Bid to revive roller hockey for a new generation
THERE was a time a couple of decades ago when if you went to Firth Park in Heckmondwike you would see a roller hockey match in progress. That was when the Heavy Woollen area was a hotbed of the fast, exciting sport.
Businessman, Gerry Trott, encouraged the development and was a key figure in the national organisation. However, he moved away, times changed and the roller hockey scene declined.
Now there is a move to revive an interest in the sport for a new generation of skaters.
Leading the way is Dan Messenger, who was first introduced to the sport over 20 years ago. At the age of 14 Dan was a member of the England squad which took part in the European Championships in Andorra.
After a long playing career after which Dan managed Premier League Roller Hockey teams, Sheffield, Halifax and Manchester. He has now been appointed the Northern Counties regional coach for roller hockey. His aim is to give young people a chance to try the sport.
The first step has been to set up the Whitcliffe Mount Roller Hockey Academy, which is already proving a hit, with youngsters flocking to the sports centre on Saturday nights to don skates and give it a go.
Dan invites anyone, who wants to try the sport, to turn up at Whitcliffe Mount. They will provide the equipment and the coaching. It doesn't matter if you can't skate, there will be someone there to teach you.
Spectators were given a chance to see how it should be done when two of the top Northernteams, Manchester and Middlesbrough, played each other at Whitcliffe Mount for the Cock O' the North Cup.
As a spectacle there is little to touch the speed and skill on display in a sport, which is massive in Latin countries, particularly Spain, Portugal and Argentina. Champions league football clubs such as FC Barcelona, FC Porto and Deportivo La Corruna, all boast roller hockey teams with professional players, a league and crowds of up to 5000.
Dan says the aim is to make Whitcliffe Mount the North East Centre of Excellence. Already his hard work developing the sport in local schools is paying off as two pupils at Whitechapel Middle School, Daniel Bouabida and Sam Crossley, have represented England in a tournament in Portugal.
The aim is to hold regular tournaments for schools and have boys and girls teams covering ages Under-9 to Under-17. There are plans for Whitcliffe to host two big events next year, the England Schoolgirls Championships and the Queen Mary's Cup, another female tournament.
The seeds of a revival in roller hockey in Cleckheaton have been sown. All they need is support to grow and flourish in the future.
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
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