SOLIHULL, UK – The recent bad weather circulating the UK hit most hockey clubs in some way shape or form, however for the Renault Solihull Barons it was particularly frustrating. Not that they are letting that little setback stop them.
Following on from the cancellation of their game against Kingston Jets two weeks ago, the Barons organisation have vowed to continue their bid to break their current attendance record with a range of promotions planned for this weekend’s game at home to Sutton Sting.
The club turned away over 200 fans ahead of the cancelled Jets game (the anticipated crowd was over 1000) and club chairman John Butler was as frustrated as anyone, at seeing all of the hard promotional work being lost.
“The Kingston game not taking place was a big blow” admitted Butler. “The frustration was not only from a financial aspect but just watching people coming to a hockey match for the first time being turned away. If it was you would you bother again?”
Solihull are a good example of a club making the best of their facilities and current league participation. The ‘Solihull Experience’ is a term the club like to promote, when advertising their home games to the West Midlands public. A term that could have many connotations is readily explained by Butler, who believes that by providing an off-ice product, the club can strengthen.
Renault Solihull Barons 10/11 (Keith Davies)
“It is simple really” explained Butler. “Solihull is one of the few rinks that does not have plexi glass. Also it only as seating on the one side of the rink, this allows the supporters to get up close to the netting and closer to the action”
“With a half decent crowd the atmosphere can be electric. The tradition at Solihull is that the players still go round the boards at the end of the match and shake hands with the supporters and thank them for their support and go and have a drink and a chat in the bar afterwards”
“These days the rink is only suitable for the ENL although with a certain investment and better seating I think it could sustain an EPL team. Although this is a pipe dream”
Whilst the EPL may be a pipe dream, it is a level the Barons have played at before with differing degrees of success. What is clear however is that with the right promotion and effort, the club can get good numbers through the doors. The Barons broke the 800 crowd barrier four times last season, which is no mean feat for a club in the fourth tier of UK hockey.
“For the players of course it is much better to play in front of a large crowd” added Butler. “I have always said that the Barons is a club and not a business, it is more important to give value for money to the spectators, and of course make the club attractive to talented players”
The Barons have a number of talented players already in their squad and currently sit in top spot in ENL 2 North with ten wins from their opening eleven games. The club narrowly missed out on promotion last year, however just by glancing at the ENL 1 North league table it is clear the size of the task that would have presented itself, had the Barons achieved promotion. The side that beat them in the play-off to retain ENL 1 North status, Trafford Metros, sit rooted to the bottom of the table, whilst ENL 2 North champions of 2009/10 Northern Stars sit just above them.
“Last season the rink did not re-open until late October due to the refurbishment” said Butler. “The team had no regular training for nine weeks, and played their first nine matches away. If they had trained in normal circumstances they would definitely got promoted”
Family fun with the Barons (Gary Rogers)
“I am confident once we get into North or South division one, if we need any new players we will not have any problems attracting them. With teams from Coventry, Telford, Nottingham and Sheffield in those leagues the crowds would be bigger and the away travel cheaper”
Running a hockey club in any division in the UK can be a dangerous game. Finances are often tight and rewards are generally few. Butler has his own reasons for his involvement with the Barons, but believes in the motto; ‘It’s not my club, it’s not your club, but it’s our club’. An admirable sentiment but the truth is that the Barons are run by both Butler and Head Coach Darren Bellerby with assistance from Helen Slater (Admin) and Richard Thomas (Team Manager). It was by chance that Butler got involved in the club following their exit from the EPL.
“I had forgotten about hockey and was not even interested in any results for at least ten years” admitted Butler, who had twenty years of experience in UK hockey. “In 2005 my youngest son Phil had cancer and so did Matt Haddock who played for the Birmingham. Both lads had great treatment at the Heartlands and QE hospital they wanted to do something to say thank you”
“I was asked by the lads to help organise ‘Giving Cancer Some Stick’ Charity hockey match between Past & Present Barons and a Midland All Stars side. The match was a great success due to the help of Ian Lewis and the generosity of everyone at Solihull and the surrounding area over £18,000 was raised”
“There was EPL hockey at the rink at that time. When the EPL finished Ian Lewis started a company to run an ENL team it was always going to be difficult, The Barons finished the season at a great financial cost. My son Phil skated in the summer with the Barons to keep fit and when Head Coach Darren Bellerby told him of the clubs problems, Phil said ‘speak to my old man’ because of all the help and support I had received for the charity match”
Top of the table (Gary Rogers)
“I thought about all the pleasure my family had, and all the help I had when I was involved in hockey, I felt obligated. Because of the business I am in, there are lots of advantages so I was able to help the team”
This weekend the Barons entertain the Sutton Sting in a game that could be seen as a potential banana skin for the league leaders. The same promotions that were planned for the Kingston game have now been added to the Sutton game.
“Previous matches against Sutton Sting have always been eventful very physical affairs you could say it a local derby as local Solihull plays have played for them in the past” said Butler, who estimates that the club should get at least 800 fans through the door. “
Coventry Blaze are away from home so we hope that with our 2 for 1 entrance ticket (£5), the meal deals in the rink café, the various competitions and of course the hockey itself, it should be a good night”
Fans close to action (Gary Rogers)
The future looks decent for the Barons, but the chairman has his own reasons for continuing to assist the club.
“It’s true I am not really interested in the hockey itself these days, and I could easily nock it on the head and not even think about it” admitted Butler rather surprisingly. “But the reason I will remain is to prove a point to the people making negative remarks regarding the team, and also the inconsistency in the way the league is run. Both of these reasons make me more determined to see the Barons club succeed and I am confident we will”
Solihull Barons face the Sutton Sting this Sunday (12 December) at 6pm and car parking is free. For more info visit the official website: www.solihullbarons.com
Incidentally, anyone who wants to continue their evening can visit the Paprika Lounge Asian restaurant (the Barons favourite) which is two minutes walk from the rink give 20% discount on food and drink Sunday to Thursday on production of their advert in the Barons programme.
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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