OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

CASTLEFORD LOCK LANE V EGREMONT MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF NCL RUGBY LEAGUE

It may have occurred in a work situation, relationship, something you have been asked to or become involved in that has left you feeling really uncomfortable and out of your comfort zone we have all been there and of course would prefer the guarantee of knowing exactly what we are doing.  Of course in the terms of sport that applies as it may be a new sport in both playing or watching terms you may even have decided to take up officiating in the sport you have played for ages but there is one definite feeling you will have that you are out of your comfort zone until you get used to your new role.

READY AT THE FINISH OF THE WOMENS AVIVA TOUR HOURS BEFORE THE CROSSING OF THE LINE

So it would turn out to be after following a couple of sports over my early years I guess the comfort zone for me was cricket and football with the latter few years taking on the larger of the two balls.  After watching football through league and gradually moving towards the excellent world of non-league the opportunity arose to contribute a regular blog from the 'travels' around the winter months.  But what to do in the summer and if information on non league football cubs and their grounds could be written then why not other sports, something that many of these clubs found obscure too but have generously embraced.  The first opportunity arose at a game at Teversal FC when in conversation with a supporter who was visiting from Rotherham introduced me too Rugby League at The National Conference level, very much a non-league form of the game.  Having been directed towards the excellent weekly Rugby League Express I came across some names I thought I recognised including Wath Brow Hornets.  With a fair local knowledge I decided Wath being near Doncaster would give me an option of sampling a game, only after some more research did I find that this Wath was in fact in Cumbria.  The base for the The NCL is very much Cumbria, Lancashire, Humberside and of course Yorkshire with a few clubs coming in around the 'north east' to add to the flavour of the league.

YELLOW JERSEY AND A NICE BUNCH OF FLOWERS FOR YORKSHIRES OWN LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD

First trip would be to the famous town of Castleford just under four years ago but not to the jungle for the Tigers Super League variety but Castleford Lock Lane just a short conversion away.  As with all these level of clubs there is very much a community feel with a bar, function room being the order of the day and alongside a nominal entrance fee, around £3, a match programme was also produced so there was already a comfort zone for the football fan with some paperwork.  We would be ready to experience eighty minutes of 'football' and let the learning begin because my previous experience had been with the delightful Mansfield Marksman named after the famous town breweries lager.  The club started at Field Mill drifted over to Alfreton and finally collapsed after spending a few years constantly struggling but it was the Rugby League's attempt to expand the game beyond its boundaries.  Since my interest in The NCL it has helped me expand an interest in the professional game thanks to games at Sheffield Eagles, Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams and with the National Conference interest travels far and wide to Leigh Miners Rangers in Lancashire, West Hull over on the east side of the country and around the heartlands Normanton Knights names just a few of the ever growing collection of clubs I have had the privilege to visit.  Alongside this Derby Rugby League side and the sides around the Midland League have been observed but overall this is just an excellent sport that I have fully enjoyed discovering and one which initially I was well out of my comfort zone and know I'm just very slightly less out of.

PUDSEY ST LWARENCE CRICKET CLUB TYPICAL CRICKET WEATHER ITS THREATENING RAIN AND YOU NEED YOUR WOOLY HAT ON TOO.

While this blog takes no preference in format the pictures are a wide scattering so you may have to scroll through to view the relevant ones but the one above sums up the next sport.  Cricket had been something that had interested me from an early age and probably in my mid teens was my preferred sport with a junior membership at Derbyshire before the county disenfranchised its Chesterfield based supporters by taking games away from Queens Park.  I would return years later to Derby as would the game to Chesterfield but in the interim I was fortunate enough to take in games at Trent Bridge and Grace Road for the counties of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire respectively.  Its a wonderful game that sees you reading your newspaper, eating most of your packed lunch box before lunch, taking to a wide selection of people and then doing the same again in the afternoon only by around mid afternoon to realise there are a load of blokes out there playing a funny game with a small but hard ball dressed in shirts and trousers.  Seriously it is once again a great game often played in the most inclement of weather which is somewhat typical of England.  So a couple of years ago I set off to start the search for local league sides and what an eye opener it was.

