The partnership brings together one of the borough’s leading community sports clubs with its professional football club and official charitable arm, creating a stronger platform to grow netball and widen access to physical activity across Rochdale – from primary school participation through to junior and adult club netball, coaching, volunteering and leadership.
Netball is one of the most widely played team sports in England, particularly among women and girls, with accessible formats for all ages and abilities, including junior netball, Back to Netball and Walking Netball. Under the new Rochdale AFC Netball identity, the partnership will raise the sport’s profile locally, strengthen school-to-club links, and give more people a clear route into the game.
Currently, Rochdale Netball Club runs teams from u6 right through to seniors, with nearly 200 players taking to the court every week
The agreement will also support wider community outcomes, with Rochdale AFC Community Trust working alongside Rochdale AFC Netball on new programmes in schools, holiday provision, health and wellbeing, and volunteer development. Operating under a shared Rochdale AFC identity opens up new opportunities too, from commercial support and matchday promotion to community events and sponsorship, reinforcing that women’s sport has a central place in the borough’s sporting future.
The move follows a model seen elsewhere in professional sport, where football and rugby clubs have partnered with netball organisations to boost visibility, participation and long-term sustainability. In Rochdale, the priority will be a community-first approach that reflects the town’s sporting pride and welcomes people of all ages.
Amy Williams, Chair of Rochdale AFC Netball, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our club and for netball across Rochdale. Joining the Rochdale AFC family gives us a stronger platform to grow the game, inspire more women and girls to get involved, and create new opportunities for players, coaches, volunteers and supporters. We’re excited about what we can achieve together for our community.”
Laura Thomas, Rochdale AFC CEO, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Rochdale Netball Club into the Rochdale AFC family, this is a brilliant opportunity, both for the club and for netball across the borough. The vision is to build a thriving community around the club, and it’s not only football that plays a role.
As a former netball player myself, I know first-hand how important being involved in sport is. It shapes you. It gives you confidence. It gives you a sense of belonging and acceptance, no matter where you come from.
Rochdale AFC is a place for everyone, and we’re absolutely clear that this is just the start.
Congratulations, Rochdale AFC Netball and welcome.”
Ryan Bradley, Community Director at Rochdale AFC Community Trust, finished: “From the very first discussions it was clear that we were all on the same page. The football club, the charity and the netball club all have a shared purpose and values as well as complimentary strengths and challenges we can face better together.
Coming together under one brand will boost the profile of Netball in Rochdale, supporting the growth and performance plans of the club. The charity has the governance structure in place to support volunteers and coaches as well as link in community outreach and school work.
With RAFC Netball based at Edgar Wood, and the plans around the Community Football and Wellbeing Hub at Bowlee, we were already going to be geographically close, so it made absolute sense to bring everything together under the boroughs professional sport brand to further our mission to make Rochdale a better place to live, work and play, for generations to come.”
The launch of Rochdale AFC Netball marks an exciting new chapter for sport in the borough, bringing football and netball together under one shared identity and building a platform to inspire the next generation of players, coaches, volunteers and supporters.
Further details on Rochdale AFC Netball programmes, teams and opportunities to get involved will be announced in due course.
