CAB met today (September 15, 2025) for its regular bimonthly meeting.
PLEASE NOTE.
These notes are simply a summary of the discussions held by your Trust Representatives and fellow CAB board attendees last night. They are intended to provide members and fans with an understanding of the topics discussed.
The club will release the full official minutes soon, which we will publish as soon as they become available.
Andy Duff, Dales’ Managing Director,
The 1907 Lounge Refurbishment Progress
Progress on the refurbishment of the 1907 Lounge is well underway. A new neutral grey paint scheme, along with high and low slate grey tables and new seating, are now in place. We are also updating the flooring and aim to complete the project by this Saturday’s game, though some final touches may extend into the following week. CAB members have approved the current progress.
The pre-match “Meet The Player” run by the Trust’s FPA is scheduled to continue with a time to be firmed up, but approx 2,15 to 2.230. Further details to follow.
In response to a question about lounge passes, we would like to clarify that these passes can be purchased individually and do not require a season ticket to be linked. Additionally, fans from both the Pearl and Sandy sections are also eligible to buy lounge passes. The club is considering introducing wristbands to allow movement between the Sandy and Pearl sections into the 1907 Lounge. More information on this will be provided soon.
Stewarding Update. For the most part, the transition to the new company has gone very well, with many fans reporting positive experiences. There have been a few issues, but the club has addressed them immediately. Most concerns have been handled to everyone’s satisfaction, and they have served as a learning curve for all involved. While there are still one or two minor issues that arise, there is a strong willingness to address everything positively and fairly.
Season Ticket Sales/Tickets. – So far, there have been 2,292 season ticket sales to the public, which is an increase compared to this time last year.
Recently, there have been questions about the rules surrounding 14-year-olds purchasing tickets, as well as the purchase of tickets for individuals under 14. The club clarified that we don’t allow U14S in alone, we ask for ID or a linked ticket (to an adult), such as the same address, when someone who looks under 14 tries to buy a single ticket. This policy is a legal requirement (Note: the Trust will be publishing a slightly larger article on this for fan clarification)
Calendar of key events and CAB involvement
CAB received a “Timescale” graph outlining the expected timelines for addressing key issues later this season, including kits, stadium seating, food and beverage options, matchday experience, and ticket pricing. The matrix emphasised fan involvement and feedback, with target completion dates. The club highlighted that The Dale Trust, CAB, and its members will be consulted at each stage whenever possible.
MRI / TIC Health Scanners
This initiative will soon be located near the Kick Pitch, providing services to health agencies in Greater Manchester, as well as private consultations. The club is also considering discounts for individuals associated with Dale.
However the immediate and most important value of the scanners to the club is that first team will be able to access scans for free, not only is this a considerable saving in cost to the club but it means injury management of the squad can be assessed quicker. The Trust will be featuring an article on this topic in the near future
Volunteers Week
CAB expressed gratitude to all participants during Volunteers Week, with special thanks to Fan Liaison Officer Ruby Loynd for her successful coordination. Next year’s plans will be announced earlier to give groups and individuals more time to prepare, and efforts will be made to consider times outside normal working hours to encourage more volunteers. Special thanks this year went to the Hope Football team, who acted as pathfinders for the repainting of at least eight boxes with a speed that became envious to the rest.
DALE 1907 / Jack Brandon Marathon: The Dale 1907 CAB representative reported on the ongoing efforts to enhance the atmosphere for Dale fans and praised the work done so far. They highlighted a young fan who completed a marathon by circling the ground enough times to reach 26 miles. The CAB applauded this achievement, noting that over £2,000 raised will be used to improve the COA venue, including potential stand murals. Welldone Jack from all CAB members.
Engagement
A CAB member inquired about opening the side shutter at Desmond’s Den and the Food Kiosk to improve access for beverage and beer sales. This suggestion addresses overcrowding in that area during match intervals.
Andy and RB from the community trust reported that Desmond’s Den has been removed, allowing for better use of the area. The club will also explore the proposed entrance for the beverage kiosk as an additional service.
Themed Fixtures
Ryan Bradley from the CT discussed ideas for themed events based on specific games. CAB members created smaller working groups to generate original ideas that would make these events more inclusive and relevant for fans, members, and guests. Members were encouraged to volunteer based on their expertise, and Ryan will compile the information for review.
