Page 15 - Real Rochdale Issue 16 Winter 2022

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.”
carl abraham 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
Carl Abraham is the founder of events through the military calendar year.
the Rochdale Masters Rugby
League team, a non-competitive He was nominated for the England Masters side
side for anyone over the age of 35 this summer, after leaving the decision up to the
which trains weekly at Rochdale club’s committee.
Mayfield and Soccer Factory
through the winter months. “Each masters club has to nominate one player, Carl also coaches the Hornets Wheelchair team,
and you can only play for an age group once,” he and has run wheelchair rugby sessions at
He has been chosen to play for explained. “The team is made up of all ages Redwood School.
the England Masters in this year’s because it’s non-competitive. You don’t
Rugby League World Cup Festival necessarily have to be the best player to be He recalled: “There was one girl who required
on 13 November in York. chosen!” the use of a wheelchair, and her face lit up when
I brought all these other wheelchairs out for the
In addition to the Masters RL World Cup other students. It was then that I realised how
Carl told us: “The aim of Rochdale Festival in November, Carl is also looking inclusive it can be, and helps create a pathway
Masters is purely sociable and gets forward to welcoming the Canadian Masters to for people with disabilities to become involved.”
people back into grassroots sport. Rochdale in early November but admitted he’s
I didn’t want it to be affiliated with mainly looking forward to the annual veterans’ “I’m only able to do what I do because I’m retired.
any club, so it’s open to anyone from fixture where veterans from all over the My wife said I needed to find something to do
the borough with no club rivalry or country come to Rochdale in a fixture to that I enjoyed. It allows me to do the school run
history. commemorate Remembrance Day. and watch my youngest play football – although
he’s becoming more interested in rugby now.
“We get small grants to help run the “I jumped at the chance when the Masters
club, but the money we raise from committee asked if we were interested in “I’m very fortunate and proud to do what I do
player subs goes into a charity pot hosting the Canadian team: it’s a big deal to and provide a platform for so many in what I
for the end of the season. This time, host an international team in the borough. enjoy.”
we’re putting the money back into Rochdale Masters was chosen because the
the Mayfield youth teams.” Canadian side are staying in the North West and If you’re interested in getting involved in any of
needed a fixture before attending the the programmes, please contact Carl on
international festival’.’ carl.abraham@hornetsrugbyleague.com
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 After the success of his Masters work, Carl was
school in September 1995. approached by the Rochdale Hornets
Sporting Foundation, and together they’ve
Whilst serving in the UK, the army veteran would return home at weekends and stand-down periods created a schools’ programme that has
to represent Rochdale Mayfield. The 43-year-old father of three grew up playing rugby from a young recently provided 10 local primary schools with
age, starting the sport representing local side Spotland Rangers before retiring from playing first five weeks of free coaching and the chance for
team rugby in 2012 after the birth of his youngest son Isaac. the schools to play in two festivals. The children
this time also had the opportunity to be present
During his time in the forces Carl represented various regiments, The Corps of Royal Engineers and at the England/Fiji friendly match on 7 October
the British Army. Although both his parents were ex-military, he says this did not influence his career. and take part by being matchday mascots, flag
bearers and playing on the pitch at half-time as
“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 part of the Bula Rochdale programme.
the ‘Army be the Best’ advert in the local paper and enquired at the local Army Careers Office. Four
Carl playing for Rochdale Masters
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