Backing for Calder 76 AFC community football!

The Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge has awarded a £500 grant to Calder 76 AFC, a long‑standing grassroots football club based in Mytholmroyd, to help expand inclusive football opportunities for local people.

Calder 76 AFC began life in the 1970s when former pupils from Calder High School formed a team, later renaming the club in 1976. Today it continues that tradition as an open, welcoming club, currently playing in the Yorkshire Amateur League and offering a route into organised football for local players.

The grant will support the club’s plans for the coming seasons, including:

·         Launching an over‑16s adult development team to give more young adults a structured pathway in local football.

·         Establishing two new junior girls’ teams with proper pre‑season coaching and equipment.

·         Running soccer schools for local children during school holidays from Easter 2026, with a focus on being accessible and affordable for families.

To deliver this programme, Calder 76 AFC is seeking a 10‑year lease on its pitch at White Lee in Mytholmroyd and needs essential training equipment such as balls, nets, cones, poles and skills aids. The Rotary grant will make a significant contribution to these start‑up and coaching costs, helping volunteers – all DBS‑checked and including qualified coaches – to provide safe, structured and enjoyable football for the community.

Saturday fixtures at White Lee are already drawing in more families and young people, increasing interest in both football and wider community activity. The new teams and holiday soccer schools will build on this momentum by:

·         Creating more chances for girls and young women to play regular football locally.

·         Offering constructive, healthy activities in school breaks at low cost to families.

·         Strengthening links with local residents, including the Banksfield Estate and the wider Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd community.

This grant is part of Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge’s ongoing commitment to supporting local charities, sports clubs and community projects, funded through major events such as the annual Easter Monday Duck Race and the Hebden Bridge Vintage Weekend. Thanks to the generosity of local people and businesses, Rotary has been able to award hundreds of thousands of pounds in grants over recent years to a wide range of good causes, with grassroots sport remaining an important priority.

Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge wishes Calder 76 AFC every success with its new season plans and looks forward to seeing even more local children, young people and adults enjoying football at White Lee in the years ahead.

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