London Calling…

LONDON, UK – It’s gone eleven at night as the busy bars and restaurants empty the suited masses on to London’s manicured streets. The city boys and girls stagger towards the Underground ready to make their way home to bed, knowing their night is almost over.
 
Ten miles north of the square mile a whistle blows and twenty guys stride purposefully on to the Alexandra Palace ice for the start of practise. Sweating and smiling these guys wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, and the same is true of another group doing exactly the same thing on the South side of the river in Streatham ice rink.
 

The pucks are to these guys what a late night kebab is to the alcohol influenced city boys. The pleasure gained from slapping the black rubber disc in to the net equally as delicious as a greasy chicken shish with all the trimmings.
 
These guys will still be skating after Big Ben strikes midnight knowing that the upcoming weekend brings the chance for bragging rights as the top team in London.
 
Streatham Redskins and Haringey Greyhounds are two clubs steeped in history yet both have fallen on hard times. With little finance there is scant hope of honours for either side this season and the main objective is simply to avoid relegation.
 
On Sunday the two sides meet in a fixture that has seen its fair share of goals, fighting and action over the past few years. Only four years ago the two teams were involved in a 30 man brawl after a disagreement during the end of game handshakes. This season saw three Redskins players leave to join Haringey only for one to return and another on his way. This added to the tension in the Redskins 5-3 victory in Haringey last month where Redskins Richard Hardy and Greyhound’s Lee Mercer went toe to toe in a centre ice scrap.
 
Streatham’s top scorer Louis Lockwood is only too aware of what is at stake in the fixture:
 
“The tension has built up a bit from players going to and from Haringey so there definitely some grudges. It’s important to be the number one team in London as it boosts morale and breeds confidence that we can take into other games. We also want to put in a good show in front of our fans and I think with the players we have, there is a great chance we can take both points”.
If Lockwood is cautiously optimistic the same cannot be said for Haringey’s Dave Richards who didn’t mince his words ahead of this weekend’s fixture:
 
“The derby means so many things but most of all its good to see the London hockey community come together. The fans and players all pretty much know each other so it’s fierce and guys know what to expect. For me there is no better game to win as it is always great to beat those South London monkeys”
 
Fans of both teams really look forward to these derby games and Streatham are hoping for a bumper home crowd after two consecutive home victories over Milton Keynes and Peterborough. Spokesperson for the Streatham Redskins Supporters club Dawn Danger is particularly looking forward to the game:
 
“The derby game is always important to the Skins fans as we are representing south London, against the north. It’s always good to play against Haringey as both teams have a good history behind them. We all want to be the best team in London but only one can take that honour. I am sure it will be the Skins as we battle from relegation to play off contenders cheered on by Super Barry’s Barmy Army”
 
So with confidence on both sides, all that is left is for the puck to drop and the two teams to battle it out. One thing is for sure, the following week’s late night training will be sweet for one team and sour for the other.       
    
Thanks for reading and stay safe,
Carrsy
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com