27 Jan 2023

Dave Hewitt: ‘To play in such a big game this early is part and parcel of the sport’

Hornets Vice Captain Dave Hewitt has picked the annual Law Cup friendly out as a ‘big’ game early in the season.

The Hornets are set to travel to the Vestacare Stadium for their second pre-season fixture of 2023 but this one holds a big space in the Hornets calendar. 

 Sunday will see the return of the Law Cup, an annual clash between Hornets and local rivals Oldham in the build-up to the start of the season - Rochdale are the current holders of the trophy.

 Hewitt is a former Oldham player having made many appearances for them. There are also players who have made the move with Hewitt, or the other way. 

 Having played in this fixture on the other side of the fence, Hewitt acknowledges the importance of Sunday’s game.

 He said: “For me personally I was at Oldham for seven years, first two of those on loan. Some ups and downs along the way and I really went on a journey with the club.

 “But to play in such a big game so early is part and parcel of the sport, so Sunday will be no different. It’s a local derby, both sets of fans will be looking forward to it and so will the players.”

 The Law Cup isn’t just a pre-season game, it will feel like a competitive fixture and Hewitt insists it will a ‘tough’ encounter.

 He said: “I have played in three Law Cup matches and each one has been tough. This weekend I am expecting the same as any derby game, I always look forward to them.

 “It’s one of the first games you look at when the fixtures come out. Any trophy you can get your hands on for me personally is always massive and it will be the same this weekend.

 “The Law Cup is huge between the two clubs and since Covid I haven’t been able to play in one, so I think players and coaches are looking forward to this one even more.”

 With many changes to the Hornets team in 2023, seeing head coach Gary Thornton sign a lot of talented young players, Hewitt is one of the more experienced players in the ranks and Rochdale’s vice-captain understands what regaining the law cup for a fourth year will do for the team.

 

Hewitt added: “We are a new team with not much game time together but winning a trophy so early can only bring us closer. 

 

“To be able to do that over our rivals would be even better.”

 

With the Law Cup being the second of three pre-season games for the Hornets, Hewitt knows the result won’t define anything and regardless of Sunday’s outcome, the squad are looking at the bigger picture.

 

“I think ultimately regardless of the result on Sunday, we must look at the bigger picture and it’s a team sport.

 

“Gary’s [Thornton] first season with a new squad will be challenging I have no doubt, however that’s no excuse and he has made us aware of standards and expectations Rochdale as a club have.

 

“It’s a massive honour to have been handed the vice captaincy by Gary and I want to help lead the team around the field and help the likes of Aidey [Aiden Roden], Elsey [Lewis Else] and Joe Purcell, as they are young players in pivotal roles like myself.

 

“I think if we take it week by week the results will come and that all starts with the Law Cup on Sunday.”

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