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Airedale Second XI Season 2000/01

Back Row Left-Right - Chris Stewart, Gurdev Singh, Jaswinder Shergill, Dave Graham, Charlie Lingford, Mickey Crawshaw

Front Row Left-Right - Matthew Clough, Peter Robinson, Richard Stewart, James Graham, Alistair Graham and Ben Clough

Pictures from the Archives

The Star Team from Tashkent in Uzbekistan - then part of the USSR visited
Airedale HC in August 1989

During their 5 day stay they played Slazenger HC and Airedale HC and also
took part in a mini festival at Scholmoor Hockey pitch Bradford taking on,
Farsley (Leeds HC), Bradford, Bardsey(Boston Spa) among others. Ben Rhydding
HC declined an opportunity to play them, as they were only interested in
serious preparation for the forthcoming season.

The Star team had finished 3rd in the whole of the USSR the previous year
and 5 of their line-up had played for the USSR in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
All of their squad had international honours. Oops! They were a bit good,
but we at Airedale have always believed in setting up tough preseason
friendlies. God knows who Ben Rhydding were playing.

The Airedale Squad in White

Some famous faces include Richard Stewart, Jaswinder Shergill, Neil Carr and Dave Graham

Also Martin Baildon, Scott Smith, Asif Kasahn, Paul Heaton, Steve Kurtis (shades), Gary Wood and Dave McKinnon.

Their first fixture against Slazenger’s took place in the early evening on
the old grass pitch. Due to poor light and a desperate attempt to keep the
score down the match only lasted approximately 45 minutes. Cunning playing
and attention to detail meant that the car containing the Russians sticks
and boots got lost. They had to borrow sticks and play in their socks. At
this level you cannot rely on grass alone to be a leveller!!

Score Star Team 8 Slazenger’s 0

Airedale were due to play on the Friday Night at the recently laid Marley
Astro Turf. Something serious needed to be done. DRINKING Games!!

The records began to fall - A five year old Yard of ale record at the
Slazenger club was smashed by the first Russian to have a go at his first
attempt

The quickest 10 man boat race on the planet was recorded and the Russians
laid waste any and every attempt to regain British pride. Airedale and
Slazenger’s both drifted aimlessly in the wake of the Soviet drinking
machine.

At last something we could beat them at - Alcoholic Draughts, But with the
loser drinking more than the winner we had our suspicions of throwing the
game.

At least hangovers now might give Airedale the edge they needed.
Floodlights could have been tampered with but this mission was left to Phil
Ramshaw who turned up late, as usual, and then needed to put his socks on,
by which time the game was over. This habit of Phil’s was apparently gained
after years of training in the Territorial Army. If you turn up late your
less likely to be shot. After hearing that the Russians had arrived
military training came straight into play.

The Friday night game saw some British Pride restored when Richard
Stewart ripped apart the Russian defence to set up Derek Messheder for a
goal. The less said about the eleven scored by the Russians the better.
But We Scored!!!

Needless to say the Russians beat all comers over the weekend festival and
sold tons of Vodka, Dolls, CCCP tracksuits and stuff. Sadly after this
event the USSR was disbanded and Airedale Hockey Club can only apologise to
those members of the Politburo that lost their jobs as a result.

To those members of Airedale Hockey club whom whinge at the tough preseason
friendlies against Halifax, Morecambe and Preston, You don't know the
meaning of the word!!