SWINDON SENIOR FLAMES TAKE 2008 LEAGUE TITLE
The Swindon Flames Senior squad’s aspirations of lifting silverware in this, their first season of competitive hockey, have become an unequivocal certainty as a result of this Sunday’s league games at the Farnborough Leisure Centre which saw the Swindon side clinch the 2008 SASH ‘B’ league title after their closest rivals, Ash Avalanche, were held to a 5 all draw by the KSF Vipers. With Ash needing to win all three of their remaining games to challenge the Flames the draw leaves the team with a now unassailable lead at the top of the table and will see the Swindon Flames Seniors crowned as league Champions at the end of the current season.
The Senior Flames, established by the Swindon Skater Hockey Club in August last year to enable all club members to continue in the sport into adulthood, have enjoyed a memorable first season, from their first practice sessions, which brought together a disparate group of local hockey players of differing ages, ability and expectations, to their current table-topping status. Speaking of the squad’s achievement team manager, Nigel Davies, said, “ It’s fair to say that the team have more than exceed our, and their own, expectations and that’s entirely down to the commitment and hard work of every single player in the squad. When we put the team together and entered the league it was a bit of a jump in the dark, we really didn’t know how we’d fair and from the off the emphasis has been to enjoy our hockey, to have fun and to enable all those want to play the opportunity to do so. Having said that, it became apparent early on, as the team began to gel, that they are a good, capable, competitive side capable of achieving the goals they set themselves. The team’s performance throughout the season has been first rate and the whole squad are to be congratulated on winning the league trophy at the first attempt.”
The Flames wrap up their season with their last league fixture against Oxford Shamal on 12th October and on the 26th October, their success will also see the team in action in the SASH league’s “A/B” play-off game for a place in the National finals immediately before being presented with the 2008 “B” league Championship trophy.
Skater Hockey is a fast, exciting team sport, similar to ice hockey, played in indoors sports halls using inline skates and a ball rather than a puck. Swindon Skater Hockey Club trains on Saturdays (Friday evenings for the Juniors) at the Croft Recreation Centre where all new players, regardless of experience or ability, are always welcome. For those that wish to give it a try for the first time, the club runs a beginners session from 12.00hrs – 13.00hrs on Saturdays. The club can provide some loan equipment (helmets, gloves and sticks) for novices, on the day, but please bring your own skates.
For further information please contact The Croft on 01793 526622 or visit www.swindonflames.com