ROMFORD, UK – When the doors of the old Romford ice rink closed in 2013 the future of the Romford Raiders looked uncertain to say the least. Just over five years later the team are set to return home after a journey that is testament to the spirit that underpins and sustains much of hockey in the UK.
The new home of the Raiders in Romford
When the boys in gold and blue skate out on to the ice to a full house at the new Sapphire Ice and Leisure centre on Saturday 3rd February, a core of those in attendance will be fully aware of the journey the fans, players and management have been on, in what may well become known on reflection as the ‘Lee Valley years’.
As is likely however, the majority cheering on the home side against Cardiff Fire, won’t have a clue about the blood sweat and tears that have enabled the Raiders to hit the ground skating, as a competitive outfit in the second tier of the sport at their new rink.
It was a determined former GM Ollie Oliver and much missed Mick Cahill who dusted themselves down as the wrecking ball shattered the frame of the old Rom Valley Way facility five years ago, to negotiate a temporary home for the club at the Lee Valley Ice Centre, a few miles west of their spiritual roots. In geographical terms the distance was not insurmountable but London’s notorious traffic posed a big barrier to persuading existing supporters to follow.
Mick Cahill, Danny Marshall and Ollie Oliver
After a difficult first season away from their traditional fan base, with lower crowds and reduced chances to secure sponsorship, the reality was beginning to set in during the summer of 2014. The colourful Oliver and everyone connected with the team were then rocked by the sudden passing of respected club father figure Cahill and it looked like the valiant effort to avoid a mothballing of the Raiders would end.
“I really think we were incredibly close to losing the team” admits current CEO John Scott.
“We had just two weeks to go and all the previous preparations were ripped up. With Ollie and Mick gone, the team had the stuffing knocked out of it and found themselves demoralised and directionless.”
“There is a heck of a lot involved in putting a hockey team on ice, even if they’re just a humble tier three team. To do it all in two weeks is something the Raiders rightfully received a heck of a lot of praise for”
“The Raiders are incredibly fortunate in having a pretty large core of incredibly loyal and hard working volunteer fans. All they really needed was someone to coordinate all their talents”
Scott had previously taken over ownership of the club back in 2009 in an admittedly difficult time in the club’s history as they battled to keep up with a rapidly expanding and more expensive English Premier League. He handed the reigns over to Oliver as the team demoted itself to the third tier, however his painful experience back then didn’t deter him from stepping up to help a team he had fallen in love with back in the early 90’s.
“When the Raiders future became in doubt it seemed that the only one left involved with the team that had experience of team ownership was myself, which was an uncomfortable position to be in” explained the 57 year old, who combines his role with the Raiders alongside a day job as an engineering consultant specialising in indoor pools.
“I had no intention of suffering as I had in 2009/2010 so I started putting out some feelers regarding the appetite amongst the fans to form a fan’s based management organisation”
John Scott
“Finance was going to be the big issue because the cost of Lee Valley ice rental was a problem. The mother of all spread sheets was assembled to determine the size of the task and we went out to the fan base on social media to see how quickly we could raise the starting capital from shirt and player sponsorship”
“The response was immediate and staggering. Within days a rescue was in touching distance but that wasn’t enough. Havering Council inspected my business plan and decided that they would be happy to fund the shortfall.”
“Whilst it is far too late to say ‘to cut a long story short’ that was the start of what has possibly been the most stable period of the Raiders history as those volunteers and management team are by and large still in place after four seasons, and planning for the next few years as targets keep being hit and plans keep being realised.”
“We have had a lot of luck, both good and bad but the philosophy of trying to plan for all eventualities and keeping volunteers and spares for every task seems to be working and working well.”
The Raiders have followed a similar to path to fellow league rivals Streatham IHC and Milton Keynes Thunder who both decided to compete at alternative venues while waiting on their respective new facilities being built. For Streatham especially, the luxury of a temporary rink in Brixton avoided a loss of playing personnel, supporters and most importantly infrastructure and enabled them to skate out back at ‘home’ all ready to go.
The similarities between the two clubs are more common than they would admit given their location in a city where alternative forms of entertainment are never far away. Scott shares the same thought process that prompted Oliver and Cahill to endure those tough early negotiations with Lee Valley rink, knowing that mothballing while waiting for the new rink to be built in Romford could set the club back years, both on and off the ice.
“People move on. Fans move on. Starting from scratch is a lot more difficult than keeping the momentum rolling” said Scott, whose first game watching the Raiders was against Humberside Seahawks in 1991 with the legendary Gord Jeffrey icing in blue and gold.