One themed event that has remained consistent for several years is the Remembrance Day fixture. It was proposed that CAB provide opinions and ideas on how this important day can be rejuvenated to reflect its national significance while still maintaining local relevance.
This season, the Remembrance Fixture will be on 15th November, Aldershot
There have been some fixture and game starting time changes; full fixture information can be seen by clicking this link.
Her Game Too – Full Update (CAB and HGT Dale Ambassadors) Charlotte Cromarty and Leanne Connoly)
CC and LC expressed their gratitude to Daletrust for its ongoing support, including both financial and logistical assistance, during the commissioning and implementation of the HGT reset.
In this framework, CC and LC extended their heartfelt thanks to Andy D and the entire team at the club for facilitating all their requests. They also expressed appreciation to Jamie Willowbough for his valuable support and advice, which has helped advance their work with HGT Rochdale. Additionally, they acknowledged the support of CAB and wanted to thank Dale 1907 for their input and assistance, as well as Ruby Loynd, the club’s Fan Services Officer
HGT outlined their plans for the Dedicated Fixture, which will take place next March and is themed as International Women’s Day. VIP guests are being approached to attend.
Other Issues raised by the HGT team were the provision, or at times lack of provision of sanitary products at the grounds’ women’s facilities. This needs careful consideration. RB from the CT highlighted previous funding and future funding opportunities that the club and HGT team will investigate.
HGT were going to provide posters to be placed more strategically around the ground to highlight HGT and the message that the Dale team are involved with.
Additional initiatives have been proposed and will soon be featured on the club, Trust, and Various social media sites.
Covers Squad
Andy provided feedback on an article published by the Trust on Sunday, the 14th, which can be found here, along with information on how to get involved on the club website HERE. The article discussed a new initiative aimed at minimising disruptions caused by inclement weather, particularly water ingress, which has led to several issues and postponements in the past. In their post on the 14th, the Trust elaborated on how these postponements impact the squad and game management, ultimately affecting results.
To address this, the club is looking to recruit a “Cover Squad,” an on-call team that can respond to the need for placing and removing covers. While this task takes time, having additional help will make pitch protection easier. With a premium surface, we hope our squad can achieve even better results than those seen so far. We encourage you to read the links to the Trust and Club above for more information.
CAB members agreed to circulate this initiative amongst their own social networks with feed back to be direted to fanservices@rochdaleafc.co.uk.
Growth within the Fanbase
National League Cup Initiative
CAB recognised that the National League Cup initiative, while perceived as a minor attraction by some, is a lucrative venture. It enhances the squad’s chances of gaining competitive match experience in these and other cup games, benefiting from subsidies and local sponsorship, which allows the club to keep these games “entry-free.”
With alternative kickoff times, the aim is to attract a broader audience to the COA beyond the established fan base. This initiative could help grow the fan base, aligning with the targets set by the Ogden family.
AOB
Training Ground.
Jamie W reported to CAB that, although progress has been slow, significant work has been accomplished and is still ongoing. The challenge of seeking a piece of land that meets all the requirements for providing facilities for all the club’s teams and junior members is considerable, and it may not be fully achievable. However, efforts are being made to identify a permanent home for senior-level training, along with suitable pitches.
RMBC Council has, in principle, approved the use of land at Bowlee Middleton for this purpose. While this approval is a positive step, it must still undergo planning permission and scrutiny before any further progress can be made.
Coupled to planing preparation there are still legal and contractual details that remain to be finalised but are being worked on.
If approval is granted, it would mean that senior training and player management facilities will be located within the borough, which would be a significant advantage. It is essential to note that this is still in its early stages, and much work remains to be done.
The Trust would like to thank its fellow CAB board colleagues for a productive and enjoyable collaboration tonight, especially during the group breakout session, which offered valuable insights for the CT project.
Thanks to club colleagues, Andy Duff, Jamie Willowbough, Ryan Bradley, and to a remote but on-the-move George Delves, who joined from his car (Audio Only!)while travelling on business.
- Date of next meeting – 17th November at 6 pm