The ball gets rolling at the Rotherham Hospice Community Stadium
A NEW era for one of Rotherham’s best known football grounds is underway.
Roundwood, home of Parkgate FC and Rotherham United Women, was officially named the Rotherham Hospice Community Stadium at the weekend.
Representatives from the hospice and TMG Mortgate Network, who have kindly donated the naming rights, joined the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Rukhsana Ismail, at a special ceremony before Parkgate’s match against Sheffield FC in the Northern Counties East League on Saturday.
Parkgate chairman Albert Dudill said: “I’ve said before that this partnership goes beyond football. It’s about people and raising awareness and funds for a great cause. The ceremony went brilliantly.”
Although Parkgate went down 6-0 to a strong Sheffield side, the fixture attracted a crowd of 300, the club’s biggest league gate of the season.
“It was a decent crowd and there were people who have never been to the ground before,” said Albert. “We must have fed 3,000 in the pavilion!
"Hopefully some of those will come back to watch and if they do it can make a massive difference to us.”
The match – and Rotherham United Women’s County Cup tie against Huddersfield Town the following day – featured fun fund-raising activities for the hospice.
The Millers won 12-1 to round off a special weekend in style.