Raiders’ final game in the old rink
“It’s difficult enough getting sponsors for a current team, so raising interest for a notion that one may start up again is even more difficult. Even a fanatic like myself may well have found something new and interesting to do like drinking beer and building domino chains that I can knock down, film and post videos on YouTube.”
“I believe we needed to keep the core of fans and volunteers energised and working for the team. Some fans went to other teams and for many of those, keeping their kids playing hockey was the fundamental motivation. We ‘get’ that. We understand it. Our arms couldn’t be much wider open than they are at the moment to welcome all back.”
With the ‘Lee Valley years’ almost over, the team skated out on to the fresh ice of their new home this week for practice with the childish excitement that envelopes the soul of the game across the world. The social media accounts of the Raiders players and fans are awash with pictures and videos of fresh empty ice, unmarked plexi-glass and rubber flooring that would otherwise be starkly uninteresting. There is something magical though about new ice rinks. The bright white untouched pad, the glistening lights off glass and bold clean seats yet to have chips and tomato sauce smeared on them paint an appealing scene.
Fans and players have been posting updates for months charting the construction progress. From images of councillors with spades and hard hats to the zamboni being lifted by a crane into the building, and even braille signage on the doors, nothing has been as eagerly anticipated in this town in recent times.
Before the pad went down
More than anything else, the new facility has benefited from having a ‘hockey input’, emphasised even more so by the recent appointment of current Raiders coach Sean Easton as rink manager.
Easton, along with Alan Blyth will work with EIHA coaching guru Ben Pitchley to revive the much lauded Romford junior system in a rink designed with attention to detail for the game of hockey, and influence of people passionate about the game.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate that being involved in leisure centre design and forming a relationship with Havering Council some four years ago, meant that reviewing plans and suggesting adjustments has been possible” explained Scott, who also acts as team photographer.
“I think the team should be very grateful that this was possible and whilst not everything we suggested has happened, some of them will make life easier. From designing our own locker and equipment room areas through to portholes for cameras, curved glass at the bench ends and taps on the team benches, these little touches will set the rink apart from others”
“My photography interest was incredibly frustrated at Rom Valley Way where the lighting was arguably the worst in the league. The portholes, excellent lighting and non intrusive mono-filament netting will make photography and filming far easier and we all know how important moving and still images are for advertising and marketing”
In good form at Lee Valley
“The sound system also looks great, although we have yet to hear it, but when speakers can double up to house the imports you have to expect the bass levels are going to impressive (when the occupants are out of course)”
“The seamless plexi is very similar to what was installed recently at Lee Valley and will definitely be a step up from the netting in the old Romford rink but may reduce the crowd noise level a little.”
The Raiders are currently competing in the National Ice Hockey League Britton Conference, a league that saw a number of teams drop down from the defunct English Premier League. It has been a tough ask, but thanks to the attraction of Coach Easton moving down the A12 in the summer from Chelmsford Chieftains and bringing young talent from last years’ NIHL South Champions, the team have adapted well. The Raiders had always intended to return to the EPL after a couple of seasons in their new home and ambitions have had to be adjusted accordingly.
“The re-arrangement of the league in the summer worked against us in some ways but with us in others” admitted Scott.
“We now get to play second tier without having the expense of five non-British trained players. The Raider over the past four seasons have been built on the concept of slowly progressing and working within a gradually increasing budget and fan base”
Fond memories of Rom Valley Way
“As I type, we sit around about where we expected this season in 4th place. If the last four years is any indication rising a place or two each season would keep us happy, but I am sure in common with all teams we intend winning everything as quickly as we can. We are just not sure yet which year it is”
“Off the ice my fellow directors Dave Leach and Alan White may step back a bit next season and we thank them for their efforts. I am sure we will be able to rely upon them for their administration and game night work and with our large group of loyal, vocal and passionate fans and helpers I think we will do just fine.”
The final question lingering on everyone’s lips is of course the team name. After the move to Lee Valley the team re-branded to ‘London’ Raiders but with a return to Romford now just days away, attention has turned to whether the traditional name will return.
“This season will be played out as London” confirmed Scott.
“Next season we will certainly be the Raiders and we will be playing out of Romford so I guess it is difficult to be anything else. Will that be the formal announced name? I think something preceded with the words Everyone Active will be great and that is a certainty for at least two seasons in the new rink.”
With 2018 now confirmed as the year the Raiders return home, everyone who has played their part making it happen can sit back and know their hard work, dedication and resolve will give the team the best possible start in their new home.
For those who waited for the team to return home or simply enter through those gates on opening night for the first time as a new fan, the gratitude to those who have played for, supported and financed the Raiders over the last five years should be strong.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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