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Post by cooperphil156 on Apr 5, 2013 20:18:55 GMT
BBC East Midlands for those who missed it. A nice tribute to fans present and past and the club.
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Post by pingchowchi on Apr 5, 2013 20:32:30 GMT
Excellent  |
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Post by kezypanther on Apr 5, 2013 20:38:21 GMT
Love it ! about time we got more than 10 seconds on the news.
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Post by cooperphil156 on Apr 5, 2013 20:41:44 GMT
To be fair amongst the football and rugby who get better crowds we dont do too bad and it does raise our profile. Colin Hazeldine is always sympathetic to the cause.
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Post by james1977 on Apr 5, 2013 20:49:50 GMT
I've described Nottingham to my family back home as the closest thing the UK has to a Hockeytown, hence my profile location.
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Post by Nemesis on Apr 5, 2013 22:03:38 GMT
I saw that. Nice piece.
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mouth
Jade Galbraith
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Post by mouth on Apr 6, 2013 0:30:27 GMT
I've described Nottingham to my family back home as the closest thing the UK has to a Hockeytown, hence my profile location. Hate to be Devil's Advocate here but I think our poorer cousins to the slight North may have something to say about this: Sheffield currently has three functioning ice pads, as well as three functioning roller rinks - don't tell me that roller hockey is irrelevant in all of this. More later. Sheffield currently has a 'professional' team in each of the top two tiers of Ice Hockey as it is played in the United Kingdom. Nottingham has one, albeit in the top of those leagues. Sheffield currently has a team in each tier of the NIHL. Nottingham has one, having played this season in the second tier. Sheffield currently has a women's team in each the National league and the North League. Nottingham has a team in the North only. Sheffield currently has a team in each Junior age group (U18, U16 U14, U12) and have a team at each tier (North 1, North 2), as do Nottingham. It is worth a mention that at Junior age groups Sheffield have placed above their Nottingham counterparts in each league except for U16 North 1. Ice Sheffield currently has five registered recreational teams to the National Ice Centre's three. In the early 90's ice hockey literally exploded in Sheffield into what it is today. There was a time when junior hockey started with the U16's and then overnight they were fielding teams at each age group. this was a major tilt from Nottingham having been the forerunner for a number of years with regards to junior development. Back to the roller hockey/inline hockey/whatever you wanna call it: When ice capacity ran out in Sheffield (before the creation of Ice Sheffield) Sheffield supported a whole league with five teams from Sheffield and just one from Nottingham, backstopped by yours truly (although the Nottingham side were a whole lot more successful). This led to the eventual conversion of the old Queens Road rink into a roller arena circa 2004. The success of this venue led to another twin-pad roller rink 10 miles away in Rotherham. Both venues have active hockey schedules on both weekend days at all age groups. Call whatever name you like but the inline development came purely as an overflow for what ice hockey couldn't handle. Incidentally Nottingham has no roller hockey facility. Is Nottingham still the hockey town? Discuss. |
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Post by cooperphil156 on Apr 6, 2013 8:11:56 GMT
Mouth - good post. In some way perhaps we could turn it on its head. If the Nottingham has the highest fan base, could there not be better facilities and more of them to allow or encourage youngsters to play the sport, where such interest exists. One has to be mindful or course of the financial restraints which funding bodies are under at this time, but what a time to take advantage of the publicity and feel good factor than the present.
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craigs
Jade Galbraith
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Post by craigs on Apr 6, 2013 9:07:30 GMT
In terms of ice hockey, I'd say that Britain had three "hockey towns", two of which still have a hockey team.
Nottingham
Kirkcaldy
Durham
IMO Durham would be again if/when a suitable new facility could be built. But Kirkcaldy and Nottingham are definitely hockey towns.
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Post by sparkymark75 on Apr 6, 2013 10:11:20 GMT
Nottingham's a city  Fife is the only team in the EIHL based in a town. |
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doug
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by doug on Apr 6, 2013 10:31:07 GMT
That's not quite correct Mouth. Virtual Ice at Rotherham opened years before Queen's Road converted to a roller rink. The owner of Queen's Road ran a roller rink on Greenland Road near the arena before taking over the ice rink.
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mouth
Jade Galbraith
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Post by mouth on Apr 6, 2013 11:01:51 GMT
That's not quite correct Mouth. Virtual Ice at Rotherham opened years before Queen's Road converted to a roller rink. The owner of Queen's Road ran a roller rink on Greenland Road near the arena before taking over the ice rink. Yeh but the old roller rink was gash. He took over the ice rink and ran it as so for a while then Ice Sheffield opened with it not being long before he then converted it to the facility it is today. Good point ref Virtual Ice tho. I was thinking of that place in Hartlepool which Nigel Thompson also had. In terms of specialist facilities ice hockey currently far far outweighs inline in England. We currently have Bisley, Sheffield, Rotherham, Lutterworth and Deeside (in Wales I know) for roller hockey. Ice rinks suitable for hockey runs into the 40's at least, especially if you include Scotland. Whoever made the point about Durham, raise a glass Sir. Durham may have no facility now but in the late 80's/early 90's we had competitive teams from Whitley Bay, Billingham, Durham and Sunderland with Durham and Whitley being top flight. Not so much Durham as a hockey town but the North East as a hot bed? Certainly. At junior level the GB teams were made up almost entirely of players from Nottingham, and the North East with a couple from down south. I reckon if someone had the balls to open a decent venue in the NE then they'd fill it every game with the right marketing and effort. |
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doug
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by doug on Apr 6, 2013 13:57:50 GMT
And while three roller rinks have opened, three have closed unfortunately.
