Hornets were featured in a double page spread in last week's Rugby Leaguer paper.The Days of Rochdale Hornets occupying a perennial permanent position among the game's also-rans could soon be at an end. That's the view of many observers as the Lancashire club seeks to regain its status among the hierarchy of Rugby League for the first time since the 1976/77 campaign.(Ed surely some mistake 90/91?)
The arrival of Martin Hall as coach has brought a solid professionalism to a club which, buoyed by an active commercial structure and a strong administration, now has its eyes firmly fixed on Super League.
And the fact that Hornets are housed at the palatial Spotland Stadium eliminates any fears that Rochdale, should they win the Northern Ford Premiership, would be denied a place in the top flight. There is a long way to go, of course, in what is likely to be one of the longest and most arduous seasons in history. But, under Hall, all the signs are that Hornets will be in the frame at the final bend.
Hall, who has built a strong squad since arriving at Spotland almost 12 months ago, remains the perfectionist who was a pivotal figure in the great Wigan side of the mid-nineties. He has not been satisfied with his side's early-season displays even though Hornets went into yesterday's fixture with Hull KR unbeaten. But he is plainly delighted to be back at the club with which he starred before the move to Central Park.
His optimism is founded on the knowledge that Hornets, these days, are among the most go-ahead outfits in Rugby League. It's a long time, true, since the club achieved any real success. The Challenge Cup has been lifted just once, in 1921/22, although that glory day followed a decade in which the Lancashire Cup was brought back to the Athletic Grounds on three occasions and the Lancashire League topped once.
The 1970s saw appearances in the Regal Trophy and BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy Finals and the feeling is that the present side could emulate those achievements and lay the platform for future long-term glory.
Pointers include a strong season last time in which Hall's squad fell at the penultimate hurdle in the NFP title chase. Winger Marion Billy broke the 65-year-old club record with 31 touchdowns, including a previously unmatched five in the mauling of York. Billy, centre Matt Calland and scrum half Latham Tawhai are again likely to be key figures, alongside stand off Richard Agar and hooker Richard Pachniuk, back 'home' after spells with Hunslet and Dewsbury.
Those players, clearly of Super League quality, enjoy the use of superb facilities at Spotland, which houses a state of the art gym and has a 10,500 capacity with 12 corporate boxes, two plush lounges and a host of corporate facilities.
The Hornets board - renowned under chairman Ray Taylor as one of the most dedicated and honest in the sport - is looking to maximise the earning potential of the excellent Spotland facilities. A number of impressive commercial backers have been attracted, and the aim is also to build on the highly successful Saturday Yankee lottery.
British Millerian, through Managing Director Michael Miller, have been solid and superbly supportive main sponsors for 12 years and other backers now include Canterbury and, with secondary shirt sponsorship, Arien. Arien, indeed, represent a refreshing new initiative. The company is a major force in the Asian business community, which, previously, has been an untapped area for Hornets.
Says General Manager Liam O'Reilly: "We have deliberately opted to focus heavily on community initiatives, which is one of the many core values of Rugby League alongside such as affordability, accessibility, the positive family environment and integrity.
"Rochdale Hornets recognise the need to swell our audience base. We are beginning to focus very heavily upon the development of our community; both to develop the values of our sport and brand at large, and importantly to develop sporting and community based opportunities for Rochdale and the grass roots. "We are working with a number of partners including the Local Authority on developing both stadium based and community outreach initiatives. We want to maximise the input of the club and the stadium in to people's everyday lives, and to be recognised as an excellent community citizen. In return I am sure we will be supported."
Rochdale have linked pro-actively with their Service Area to help in youth development. O'Reilly was delighted with the response to a recent initiative in which over 300 people - players, parents and coaches from Under 11 to Under 18 age groups -were invited as guests to yesterday's home clash with Hull KR. Rochdale Service Area Coordinator Carl Richards was the prime mover behind the move, and he is set to play a key role in bringing local talent through, via the Scholarship Scheme and other strategies, to Hornets' first team squad.
Said Richards, who joined Rochdale last month: "It's all coming together in the town. We are linking with the schools, amateur clubs and although I haven't been here very long it's already clear to me that the potential is enormous."
Rochdale's Development Programme is recognised as being one of the most ambitious outside Super League. And, sooner rather than later, Hornets plan to be back in the top flight - to stay.
Given the enormous strides made in recent years, who would bet against it?