Eagle eyed Hornets supporters will have noticed a major change in the design of the new jerseys. Where previous Hornets shirts have featured the Rochdale town crest, the new shirts proudly bear the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Coat of Arms.

This new crest represents the whole of the Rochdale Borough, which comprises the six 'township' areas of Rochdale, Littleborough, Heywood, Middleton, Wardle and Milnrow. It also represents local industries through emblems taken from the Rochdale town arms, whilst the eagle and falcon supports relate to other areas of the Borough

The shield is green with a white wave running down the middle on which is a roach, representing the Roch Valley. The border shows six red roses, representing a borough made up of the town's six Lancashire township authorities.

The crest is composed of the emblems representing the characteristic local industries in the Rochdale district - a woolpack, a fleece, a millrind (the iron support for a millstone) and cotton plants. These represent the textile and engineering industries on which our town was built. The fleece is also the emblem of Milnrow and cotton appears in Middleton's coat of arms.

The support on the left is the golden eagle of Rome, commemorating the association of Littleborough with the Roman occupation of this region and the road over Blackstone Edge. This is shown as part of the Pennine moorland base on which the whole coat-of-arms stands and which takes the place of a motto scroll.

The eagle's neck is encircled with a white ribbon from which hangs a ram's head, the emblem of Wardle. To match the eagle, on the other side is the falcon taken from the Heywood crest. It also has a ribbon from which hangs the black pierced star symbol of the Asshetons, taken from the arms of Middleton.

The move to the Borough crest is a bold, brave and sensible move that takes a major step towards presenting the club as representing all Rochdalians. Emphasising once more that Rochdale is your town - and Rochdale Hornets is your team.