ANY EXCUSE TO FEATURE KEIGHLEY COUGARS RUGBY LEAGUE GROUND

I have tried not to re use too many pictures from the ones I have re featured over this last few months of drought but most regular readers will know my love for The Huddersfield Cricket League and its superb clubs which became easily accessible for me off the Sheffield to Huddersfield train line.  But along the way The Derbyshire League, Nottinghamshire League, South Yorkshire Premier, Leicestershire and West Midlands have again allowed some wonderful days out at a community sport alongside some semi final and finals to add to the enjoyment of this all so English game.  I cannot leave of course by not mentioning my 'local' favourite Morton Colliery Cricket Club who have supplied many a Saturday and Sunday afternoon of entertainment at this friendly and homely club on Pit Lane and one I have become fondly attached too.

KIMBERLEY INSTITE CRICKET CLUB ON AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR BANK HOLIDAY DAY AT THIS UNIQUE GROUND

Probably the biggest leap out of the relaxed zone both sportingly and socially was a trip to Chester and its racecourse in the summer of 2018 where The Rodee which would feature a two day polo gathering.  With the first day on a Friday offering free admission for me and the chance to qualify for the finals for the four teams it was an ideal opportunity to sample a sport I knew very little about, except for the odd thirty second news item of Prince Charles on a horse with a mallet it was time to do the research.  The day was a fairly early start but it was fine and apart from a little rain near the end of proceedings I joined the three Maserati cars, total value 1/4 of a million pounds, social elite enjoying their hospitality meals and a fair sampling of champers all pitch side with the teams, ponies and the crew looking after them.  It was a well organised event but with the team names featuring Laurent Perrier and premier bankers Arbuthnot Latham, more worryingly here is I actually apart from one letter spelt both of those two companies correctly, you could sense the echelon of society you were being allowed to mix with.  The polo itself was very enjoyable and although the pitch was massive meaning you had to strain to see what was happening at the extreme ends of the field it didn't seem to bother most who were just straining for their next flute of liquid.  There was much mocking of my visiting this event but of course if you haven't sampled it you really don't know what its like hopefully the blog on the day provided an example it is certainly a sport I would attend again if a little more closer to base.

JOLLY HOCKEY STICKS EXCEPT ITS POLO AS THE LAURENT PERRIER TEAM MEET THEIR SPONSORS

Around four years ago the chance to see champion women's cyclist Lizzie Armitstead from that great county of Yorkshire, so all Yorkies tell me anyway, turned out to be another new sport opportunity as the Women's Aviva race came to Chesterfield.  Having arrived about two hours before the finish line would be crossed to take up a position close by and within photographic distance of the podium I waited as a running commentary of where the riders had made it to along route was played out.  There was time, plenty of it, to spot Lizzies grandma and granddad who proudly wore T-shirts telling you they were just that, Ned Boulting commentator and local YTV Journo whose name now escapes me.  Increasingly hemmed in by metal barriers the great peak town public arrived to view the spectacle as the tension rose, whoosh that was it they were through the line and I found it somewhat an anti climax.  However I was in excellent position to get all the riders as they were given their awards for varying sections of the race they had achieved them in including of course Lizzie and her yellow jersey with obligatory bunch of flowers.  This was a different experience and I think unless you are able to drive around the route the place to be is the finish but its a long wait, would I do it again probably not unless the finish line was on my driveway I will stick to watching it on TV if there is nothing else on.

V DOCS TEAM PHOTO BEFORE FEATURING JAMES FIELDING ON THE RIGHT

 

MATCH ACTION FROM LAURENT PERRIER AND V DOCS

Rugby Union or Rugby League there in lies the question the former seems to get all the coverage from media that it desires while the latter struggles probably due to it being generally more of a regionalised sport at its top level.  I have to say I find Union harder to follow and a slower game and to that effect have never watched any game live at the top.  Although I'm very lucky to have a superb community club in Tupton and alongside playing on the local recreation ground they have developed a site that has allowed me to take in a couple of games with a desire to learn more.

