Christmas message from Chairman Andy Mazey

Rochdale Hornets Chairman Andy Mazey has written a Christmas message to supporters.

We have reached that time of the year when on behalf of Rochdale Hornets, I want to wish all our supporters, sponsors, players and management teams across the club a very happy and healthy festive period.

I know how hard every single person associated with the club and foundation works, it is not always easy, but we are brought together by our fantastic club and the sport of rugby league. We have a very special group of people across all levels from our first team, wheelchair, ladies, community and the development academy. I just want to say a massive thanks to all who contribute within this growing Hornets family.

I have spoken regularly throughout the year about the challenges the club has faced. We will continue to face these challenges and meet them head on with your support, however, it is Christmas so I won’t go over old ground and our focus is absolutely on an exciting 2023. On this note, if you haven’t already done so, please back your club by purchasing a season pass.

On the subject of positives, a huge plus for me has been the appointment of Gary Thornton. Everyone knows the chairman and head coach relationship is a vital one in any club, and I can only say Gary has been a breath of fresh air to work with since taking the reins of our first team. 

Despite a significantly reduced playing budget, which for perspective equates to less than half of our player spend of the past couple of seasons, he has never once complained. His glass is always half full, and he has completely bought into the club’s position whilst setting about a rebuild and reset of the culture within the club. His body of work has been carried out with refreshing openness, positivity and a high degree of professionalism. 

I am particularly encouraged by the togetherness and relationships being forged with Mike, Pete, Rammy and Hayley as a quality performance unit who all seem focused on getting the best out of our young and enthusiastic group. Like everyone else I cannot wait for the new season to begin and I am counting down the days to our first warm up game at Widnes on the 15 January.

You may not always get to see or appreciate it, but we have made a huge investment in the community foundation in recent times. We are so much more than just a first team at this club now, and I must pay tribute to our Foundation Business Development Director Chris Tomlinson for his hard work, supported by Steve Kerr. 

Special praise must also go to Carl Abraham, Ben Bird and Steve Strand for their outstanding work and the progress being made on wheelchair, ladies and community club rugby league. Our vision and strategy for growth has always been based on increasing participation and spectatorship, so to welcome a community open-age team as part of the Rochdale Hornets brand in 2022 has been incredibly pleasing and some big things are to come in 2023.

Equally exciting in respect of our development, is the addition of Jason Seddon in a non-executive capacity as Director of Development. Jason’s role is to cross-fertilize between club and foundation and strategically support the recruitment, development and growth of all our existing pathways. It is also to oversee the implementation of new initiatives such as LDRL [Learning Disability Rugby League] & PDRL [Physical Disability Rugby League], and also the delivery of the England Talent Pathway. We are looking forward to making a major announcement early in the new year and its exciting times for sure.

Another fantastic addition to the club recently has been lifelong supporter and highly respected media professional Gareth Walker. In Gareth’s own words when speaking on the announcement of his consultancy role, ‘we have shown a clear commitment to developing the club in every single area’, and he looks forward to helping implement and advise an enthusiastic and forward-thinking media team. He is already making a positive impact and I am looking forward to seeing the development of our media and communications strategy and output in 2023.

I recently attended All Hornets Supporters Association’s annual general meeting. I opened up the floor to members for questions and we openly discussed the reality of the club’s current numbers, and the need for everyone who cares to do that little bit extra in 2023. Since that meeting, I have also met with Chairman Mark Harris separately and we have both committed to working even closer together in 2023. All Hornets gives supporters a voice and is a must for anyone who cares about the club.

 I have recently renewed my son’s membership and signed up myself and at just £25.00 for adults and £10.00 for children for the year, it is an affordable way of supporting the club for everyone. Mark and the All Hornets committee have delivered some fantastic fund-raising events this year which deserve more support. They provide the club with: match day volunteers, operational support, supporters travel to away games and all with the underlying objective of raising vital funds which go directly to Gary’s playing budget. Please get behind them in 2023 and sign up today.

I want to also pay tribute to our fantastic sponsors and commercial partners. I know how difficult it is financially for people and businesses, so to continue to have the support we have takes a very special group of people. I have said may times we all need to become salespeople for Rochdale Hornets and spread the word within our networks. There are still many commercial opportunities still available, including our excellent value for money match day sponsorships to which I must give a special mention to Hornets Heritage for sponsoring the 2023 playing shirts in memory of Brian Belfield and Hornets fallen heroes.

I have said on many occasions we are always looking for new people who can add value and put in the time and effort to help improve the club. I would urge anyone who may feel they are in a position to help in taking this club forward to get in touch with myself or Steve Kerr. It is not a closed shop and the door is always open and shareholding can be made available to new investors wanting to buy in.

Finally, only together can we succeed. We have much to be proud of and in my opinion we are a better club now than we have been for a number of years. We have only become that ‘better’ club by getting through recent tough times and having a common purpose with a vision for a better future. Keep backing your club and try to encourage others to do the same.

Once again thanks for your support in 2022 and I look forward to seeing you all in 2023.

Best Wishes,

Andy 

Season passes for 2023 are now on sale here!

For any sponsorship opportunities, please contact Steve.Kerr@hornetsrugbyleague.com