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Post by pantherman66 on Apr 6, 2013 22:19:07 GMT
I think the term 'Hockeytown' came about during years of packing the old stadium, after the initial Panthers organisation folded. This support continued year after year, and still does, regardless of trophies won, are you watching Sheffield. The present success the club are having is just icing on the cake. I don't think Sheffield come close to claiming the title for themselves, as the term 'Hockeytown' in this instance has nothing to do with the amount of teams or participants, but comes from the level of support for the premier club in the city/town.
I would be more than happy to share the term 'Hockeytown' with Fife but Sheffield never.
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Post by Spooks on Apr 7, 2013 10:25:00 GMT
Nottingham needs a dedicated roller rink, place has been crying out for one for years.
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Post by Block 10 on Apr 7, 2013 11:04:01 GMT
After playing inline hockey in the GBHI Senior leagues last season, I can 100% say Nottingham needs a roller rink ASAP.
Great sport, just could do with better organisation and more exposure. We only have one team in the Nottingham area, and for me it was a real journey to get to training in Sutton Bonnington and even more to play games in Sheffield.
Could do with a facility and I bet we'd get more kids playing and a Nottingham based league. Training in sports halls is ok but doesn't replicate the angles and true form of a rink.
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OwenB
Pat Casey
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Post by OwenB on Apr 7, 2013 11:20:33 GMT
Block 10, should I know you? I too train at Sutton and play GBHI Senior in Sheffield . .
There's no doubt Nottingham/the area needs a proper roller rink. I started playing inline at Derby Storm more than 10 years ago (and used to regularly referee games involving one Josh Ward).
The sport locally took a step backwards when we were forced to travel to Sheffield for games.
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mouth
Jade Galbraith
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Post by mouth on Apr 7, 2013 19:39:46 GMT
Block 10, should I know you? I too train at Sutton and play GBHI Senior in Sheffield . . There's no doubt Nottingham/the area needs a proper roller rink. I started playing inline at Derby Storm more than 10 years ago (and used to regularly referee games involving one Josh Ward). The sport locally took a step backwards when we were forced to travel to Sheffield for games. It may be no surprise that I have also played GBHI at both Junior and Senior in Derby as well as Senior in Sheffield. Also had a season in BIPHA NE as well as many a year playing BiSHA and UIH. The old Newcastle tournaments at Metroradio were best for a laugh. When the Derby rink shut that was a real shame and a lot of players were lost with teams at one point travelling as far as Deeside which was a hell of a trek. Inline hockey is the fastest growing team sport int he world yet in the UK it receives a grand total of ZERO financial support from the Government or its relevant quango's. How soon can it become an Olympic sport? This is the time when it will be recognised within the UK sports hierarchy and it might see some long awaited pennies. A dedicated facility in Nottingham would be amazing and probably convince a lot of players to return to the game. Technically two different sports but inline might as well ride the Panthers wave. |
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Post by Block 10 on Apr 8, 2013 9:48:47 GMT
Block 10, should I know you? I too train at Sutton and play GBHI Senior in Sheffield . . There's no doubt Nottingham/the area needs a proper roller rink. I started playing inline at Derby Storm more than 10 years ago (and used to regularly referee games involving one Josh Ward). The sport locally took a step backwards when we were forced to travel to Sheffield for games. You know me Owen! Just won't reveal who I am on here, but you'll probably have a good idea anyway... Played last year and haven't this year due to work and not being involved with games. Didn't score many goals, not a good skater, kept the penalty box warm. Remember? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2013 12:07:53 GMT
I've described Nottingham to my family back home as the closest thing the UK has to a Hockeytown, hence my profile location. I thought their was only one Hockeytown  we need a panthers themed bar in the city now !!! |
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Post by james1977 on Apr 8, 2013 12:13:28 GMT
I've described Nottingham to my family back home as the closest thing the UK has to a Hockeytown, hence my profile location. I thought their was only one Hockeytown There is Mr Leafs Fan, this one is Hockeytown UK. A decent hockey-themed bar perhaps, include all Nottingham hockey. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2013 12:16:10 GMT
whos a L***s fan ? |
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Post by kezypanther on Apr 8, 2013 12:19:37 GMT
I've described Nottingham to my family back home as the closest thing the UK has to a Hockeytown, hence my profile location. I thought their was only one Hockeytown we need a panthers themed bar in the city now !!! I was talking about that with a friend. It would be great to have a bar for Hockey fans. There is the main problem of no hockey for 4 or so months which could be the main issue. A sports bar perhaps with more hockey related items could be good. |
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doug
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by doug on Apr 8, 2013 13:24:21 GMT
After playing inline hockey in the GBHI Senior leagues last season, I can 100% say Nottingham needs a roller rink ASAP. Great sport, just could do with better organisation and more exposure. We only have one team in the Nottingham area, and for me it was a real journey to get to training in Sutton Bonnington and even more to play games in Sheffield. Could do with a facility and I bet we'd get more kids playing and a Nottingham based league. Training in sports halls is ok but doesn't replicate the angles and true form of a rink. It was a blow when Derby closed but the cost of new flooring dictated that I think. Nottingham/Midlands needs a couple of rinks I agree. |
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mouth
Jade Galbraith
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Post by mouth on Apr 8, 2013 13:25:38 GMT
Block 10, should I know you? I too train at Sutton and play GBHI Senior in Sheffield . . There's no doubt Nottingham/the area needs a proper roller rink. I started playing inline at Derby Storm more than 10 years ago (and used to regularly referee games involving one Josh Ward). The sport locally took a step backwards when we were forced to travel to Sheffield for games. You know me Owen! Just won't reveal who I am on here, but you'll probably have a good idea anyway... Played last year and haven't this year due to work and not being involved with games. Didn't score many goals, not a good skater, kept the penalty box warm. Remember? Bloody hell!! I had to check I hadn't written that......... |
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Fife is the only team in the EIHL based in a town.
