Like ice hockey? Fancy owning a team?
It's the people that make British ice hockey great. I don't think many people would claim it's the skill level nor the venues.
But the people huddled inside those dilapidated rinks more often than not imbue the sport with a friendly face and a spirit of triumph over adversity that I can't remember finding elsewhere.
Now, they're being asked to go one step further and become the sport, because increasingly, fans are coming to the rescue of our ailing teams.
Romford coach Jesse Hammill (right) consoles his goalie after another defeat
At the end of last season, the Premier League's lost their owners.
With nobody immediately forthcoming, the team came within a week of heading out of existence - and then team photographer John Scott stepped in.
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Scott has been many things to Romford. As well as taking photos at the Romford rink - which, believe me, is no easy affair given lighting I'd describe as macabre - he puts the programme together, writes press releases, and even drives the during training.
And now, on top of that list of odd jobs, he's the man calling the shots. New signings? Problem with some equipment? Flights to book? He's your man - once he's finished his day job, running a swimming pool company.
It sounds like far too much for a man who just happened to like ice hockey, and who must have found it impossible to resist when he realised he could keep his team going in their hour of need.
Would you have done any different if you were in the same situation?
Scott is not the only one. , among others, are also being kept afloat by dedicated fans with the business heads to take on the operation.
I have to admit, I have occasionally been suckered into believing the best of ice hockey owners.
I remember meeting the owner of one team not so long ago, as he assumed control, who seemed the finest, most down-to-earth individual in the world. He positively purred in front of a crowd of anxious supporters, and sailed through a 10-minute interview.
Mere months later, the team were bottom of the league by a mile, there were problems paying the players, and the organisation all but fell apart at the seams.
But with Scott, it feels different. He's been involved with the team in so many guises, for so long, that he's no fatally-blinkered white knight (to mix horse and rider into one metaphor).
He had a good idea how tough running a hockey team was going to be - and now, with eight defeats in eight games, he's finding out in detail.
Use the audio console above to listen to the full feature, recorded during Romford's overtime 4-3 defeat by Swindon on Sunday.
We'll also be airing it during forthcoming , and there are on .
Does hockey rely on fans too much? Will it ever feel like a sustainable sport instead of one where teams lurch precariously over cliffs each season?
And how long can any team wait, no matter how hard the owner works and in what circumstances, if the wins don't come?
I'm Ollie, and I cover sports which don't normally hit the headlines - from archery to ice hockey. I'll be reporting on all Olympic sports (and some others!) in the run-up to London 2012. For regular updates and links, .
Comment number 1.
At 13th Oct 2009, Lifson Kofie wrote:I'm a relatively recent fan, who got into the British side of the sport around the same time that Manchester Phoenix came back out of mothballs. I live way too far away to get there regularly, but one thing that has struck me everytime I set foot in the IceDome (and the Elite league playoffs last year) was how friendly the fans were. Having the future of your favourite sport hanging in the balance each year, while not desirable, probably makes you appreciate it a whole lot more.
Romford, despite having only achieved their first point on Sunday, has a smashing fanbase. On in the chatroom on EPLUpdates, there's usually a good bunch of them cheering on their team and being a part of the friendly banter despite their team's disappointing performances... and everyone else is great to them too. No mick-taking, no being nasty, no pops at Romford being an easy two points.
The British ice hockey community has a disproportionate number of great, friendly and dedicated people - and it's something I'm very proud to be a part of!
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Comment number 2.
At 14th Oct 2009, Spurs59er wrote:I discovered British Ice Hockey in August last year when our eldest did an ice hockey trial day at Chelmsford - he'd run around on inline skates before at home, but had never been on the ice.
He started playing for the Under-10s last season and moved up to the Under-12 B's Mini-Chieftains for the start of this season. It has been brilliant. The fans have been really good, with lots of good natured banter but never any hard feelings, regardless of the results.
We get to drive all over the south for matches - last weekend saw us in the Isle of Wight (nice 12 hour round-trip), and we'll head off to Solent and Gosport, and Bristol, as well as closer venues by the end of the season.
It would be lovely to see more people at matches, especially for the leagues below the big two where the Chelmsford Chieftains play, for example, but to get people there we need more awareness outside the local community that it exists.
Would it not be possible for the 91Èȱ¬ site to post league tables for all the ice hockey leagues in the country - and I mean right down to the Under 10s? Fans manage to do it, so it shouldn't be beyond the capacity of the Beeb.
There are some brilliantly entertaining games at all levels of the sport - it's not just about the big boys - so if you're reading this and haven't been to a game, find out where your local rink is and then see when the next matches are.
Go and see a match at any age group and while you might not see the skills of a professional player in the under-12s, you'll see huge commitment, great enthusiasm, a total lack of ego, and a refreshing face of pure fun out there on the ice - and some quite considerable skill too.
Oh by the way, 'refreshing' is the word at an ice rink - be sure to wrap up warm :)
Go Mini-Chieftains go!
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