'Extreme'ly Sad

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Inline hockey has pockets of great activity and growth, and conversely, difficulties. Here's a sad story from England:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9397000/9397391.stm

[thetinysambo]

When you consider that Deeside is the only rink in the West of the UK, there's only 1 in the South of England and the other two are just a few miles apart in the North of England, it's no wonder GB teams can't develop.

I knew that Deeside was due for refurb but I guess they've canned that. It's a shame really. The Sheffield rink used to be an ice rink and the facility is in pretty dire shape (I know I had no hot water the last time I had a shower there). The Rotherham rink is a lot better, although not the biggest rink and the Bisley rink in the south could do with some maintenance.

The rinks in the USA are vastly superior, I just wish the UK would put money into sport here. As it goes my team train in a sports hall and we'll be lucky at the end of the year to have anywhere to train because the council is trying to shut down the leisure centre.

Ice hockey doesn't fare much better to be honest, most of the rinks need development and there's nearly always one under threat of closure it seems.

Like I said earlier, I just wish the government here would put money into the development of the sport but with all the cuts looming, the future doesn't look bright at all.