As rugby league has returned to the Crown Oil Arena, there’s a palpable sense of excitement in the air at Rochdale Hornets.
One of the game’s most historic clubs, Hornets have approached the 2025 season with fresh energy, bold ambitions, and a deeper connection to the local community than ever before.
The 2024 season laid solid foundations, and chairman Andy Mazey believes the team is ready to build on that momentum.
He said: “The atmosphere has never been better in my five-year tenure. There’s a real feel-good factor around the club, with our men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams all making progress.”
Much of this positivity stems from smart recruitment and a strong, united squad. Hornets don’t have the largest budget in League 1, but they do have something arguably more valuable: cohesion and character.
After a good 2024 season, the club moved swiftly to retain key players and staff, ensuring stability and continuity ahead of a crucial season. The result? A team that Andy Mazey calls “the best I’ve worked with in the sport”. Off the pitch, Hornets are just as ambitious. The club’s headline initiative for 2025 is ‘Project 1500’, an ambitious drive to boost average home attendances above 1,500. It’s more than a numbers game, it’s about embedding the club deeper into the fabric of Rochdale life.
The strategy is wide-ranging: community outreach, family-friendly match days, digital engagement, and targeted inclusivity efforts to make rugby league a sport for everyone. From walking rugby to the thriving women’s, wheelchair, and learning disability teams.
The new community hub, The Hive at Balderstone Park, is the centrepiece of this approach - a space where people of all backgrounds can come together through sport.
On the field, the target is clear: a top four finish in League 1. With a new middle eights play-off system in place, it’s a competitive league, but Hornets are confident. Backed by a hard-working coaching team and a squad full of belief, they’re aiming not just to compete, but to progress and grow.
They’re calling on Rochdale to be part of the journey. Fans, new and old, are encouraged to follow the club online, visit The Hive, and show their support on match days. As Andy puts it: “There’s something for everyone, it’s inclusive, not exclusive.”
With strong leadership, a clear vision, and a community-first ethos, Rochdale Hornets are buzzing with potential. All that’s missing now is you.
