expanded to have 23 teams at these age groups.
Our Player base of approximately 300+ is attracted predominantly from Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton with a small number from other local areas.
We have our own Site at Top O’ th’ Lane, Bamford, Rochdale, (Behind the Grapes Pub on Norden Rd). It is on 25 year lease on a self-management contract with RMBC.
We have 10 Pitches, 16 Changing Rooms, our own Tea Bar and Extensive Car Parking.
We are recognised by Sport England (previously The Sports Council) with 3 consecutive awards under the Volunteer Investment Programme in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
We have an established Under 15′s Girls squad.
Our teams are in the North Bury League, the Bolton and Bury League and the the Girl’s team which play in the North Valley League.
Every Team has Qualified volunteers (over 100 already hold certificates) with all Managers/Assistants and Club Officials either holding or working towards Qualifications in Football Association Level 1 Coaching, 1st Aid and Child Protection. All volunteers have to undergo background checks to reassure parents our volunteers are above doubt.
All Winter Training, Floodlit and Indoor, provided by Club at various sites around the Rochdale area is paid for by the Club.
We travel abroad every Whitsun with 3 age groups (6 teams) at Under 9, 11 and 13’s.
We have a direct partnership agreement with Bolton Wanderers Junior Academy set up, allowing exit routes into Pro Coaching and Football at Premiership level for all our players, including the Girls section into their respective age group squads.
We have direct links with every school in Rochdale and are a key Club/Schools link with Bamford Primary, who we assisted in getting the Schools Charter Standard.
Visit our web site: www.bridgejfc.co.uk