Contents:
- Editor's welcome
- Feeling good in the summer sun
- Rochdale's pancake legacy 30 years on
- Calderbrook Alpacas – The delightful world of fluffy misfits
- Rochdale “hero” completes gruelling 232- mile ultra-marathon for Jolly Josh charity
- Ogden family takes majority control of Rochdale AFC after £2m investment »
- The timeless magic of Rochdale’s M6 Theatre
- Toffee or chocolate dipped apples
- Grey & Gorgeous
- Rochdale Infirmary opens ‘Oasis Garden’
- Inside Rochdale's oldest mosque
- Sue Devaney announced as new patron of Springhill Hospice
- Remarkable 2000-year-old Roman coins found in Littleborough field will stay in the borough
- Stiffen your resolve to do more exercise
- Rochdale Shopmobility manager retires after two decades
- Contractor appointed for Touchstones transformation
- Korean sticky mushrooms with kimchi greens
- High Level’s holistic approach to addiction recovery
- All eyes on Rochdale at Tatton
- Post Office Horizon Scandal
- What's on this autumn
Autumn 2024Ogden family takes majority control of Rochdale AFC after £2m investment
The Ogden family has become the majority shareholders of Rochdale Football Club following a £2 million takeover.
The family, with deep roots in Rochdale, aims to guide the club back to the English Football League (EFL) within three years.
The takeover was completed in May, after the family was confirmed as the preferred investors in late March.
Their investment totals £2 million, and they acquired nearly 6.9 million newly-issued Class A ordinary shares, equating to roughly 68% ownership.
In a move to protect the club’s heritage, the Ogden family has committed to holding these shares for the sole benefit of the Rochdale AFC Community Trust.
Additionally, following the recommendations of the Fan Led Review, they will introduce a “golden share” to be held by the Dale Supporters Trust.
This golden share will require the Trust’s consent before any changes can be made to the club’s name, colours, badge, or the sale of its ground.
Sir Peter Ogden and Lady Catherine Ogden, both originally from Rochdale, are behind this significant investment.
Their charitable organisation, the Ogden Trust, which focuses on supporting the teaching and learning of physics among underrepresented groups, has been actively involved in initiatives within Rochdale schools.
At a meeting following the takeover, Cameron Ogden, the new co-chairman of Rochdale AFC’s board of directors, expressed his honour and privilege at being part of the club.
Also joining the board of directors are Adam Saul and Jamie Willoughby who both work for the Ogden family business.
Alongside the Ogden family, co-chairman Simon Gauge and director Richard Knight have converted their outstanding loans to the club into shares. Mr Gauge now owns 21%, Mr Knight 2%, and the Dale Supporters Trust holds 1.6%.
The remaining shares are owned by past directors and supporters. Peter Ogden’s children, Cameron, Edward, and Tiffany, each hold a 23% stake in the club.
The key aspirations of the new board include:
- To make the club sustainable within five years, with or without sporting success.
- To achieve promotion to the EFL within three years.
- To significantly increase the social value the club brings to the local community, via the club and Community Trust.