Promising Future for the Sheffield Steelers

By Danielle Tucker
Its seems the Sheffield Steelers have set themselves up for a promising stance next season as the team have signed new talented players in a bid to get to the top.

                                                             (Image from Bih.co.uk)
New talented signings...


The club have recently signed ex Nottingham Panthers captain Danny Meyers, talented centre player Colin Shield, and 'hidden gem' Danny Woods, ahead of the 2012-2013 Elite League season.

                                           (Image taken from star.co.uk)

                            New British Talent signing Danny woods

Fans and experts have commented on coach Ryan Finnety's good work in creating an enviable team that is set to top the league next season, due to its talented homegrown team. 


Elite League coach Paul Thompson has said about the team that, “It’s a core group of men who will lead and make those others that Finnety brings in accountable.”


New strides for the team...


Steeler's announcer David Simms from Birmingham has said the club are to make even more big announcements to create a high-hitting team. He has said, "On and off the ice the Steelers seem to be getting it right and as ownership sees that happening in the front office it gives them more confidence to back their coach and the team."


Whatever new signings are in store, the Steelers have fans excited for a highly promising new season. Many seem to agree that as ticket sales for next year have rocketed, the Steelers are in for a record breaking season.

Turning forty is hopping style

By Ryanne Smith

Life really does begin at forty

Cousins Becky Lehane and Emma Garrod are living proof that this really is true. After celebrating the big 4-0 the pair decided to embark on an epic trip from Sheffield to Peterborough this bank holiday weekend. 

Although the 75 mile trip may not seem like anything out of the ordinary, however there is an unexpected twist in this adventure. In order to reach their destination they will use 40 different modes or transport.

                          Mother of two Becky preparing herself 

The wacky means of travel ranges from a hopper and a pogo stick, to a tram and a tractor, they will travel over forty metres with each different form of transport from their imaginative and crazy list.

It will be a celebration the pair will never forget but also its a good opportunity to raise some money for a good cause. Friends, family, local organisations and businesses have been supportive and helpful in the bid to reach their destination.

Due to unforeseen circumstances they had to alter some means of travel after the fire at Sheffield Ski Village, the venue had offered to help supply a number of different modes of transport. Alternative arrangements were made at the last minute. 

Mrs Lehane and Mrs Garrod are raising money for ASSIST Sheffield. To sponser them visit http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Lehane

Arrests Made At The Ski Village

The South Yorkshire Police helicopter was rushed out on Sunday night after a call about a theft in progress at the burned down Sheffield Ski Village.


Three young males were arrested at the weekend when they were seen running away from the destroyed complex at 1am on Sunday. The police made the arrests as the helicopter landed.


The Ski Village was recently burnt down by a fire that is currently being investigated by police.

(Picture taken from South Yorkshire Times)

Sheffield Wednesday to hold championship celebration

(picture taken from swfc)

By Kimberley Perry

Sheffield Wednesday football club are to hold a celebration outside the town hall to commend their promotion into the championship.


The 2-0 victory on Saturday against Wycombe Wanderers automatically put the 'owls' into the championship league. The game which was played to a sell out crowd at Hillsborough stadium, had Wednesday fans across Sheffield celebrating.


Football fan David King said: "The match was an easy win and i was on the pitch as soon as it ended. I can't wait for the next season now."


Michail Antonio and Nile Ranger were popular amongst the 38,082 turn out, with fans cheering and applauding as they left the pitch.


The event is to be held Wednesday 9th May at 6pm. The football club have said both manager Dave Jones and players will be attending.

The owls made improvements in 2012...

Mon	02/01/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	2 - 1	Tranmere Rovers
Sun	08/01/12	FAC	Sheffield Wedn…	1 - 0	West Ham United
Sat	14/01/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	0 - 1	Charlton Athletic
Sat	21/01/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	2 - 2	Hartlepool United
Tue	24/01/12	LEO	Scunthorpe United	1 - 3	Sheffield Wedn…
Sat	28/01/12	FAC	Blackpool	1 - 1	Sheffield Wedn…
Tue	31/01/12	LEO	Milton Keynes Dons	1 - 1	Sheffield Wedn…
Sat	04/02/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	2 - 1	Yeovil Town
Tue	07/02/12	FAC	Sheffield Wedn…	0 - 3	Blackpool
Sat	11/02/12	LEO	Exeter City	2 - 1	Sheffield Wedn…
Tue	14/02/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	0 - 1	Stevenage
Sat	18/02/12	LEO	Chesterfield	1 - 0	Sheffield Wedn…
Sun	26/02/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	1 - 0	Sheffield United
Sat	03/03/12	LEO	Rochdale	0 - 0	Sheffield Wedn…
Tue	06/03/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	4 - 1	Bury
Sat	10/03/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	3 - 0	AFC Bournemouth
Sat	17/03/12	LEO	Notts County	1 - 2	Sheffield Wedn…
Tue	20/03/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	2 - 2	Walsall
Sat	24/03/12	LEO	Leyton Orient	0 - 1	Sheffield Wedn…
Sat	31/03/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	2 - 0	Preston North End
Sat	07/04/12	LEO	Huddersfield Town	0 - 2	Sheffield Wedn…
Mon	09/04/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	3 - 0	Oldham Athletic
Sat	14/04/12	LEO	Colchester United	1 - 1	Sheffield Wedn…
Sat	21/04/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	2 - 1	Carlisle United
Sat	28/04/12	LEO	Brentford	1 - 2	Sheffield Wedn…
Sat	05/05/12	LEO	Sheffield Wedn…	2 - 0	Wycombe Wanderers

(table taken from soccerway.com)

Do you think these celebrations are over the top? Comment below...