BIT MORE POLO ITS NOT EVERYDAY YOU GET TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE SPORT OF KINGS

Rugby has a solid base in the village with a wonderful club house and of course bar with a fine selection of changing rooms and a kitchen offering some wonderful match day food.  All this was achievable with the hard work of the club officials and an excellent grant from and facilitated by The RFU who always seem more ahead of the game than The FA.  Its a tough old code and seems to be played in some horrendous weather at times and so has been a fall back for me on a few occasions, consequently its a game I need to learn more about and finds me quite a way out of my zone of comfort probably only just below polo.

AN IRREVERENT SPORT SETTEE PULLING OR PUSHING WITH AMY AND HARRY TO THE FRONT WITH KEELEY AND PAUL BEHIND

Cheekily I decided to include The Settee Push around Yorkshire and Derbyshire and carried out by the BBC local news presenters from Look North all this was in aid of sport relief so I think its fair to include it.  Amy Garcia and long term front man and BBC sports reporter Harry Gration where joined by weather presenters Paul Hudson and Keeley Donovan pulling the studio settee around various steep inclines non more so that leaving Chesterfield and climbing Crow Lane to Brimington.  Followed by local radio reporters, journos and this blogger there was an opportunity to get some excellent pictures including when the team were ambushed by local based comedian Bernie Clifton and Oswald his quite literally 'walk on' Ostrich.

AMBUSH IN BRIMINGTON AS BERNIE CLIFTON AND OSWALD CAPTURE THE LOOK NORTH TEAM

It was a smashing little morning spent with the 'TV stars' who were warmly welcomed to the town and followed along the route by many to add encouragement to what was a wonderful achievement over the proceeding and following days.

SHIPLEY HALL CRICKET CLUB IN A WONDERFUL SETTING SUMS UP CRICKET FOR A 20/20 FINALS DAY

Probably around the start of sampling new sports the art of Basketball would feature and the first chance to see a game was presented by Sheffield Sharks who at the time were playing at Sheffield Arena in front of some large crowds.  With a whipped up atmosphere and music encouraging not only the players but the crowd it made for a very interesting live sport.  Over time but less so recently I have taken in quite a few games at their new base EIS in the city and although now watched by smaller crowds it is a very interesting 'time out', see what I did there.  Alongside the Sharks I dropped down a level to take a look at Derby Trailblazers a couple of years ago.

THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT 20/20 ACTION WITH THE PINK BALL

 Their fixtures fitted in with Saturday afternoon football games locally and also on occasions Sunday afternoons so it was a chance to sample the sport at another level and thoroughly enjoyed in the suburbs of Derby at The Clarence Wiggins Centre.

THE VIEWS THIS TIME A DERBYSHIRE LEAGUE FINAL AT STAINSBY HALL

A sport I have only watched live one is ice hockey and that was while on holiday in Edinburgh and the cities side Murrayfield Racers were at home at the ice arena adjacent to Murrayfield rugby stadium.  Its certainly a sport that warns you to go wrapped up and fail to do so at your own peril because with all that ice about it can be a bit chilly.  It was way before blog days so its a sport that I have not been able to cover all the more annoying when you consider close by in Sheffield we have the wonderful Steelers plying their trade at The Arena.  The timings never quite fit in for me but it is a sport I would love to reacquaint myself with but will probably be another learning curve apart from the scrapping I will have to get the rule book out.

THE REVERSE VIEW ALSO AT STAINSBY WITH WATCHING CROWD ON A SUNNY CRICKET DAY

Talking of scrapping Aussie Rules Football is there a more physical sport played I'm probably yet to find it.  After Channel 4 covered the down under game for a period of time probably in the last century it became a must watch on I believe a Saturday morning and a sport that would definitely rank out of my comfort zone.  Again I had an excellent chance with Mr Trevor Kaye to attend a slightly amended format of the game at the home of Sheffield Tigers Rugby Union club where a round robin of four sides would meet in what if I remember rightly was a mini league of eight sides. 

