Contents:
- Editor's welcome
- D-Day veteran from Rochdale celebrates his 100th birthday
- 25 years of Rochdale Connections Trust
- Striking stained glass window restored and reinstalled in Rochdale Town Hall
- Carl Abraham »
- Dell Road reopens after major works to save route from collapse
- £100k donated by RKT Trust
- Civic honours bestowed on 12 for outstanding contributions
- MysonPages conquers Yorkshire Three Peaks
- Chocolate chip stollen
- Wardle Scarecrow Festival
- Rochdale sweeps up at In Bloom awards
- Milnrow Balti crowned North West Restaurant of the Year at Britain’s top Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards
- Self-taught autistic artist shortlisted for award
- Chef David Hayden and wife Rachael run The Gallows in Milnrow, winners this summer of Come Dine With Me The Professionals.
- GEM Appeal Strawberry Sparkle Lunch
- Keeping financial control during the cost-of-living crisis
- Tickled pink! Best window displays for Cancer Research UK
- Hairdressing trend - Champagne pop
- No fault, no blame
- Gardening tips for winter
- Together we can tame the ill wind
- Memory lane
Winter 2022Carl Abraham
Carl Abraham is the founder of the Rochdale Masters Rugby League team, a non-competitive side for anyone over the age of 35 which trains weekly at Rochdale Mayfield and Soccer Factory through the winter months.
He has been chosen to play for the England Masters in this year’s Rugby League World Cup Festival on 13 November in York.
Carl told us: “The aim of Rochdale Masters is purely sociable and gets people back into grassroots sport. I didn’t want it to be affiliated with any club, so it’s open to anyone from the borough with no club rivalry or history.
“We get small grants to help run the club, but the money we raise from player subs goes into a charity pot for the end of the season. This time, we’re putting the money back into the Mayfield youth teams.”
Having reached the most senior soldier rank of Warrant Officer Class One in the British Army, Carl retired from the military in 2019 after just over 24 years of service, having enlisted straight from high school in September 1995.
Whilst serving in the UK, the army veteran would return home at weekends and stand-down periods to represent Rochdale Mayfield. The 43-year-old father of three grew up playing rugby from a young age, starting the sport representing local side Spotland Rangers before retiring from playing first team rugby in 2012 after the birth of his youngest son Isaac.
During his time in the forces Carl represented various regiments, The Corps of Royal Engineers and the British Army. Although both his parents were ex-military, he says this did not influence his career.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I didn’t really like school, so I didn’t want to go to college. I saw the ‘Army be the Best’ advert in the local paper and enquired at the local Army Careers Office. Four weeks from my first visit I had passed army selection, been accepted into the Corps of Royal Engineers and had been issued a start date to my new career.”
On retiring, Carl set up Rochdale Masters in 2021 before quickly taking over the reins of the Masters Veterans team, a group of Veterans within the Masters community that come together to commemorate poignant events through the military calendar year.
He was nominated for the England Masters side this summer, after leaving the decision up to the club’s committee.
“Each masters club has to nominate one player, and you can only play for an age group once,” he explained. “The team is made up of all ages because it’s non-competitive. You don’t necessarily have to be the best player to be chosen!”
In addition to the Masters RL World Cup Festival in November, Carl is also looking forward to welcoming the Canadian Masters to Rochdale in early November but admitted he’s mainly looking forward to the annual veterans’ fixture where veterans from all over the country come to Rochdale in a fixture to commemorate Remembrance Day.
“I jumped at the chance when the Masters committee asked if we were interested in hosting the Canadian team: it’s a big deal to host an international team in the borough. Rochdale Masters was chosen because the Canadian side are staying in the North West and needed a fixture before attending the international festival."
After the success of his Masters work, Carl was approached by the Rochdale Hornets Sporting Foundation, and together they’ve created a schools’ programme that has recently provided 10 local primary schools with five weeks of free coaching and the chance for the schools to play in two festivals. The children this time also had the opportunity to be present at the England/Fiji friendly match on 7 October and take part by being matchday mascots, flag bearers and playing on the pitch at half-time as part of the Bula Rochdale programme.
Carl also coaches the Hornets Wheelchair team, and has run wheelchair rugby sessions at Redwood School.
He recalled: “There was one girl who required the use of a wheelchair, and her face lit up when I brought all these other wheelchairs out for the other students. It was then that I realised how inclusive it can be, and helps create a pathway for people with disabilities to become involved.”
“I’m only able to do what I do because I’m retired. My wife said I needed to find something to do that I enjoyed. It allows me to do the school run and watch my youngest play football – although he’s becoming more interested in rugby now.
“I’m very fortunate and proud to do what I do and provide a platform for so many in what I enjoy.”
If you’re interested in getting involved in any of the programmes, please contact Carl on