Supporters rallying to club’s aid
ROCHDALE supporters have long proven they will not sit by and impassively watch their club fold – and a group of supporters are doing all they can to provide a financial lifeline.
The RAFC Bring Or Goodbye Sale (BOGS) has been set up to help the club with its ongoing financial predicament. It works by fans selling personal items and treasured memorabilia, much of it purchased years ago and holding close personal value, to help the club in these uncertain times.
BOGS spokesman Mark Williams said: “The idea behind the Bring Or Goodbye Sale is simple, really – if we don’t bring it or sell it, then it really could be goodbye to our club.
“We have to do what we can as supporters to prevent the unthinkable.
“Some of these items have been donated by youngsters, which just shows how much we all care.
We have all stood on the terraces over the years giving our opinions on who should be in the team and who shouldn’t, who the manager should be and who it shouldn’t be, whether we should have chicken tikka in our pies or steak and kidney and which Director and Chairman we like and which ones we think aren’t good for the club.
“Yet, through all the highs and lows, we are all still here because we all have the Dale bug and irrelevant what other fans say we will still be here in years to come.
“We had an idea to go one step further and ask fans whether they would be prepared to make a minimum donation of £5 a month to help the club and the response has been fantastic.
“We are nearing 100 fans who are willing to make this commitment, some of whom are willing to donate more. Please, only donate what you can afford.
“We have spoken with members of the Dale Trust who have provided us with information relating to The Rochdale AFC Squad Builder Fund, which is ringfenced by the Trust and put solely towards the club’s first team playing budget.
“Please send your monthly donation to the account below or go on the Dale trust website to find other methods. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your fantastic support on the Facebook page (RAFC Bring Or Goodbye Sale) and we look forward to seeing where this takes us. Up the Dale.”
Those wishing to contribute to the Squad Builder and Fighting Fund can make a payment to Rochdale Supporters Trust, Sort code: 08-92-99;
Account 65130258, REF – SB BOGS or FF BOGS.
It’s important fans use one of the codes because any donations which cannot be identified will be split 50/50 between both funds.
Each fund has an identifying code, Squad Builder is SB- ********* and the Fighting Fund is
FF- ********* replacing the blanks with your surname.
For example, John Smith’s reference would be Sb-smith or Ff-smith.
If you have any issues, see the Dale Trust in the Radcliffe Bar before home games or email them on info@daletrust. co.uk
The fundraising is not just confined to matchday shirts and memorabilia – this weekend, for instance, sees supporters embark on the ‘Moggy Ladder Walk,’ an event inspired by reknowned Dale fan Stephen ‘Moggy’ Murray to raise money for the Squad Builder and fighting funds accounts.
The walk will take place today (Saturday 24th February), leaving The Greengate Pub at between 12 and 12.30.
The fans will be then walking to pubs in Smallbridge, Wardle and Littleborough.
There will be plenty of opportunities to donate as some buckets will be carried around the walk. Fans can donate via the account details provided below and on the back of the fans T Shirts.
Send donations to: Rochdale Supporters Trust, Sort code: 08-92-99; Account 65130258, REF – SB BOGS or FF BOGS.