STANNINGLEY RLFC A FINE PROPONENT OF THE GAME WITH A WONDERFUL GROUND CLOSE ENOUGH TO AN EXCELLENT CHIPY IN FARSLEY TOO

The days matches were played with smaller sides with teams meeting up from Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham and I seem to recall Middlesbrough.  This was too early to be blogged but gave a more nuanced look at the Australian game this time played on a rugby pitch but it certainly gave you a feel for the sport non more so than the influx of visiting aussies who delighted in taking on the rookie brits trying to learn the game.  The day was well remembered with camera in hand to capture proceedings I'm told afterwards by Trevor that in a crowd of about twenty I somehow managed missed Olympic champion Jessica Ennis who was in attendance for a short period of time.

THE HIDDEN GEM THAT IS THORNCLIFFE CRICKET CLUB SLAP BANG IN THE CENTRE OF THE BUSY CHAPELTOWN IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE

I've never been into motor anything really never mind motorbikes but around twenty years ago I discovered speedway and I'm still not sure why.  But with Sheffield Tigers riding at the much respected Owlerton Stadium, which had also been home to Eagles rugby league and Sheffield FC, there was a chance to take in the sights, sounds and moreover smells of a fantastic family sport.

UNDERBANK RANGERS ABOUT TO GO OVER AT A GAME PLAYED DURING A SMALL GROUND SHARE WITH HUDDERSFIELD RUFC ON FRONT OF THE STUNNINNG LOCKWOOD VIADUCT

The back straight was always the preferred viewing point and when after a little period of the first meeting the scoring had been confirmed with myself we were underway to enjoy over the following years some excellent races.  Sadly on a not too regular basis like the cricket you have to be sure of the weather otherwise the track becomes dangerous and not able to race plus with the stadium being on the wrong side of Sheffield for me it makes public transport a non starter for an evening meeting.  Thankfully there have still been some attendances but the saddest part now as crowds fall to the dedicated the back straight is closed to viewing lessening the overall experience.

UNDERBANK RANGERS AT THEIR HOME GROUND ANOTHER UNIQUE LOCATION HIGH ON THE HILLS ABOVE HOLMFIRTH THIS PITCH UNDUALTES EVERY WHICH WAY BUT IS A WONDERFUL VISIT

Wythenshaw Amateurs led to speedway and probably one of my favourite but sad visits to the now recently extinct Stoke Potters.  Having popped along to the suburbs of Stockport to take in Wytheshaw Amateurs first game in The NWCFL and a new ground too I had a surprise meeting with fellow town hopper Pete who kindly offered me a lift back via Stoke and with a 10pm plus return potentially.  There was a method in this though as he knew I loved my sport and the lift would be ok provided I dropped in to watch Stoke Potters Speedway meeting at Loomer Road to the north of the city.  Of course he knew my addiction and I couldn't reject this offer.  The only down side was the forecasted downpours would curtail the meeting but after Pete had gone in I waited before parting with my £15.  It rained for nearly all of the meeting and as soon as heat ten was completed it was conveniently abandoned at the point of no refund.  I wasn't bothered at this stage I would probably have paid the money just too look around the stadium, the saddest part is I will not get to see another meeting there and I believe the house builders are moving in shortly.  It is though a credit to the hardened band of supporters kitted out in their memorabilia and corporate race jackets along side the fortitude of promoter Dave Tattum they, the Potters, survived so long.  If you get chance I would invite you to take a look at the blog, August 2018, and a trip back in time to this very run nostalgic stadium.  But it was nostalgia that sports fans would pay to retain.  A stadium, bar and facilities that proudly declared a love for wood panelling and crush velvet seating even found Pete, I seem to remember, telling me that one of the cobwebs in the gents had been there un disturbed for the last few years.  Its a sport that still has an enthusiastic memorabilia and collectors market and Stokes bar had a massive collection of badges, programmes and clothing the biggest shame know looking back was I did not start my collection there.  But this is the things that dreams are and were made of in the Potters more glory filled days.  On my visit though it was the dedicated followers of the much troubled Potters and likewise Coventry Bees the former seeing the last days out.

WHY WE LOVE SPORTING STADIA LOOMER ROAD HOME OF STOKE POTTERS IN ALL ITS GLORY

Many a discussion has been had about certain sports not being a sport, snooker, darts you name them but is it just a case that we don't know too much about the game, match or fixture and we are just too far out of our comfort zone.