SOLIHULL, UK – They were once one of the most successful sports clubs in the region packed with with internationals and with so many fans that once more than a 1,000 were locked out of the sell-out stadium. But now the future of the Solihull Barons ice hockey team is far from certain with the club battling to find the financial backing it needs to take part in the forthcomng English National League for this season. The new campaign starts in September with the Solihull Barons due to play in the Northern Division One competition after securing promotion from the Second Division last season. But all their success on the ice has not made any difference to life off it with the club’s future now looking precarious unless a major club sponsor can be found. The Barons’ previous sponsorship deal with car manufacturer Renault ended when the former board stepped down last season and, as the recession bites no new sponsor has as yet been forthcoming despite the best efforts of a new ten-man off-ice committee. Without money soon it looks like the Barons are skating on thin ice. Committee member Rachel Moynes said while the club were very grateful to the previous adminstration it was now up to them to raise the funds needed to ensure that ice hockey remains a fixture in Solihull for the forseeable future. A fellow committee member said: “The irony is we only need around ÂŁ4,000 to sponsor the team and provide them with new kit. We have young blood coming through and still have the fans but we need a local firm to come in and secure the future of a great sport which is still giving thousands of people a great deal of pleasure.” In its’ heyday in the 1980s the Barons, then run by Midland sports presenter Gary Newbon, went through to the semi-finals of the National Cup. In those days the team boasted three world class players in Canadians Chuck Taylor and Gary Skrudlend and netminder David Graham – the first English player to ever turn professional. BRMB sports presenter Tom Ross was the ice rink announcer and some of the team’s matches even made it onto ITV’s Midweek Sports Special. Newbon recalls “In the semi-finals we played Durham and it was a real David and Goliath match but we came back from their place with a 3-3 draw. Sadly we capitulated 14-6 in the return leg but the game drew so much publicity we had to lock the doors at Solihull Ice Rink and more than 1000 were stuck outside. It is sad to hear of the clubs’ demise but it is a difficult time to find investment. I hope the team and the fans get the support they deserve.” The current 22-man squad, led by skipper Adam “Adz” Andrews have now returned to pre-season training and he admitted it was difficult to focus with the club’s future unclear. “We now pay as players to pay and as a committee we cover the hire of the rink but it would be great to know we have the season secure with sponsorship. We did our bit on the ice by winning promotion last season. It would be great now to take the club onwards and upwards and hopefully somewhere near to the great heights it once was!” Anyone wanting to help the Barons or find out more about the range of sponsorship opportunities available should contact Rachel at thesolihullbarons@gmail.com
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