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Spotland switch so disappointing

by Mike Floyd
8/ 7/2008

MORE than 80 children were heartbroken when the schools rugby finals, planned for Spotland before Sunday’s National League match against Keighley Cougars, were scuppered at late notice.

Hornets received a letter on behalf of the Spotland Stadium Company on Friday, written by the borough solicitor, advising them of their responsibilities under an agreement signed in 1991 relating to the use of the pitch. The rugby club – equal partners in the ground with Rochdale AFC – was left with little option other than to switch the competition to Oulder Hill School.

It was a devastating blow for Hornets’ community development officer Mat Gartland who had spent nine months coaching and preparing the teams taking part, and for pupils, teachers and parents who were looking forward to the big day.

Norden Community School teacher Clive Wilson, whose team won the competition, felt the move to Oulder Hill had taken the shine off the competition and said: "We don’t normally do rugby in school, it’s the first time we had ever taken part, never mind win it. When I told the pupils they were not playing at Spotland they were gutted.Playing before the main match in a stadium, having people watch them, and then coming out and being presented with certificates and medals at half time, regardless of winning, it would have been the ultimate experience for them. They are Year 6 and leaving in a couple of weeks so they probably won’t get that opportunity again."

Mr Wilson praised the efforts of Hornets’ backroom staff, and having watched the game against Keighley on Sunday he was bemused by the decision, adding: "It must have cost the club some money because the parents would have gone to Spotland, paid the price for the tickets – which were subsidised at £10 for a family – and watched the children before staying on for Hornets’ match.

"As it was, the majority of parents of the children taking part watched them play at Oulder Hill, which obviously wasn’t a patch on Spotland, then took them home. If they hadn’t won anything all they did was get their medals, which every child did, and go. I felt disappointed, so the children who were performing must have felt worse. I stayed right to the end at Spotland and you wouldn’t have known Hornets had played on the pitch. There were no marks. It’s amazing, so shortsighted of the stadium company doing something like that. It might have put some kids off playing because they were let down, as were the parents."

Stadium Company chairman, Councillor Peter Rush expressed his disappointment at the cancellation but insisted the decision was unavoidable. He emphasised no legal document had been served, contrary to reports elsewhere, and that only an advisory letter had been sent.

He said: "The groundsman (Phil Collinson) made a decision after a reseeding programme for general maintenance and upgrading of the ground which needs to be done every year. The period of time required was eight weeks to be able to guarantee it.  The Stadium Company made a decision that eight weeks was too long for Hornets to be away from home, and the period was cut to four weeks. The groundsman came on to us in early June and said he couldn’t agree with anybody being on the pitch other than a registered game, because it was the first game on the newly reseeded pitch and he had less than the required time. The Stadium Company backed the groundsman to have nobody on the pitch other than for a recognised game. The matter was discussed three weeks ago but Hornets were adamant the schools’ games were going on. So John Patterson, who is the executive director of the Stadium Company, and myself as chairman had to make a decision. There was no legal letter at all. It just outlined the 1991 stadium agreement which said the ground has got to be looked after. It was an agreement signed by both clubs which said the ground had to be used on a proper basis. And it was a letter to explain the situation. No legalities involved whatsoever."