Rochdale Hornets

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Rochdale Hornets
Full name	Rochdale Hornets Rugby League Football Club
Emblem	Hornet
Colours	Red, white and blue
Founded	1866
Sport	Rugby league
League	National League One
Ground	Spotland Stadium
Official website	{{{web}}}

Rochdale Hornets is a British Rugby League Football Club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, traditionally Lancashire. They currently play in Rugby League National League One.

[edit] History

Rugby was started at Rochdale in 1867 by a magistrate and numerous business owners and self-employed men. Within a year they were all playing alongside new members when working class men were allowed to join as well. This club was the forerunner of the Rochdale Hornets who arrived in 1871 with an open door approach to membership. Rochdale were able to insist on gate money as they played on an enclosed field.

They were founder members of the Northern Union in 1895. They played their games at the Athletic Grounds.

Hornets won the Northern Union Cup (later renamed the Challenge Cup) in 1922 by beating Hull 10-9 at Headingley, Leeds. That was Hornets’ one and only Challenge Cup final. Due to the ferocity of their play, their pack of forwards were known as ‘The Terrible Six.’

In 1947 and 1958, Rochdale made it to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup but both times Wigan ended their hopes of a Wembley final.

In 1965, Hornets appeared in the final of the Lancashire Cup when 19,000 saw them lose to Warrington at Knowsley Road, St Helens.

Deep in debt, Rochdale could not resist Morrison’s £2.7m offer for the Athletic Grounds. Since 1988 they have played their home games at Spotland, which is jointly owned by Hornets, Rochdale Council and Rochdale A.F.C..

Bobbie Goulding was in charge of Rochdale Hornets for two seasons, twice being nominated for coach of the year. He left in November 2005, citing frustration at the club's financial problems and his lack of a proper contract.

Darren Abram was appointed head coach two weeks later.

[edit] External links

• Independent website

Rugby League National Leagues - National League One
Batley Bulldogs | Castleford Tigers | Dewsbury Rams | Doncaster Lakers | Halifax RLFC Leigh Centurions | Rochdale Hornets | Sheffield Eagles | Whitehaven RLFC | Widnes Vikings
See also: Rugby League Championship Second Division

Rugby league in Britain and Ireland
Competitions Super League | National League | Challenge Cup | North West Counties | Pennine League National League Cup | National Conference League | Rugby League Conference | Scotland Rugby League | Midlands Merit League
National teams Great Britain | England | Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Federations RFL | BARLA | Rugby League Ireland | Wales Rugby League
Former competitions Championship | Premiership | Lancs/Yorks Cups | Lancs/Yorks League Regal Trophy | Charity Shield | BBC2 Floodlit Trophy