The New-Look Moor Markets Are Revealed - What do you think?

by James Peters


Work on the £17.5 million Moor Market will finally start in the summer, 14 years after the plan were first proposed.


The building work will take around 16 months to complete and the new-look market is planned to open on November 4th 2013.


The markets manager Andy Ward revealed that the trade at Castle Market is continuing to fall but hopes a new building would help reverse the decline.


“Castle Market has some fantastic traders and we are trying to look after them in this new building, while also trying to bring back some of the traders we have lost.”

Some members of the public have aired their concerns at the decline of the market. Sally Jenson from the Darnall area said she doesn't think the plans will ever go ahead. "I have shopped at the market for years and it has never changed. I hope the plans go ahead for the sake of the market staying around."

 

(Image taken from the Star)

DO YOU THINK THE NEW PLANS WILL TRANSFORM THE MARKETS?

Comment below and leave your thoughts!

Fires At The Sheffield Ski Village

by James Peters


Once described as the largest artificial ski resort in Europe, the Sheffield Ski Village was destroyed last week by a violent fire.

30 firefighters were rushed to Vale Road, Parkwood Springs in the early hours of Sunday 29th April when they received word that the Ski Village was ablaze.

The firefighters had to tackle the fire from the outside as the flames were so vicious. It took around three hours to control the 40 foot flames using 3,000 litres of water pumped from the River Don.

One eyewitness from the city centre said: "By midnight it was an inferno. I could see the flames, they were pretty high but i didn't ring the fire service because i thought someone else would have already done it."

"Its just a mess. It looks terrible. I hardly ever went to the Ski Village but it was a nice place" said one Sheffield onlooker.

While police were investigating the cause of the original blaze, a second fire broke out at the Ski Village 48 hours later. An investigation into the cause of the second fire ruled it had been started deliberately.

The General Manager of the Ski Village, Vicky Lloyd, is said to be 'gutted' by the destruction of the popular Sheffield attraction.

"The business has been running very well recently. For us this is a very difficult time."

The attraction, which opened in 1988, was said to bring over 180,000 visitors per year at the height of its popularity.

Handsworth Jubilee Party & Barn Dance

by James Peters

What better way to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee than a community party and barn dance.

Handsworth Forum, Handsworth Parish Centre and St Mary's Church have come together to organise a Queen's Jubilee community party and dance which will take place on Monday 4th June.

The free party is running from 12-3pm with a variety of activities and attractions taking place in the Parish Centre.

Visitors have been encouraged to bring a picnic and to enjoy a 'friendly community atmosphere with music, children's games, performances, stalls and much more.'

In the evening, the visitors will go back to the Centre to take part in a barn dance, hosted by musicians from the Handsworth Traditional Swords Dancers running from 8-10.30pm.

Tickets to the dance are priced at £5 each and can be purchased by calling: (0114) 2889029

Forum fights for lottery grant

By Ryanne Smith

As many of the Handsworth community know, since the charity based Handsworth forum started it has been funded by the lottery. The six year run charity has had two grants that together have totaled just over £300,000.

The recent proposal for a year extension has been rejected, by the fund. As of March next year the funding for the whole project will stop, leaving the office and all of the staff struggling. 

The aims of the forum is to improve the quality of life for the community of Handsworth by encouraging residents to work together to make a difference.

The forum will not give up so easily and are already planning ways of reapplying for the fundng.

                                                                     (taken from handsworthforum.org)

They have been given a £10,000 grant to celebrate who they and what they are doing.
The next step is with the money they are going to put on a queens jubilee party on Monday 4th June , where there will be a full chart showing what they have done and going to do.
The money raised will go on a research bid.

The bid will offer the chance to show how they can package a project to appeal to the lottery so that they can reapply for future funding. They are urging for more volunteers who are able to help, going door to door  handing out a simple questionaire to see what residents think needs to be done. They are trying not to bother people so are not knocking past 8pm each night. 

Development manager Steve Wylie said "We are looking for local outgoing people who know the area and are willing to speak to people and gather the information we need." 

If you are interested in helping the forum then please contact them on 0114 2889029 or email team@handsworthforum.org.uk

Aldi construction underway

With the process of a new Aldi underway just spitting distance from the Asda superstore, it has caused mixed reviews within the community of Handsworth.


Local resident, Dan Stevens said: "Asda are obviously gearing up for the opening. Hence the reconfiguration of the car park to add more spaces (Aldi cannot cater for as many cars) and the opening of the in store pharmacy." 


Julie Thompson, said: "This is why so many small businesses go under because one will always be better or cheaper than the other." 


Both Asda and Aldi target to different audiences with Asda offering branded products and their 'own' similar range, Aldi offer foreign specialties and products.
With the two shops so close together however it does produce a 'double whammy' which may encourage shoppers who would otherwise not have come to Asda. 

 The store is being built on the Turner business park, and is going to create a number of full and part time jobs and will be highly beneficial to the rundown area.  Construction is well underway and the opening of the store is due in early October.

What do you think to the new Aldi, do you think it will help or hinder the town?