Martin Culshaw has put Rochdale in the driving seat by earning the Lancashire club extra cash through his driving school.

Dale fan Culshaw also provides commentary for hospital radio on match-days, and has become one of most recognisable faces at Spotland after teaming up with the club in 2001.

His Dale School Of Motoring offers Rochdale supporters and staff the chance to learn to drive, while helping the club financially at the same time.

A percentage of income from the driving lessons goes straight to the club.

And while Culshaw admits he has not raised the kind of sums to enable Rochdale to splash out on a new centre-forward, it helps the Coca-Cola League 2 outfit on a day-to-day basis.

He said: "Since we started seven years ago, the driving school has raised well over £5,000 for Rochdale.

"I approached the club and suggested a partnership whereby they would put their name to the driving school and receive a percentage of the fees paid by every learner drive.

"It isn't huge amounts of money but, at this level, everything counts.

"And the fans also know that if they learn to drive with my school, some of their money is going towards the club that they support."

Culshaw admits that many of his students actually come from within the Rochdale dressing room, with Dale players keen to qualify to get on the road through the club's official driving school.

He said: "I've taught quite a few of the players to drive. Joe Thompson and Kyle Lambert are the most recent learners.

"Some are better students than others and although most tend to pass their test first time. There have been one or two that have taken their time getting their licence!

"When Jamie Clarke came to us from Mansfield a few years ago, he had already failed his test four times.

"He managed to pass it with me. It still took him a couple of attempts though, but he got there in the end!"

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