DURHAM, UK – Billingham have made a sensational start to the 2011/12 English National League Division 1 campaign as the Stars remain unbeaten after their opening 11 league games. Billingham are currently 6 points clear at the top of the division which has seen the Stars being tipped for much success this term. Prohockeynews recently got the opportunity to speak to Billingham’s starting netminder James Flavell about his switch back to Teesside from Whitley Bay and how he is finding life now that he is back in the red jersey of Billingham.
James spoke of how his move from Whitley Bay came about and how he had to earn his place on the Stars roster.
“I am a trainee teacher at the moment so that takes up a huge amount of time. Playing for my closest team was really the only option. Having said that, Billingham is the club I grew up playing for and a lot of close friends play here so I was happy to come back. The merge with the Northern Stars and the new facility has really rejuvenated the club as a whole too.
“Billingham have a great following of fans which makes playing more enjoyable too. The players enjoy games against the likes of Blackburn and Whitley where the supporters give games a really good atmosphere.
“Initially we held trials for around the first 6 weeks so everyone was playing hard from the start to try and earn their spot. We pretty much carried on in that vein when we went into training so coaches, Stephen Foster and Terry Ward have been getting a lot out of everyone. I think the excitement of playing as a new team in a new facility has had a big impact too.”
Flavell was one of a clutch of players who moved to Billingham from Whitley Bay over the summer as Andrew and Richie Thornton, Paul Windridge and Adam Robinson all also swapped Hillheads for the Forum. We asked James if he was surprised that so many of last season’s title winning Whitley squad decided to leave the Bay over the close season.
Flavell in his time with Whitley
“I don’t think many players had decided what to do until they knew what was happening with both clubs regarding coaches etc. I can’t say I really had any expectations, I knew both clubs would still have a lot of strength in depth regardless.”
Despite this season being Billingham Stars first year as an organisation it is clear that the side playing out of the recently refurbished Billingham Forum are confident that they can enjoy a great deal of success this season.
“We’re definitely competing for the title, I don’t think you can go into a year aiming for anything less. There will be a handful of teams with the same aspirations so it will be a tough season. The playoffs are great but without a North/South final they are in effect just a mini re-run of a league you have been battling in for the entire season. The playoff format seems to change each year though, I’m sure by the time they come around they will be life or death. Even if it’s just so you can keep your beard.
“ For us to win the league would be a main goal. I won my first league title with Billingham in 2005/2006 before heading to the US to play. It would be great for the club if it could get the title in its first year back.”
Flavell went onto speak of who he thought would be challenging it out with the Stars at the top of the league. “It’s hard to say this early on. We haven’t faced a few of the teams yet. Saying that I think Whitley will be definitely up there, with teams such as Blackburn looking to improve on recent years. Trafford have definitely been the surprise package this year which is great for the league and they could be in with a shout at the title.”
It has been rumoured that Blackburn Hawks may move to sign an import to play in ENL hockey. James gave us his take on the role of imported players in the division and the quality of the ENL set up on the whole.
“I view it as the further South you go, the greater the importance of imports in the ENL. Due to the lack of EPL/ELITE clubs in the north there are many talented British players so the importance is on where they are playing. Whitley are making some strong EPL/ELITE British signings lately and Billingham have signed the likes of Richie Thornton and Ross Hanlon. I think every team would make an import signing if they could, but maybe the resources are better utilised focusing on the players already in the area.
“I can only speak for the ENL North. I believe a lot of the quality is dependent upon teams such as Nottingham and Sheffield who have a large turnover of players each year. They have EPL or ELITE teams, and combined with great player development, young players can progress quickly and move on. This has a big impact on those kinds of teams and the league as a whole. Last year, the Warriors won the league without losing a game and I think the standard of the league had dropped slightly from the year before. However, with the Billingham and Northern Star merge coupled with progress made by teams such as Trafford I think this year will be pretty strong.
Flavell in action this term
“I would definitely welcome a North/South Play off, if the league could get all of its fixtures completed sooner then it would leave plenty of time to complete a national playoff.”
James spoke of why he has turned down a number of opportunities that have come his way to play at a higher level.
“I have had various opportunities but since returning from the US I have been at University and now Teacher Training so I’ve been pretty restricted in where I can play. I’m also keen to be in the net as much as possible so how much playing time a team is willing to give me has a big influence on where I want to play. There aren’t many clubs willing to let goalies get straight in there which is fairly understandable. If it was something I really wanted to achieve I would have had to make sacrifices with studies and playing time. I will be a qualified teacher after this year and therefore much more free to move about. It could be something I look to do next year.”
Finally we asked James how he felt the loss of the Newcastle Vipers (who were the North East’s only side in either the Elite or EPL) had affected hockey in the region on the whole.
“Relatively speaking, I don’t feel like Elite level hockey has done that much for young players’ development in this area. Not due to the clubs themselves but just the characteristics of the league as a whole. I think the EPL lends itself a lot more to player development as young players can step in and be given a lot more playing time and responsibility straight away. To answer your question, I don’t think many players would be affected by the re-introduction of Elite hockey in this area but EPL hockey would have a much greater influence.”
Prohockeynews would like to thank James for taking the time out to speak to us and wish him all the best for the remainder of the campaign.
Billingham Stars photo courtesy of Andy Baxter
Contact the author – chris.mackenzie@prohockeynews.com
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