Emmerson Whittel sets out Hornets’ ambitions for 2024

New Rochdale Hornets recruit Emmerson Whittel is excited to be given the opportunity to play for the club, after making his debut during last weekend’s Betfred League 1 defeat at former club Oldham.

The ex-Roughyeds man linked up with Gary Thornton’s side last month, having made 64 appearances across two spells for his previous club. 

Whilst his former side are being hotly-tipped to earn promotion from League 1 this season, the loose forward believes the Hornets can hold similar ambitions too.

“As a team, we want to get promoted,” he said. 

“We need to take things week by week and it’ll take care of itself come the end of the season.”

Whittel is one of a number of players to have made the move from Oldham to the Crown Oil Arena in recent months, and he says that the opportunity to play with some of his former team-mates was a deciding factor in joining the club.

“I was talking to Riddy [Martin Ridyard] a lot while I was at Oldham. When he said he was thinking about retiring, I thought ‘I best go and play with him for one more year’!”

The 29-year-old made his debut from the bench during last Sunday’s Round 3 defeat, having been named as 18th man against Hunslet seven days earlier.

The Hornets will travel to Workington Town this weekend as they look to return to winning ways on their travels.