Features

"Every extra voice will help!"

Wednesday, 20th September 2006

Mike Landers briefly caught up with Head Coach Tony Hand to discuss the weekends big War of the Roses double header against the Sheffield Steelers.

Double header weekend coming up against the Steelers, how up for it are you?

TH: Its a big weekend.  We're desperate to start our home games with a win, Sheffield are also looking to start winning as well. It will be a tough couple of games but I'm confident we'll come out ahead!

Its very early in the season, but how do you think the guys are shaping up?

TH: The team is fine.  We've not been 100% match fit so far, the number of penalties against us hasn't really helped.  Because we've spent so much time killing penalties, we've been doing a lot of standing still! But we've been working very hard this week, so we're almost there.

Back to back games are always intense, sometimes with grudges carried over to the second night, do you think that our guys will have the legs for two games of physical hockey?

TH: Definitely. We've had a couple of good, hard practises this week and the guys are definitely motivated. At the start of the season you like to build up slowly - and I'm old enough to need that - but now everything is coming on nicely and we'll have plenty in the tank over the two games.

With Sheffield boasting that they will get 7,000 fans on Saturday night in their own building, how important is it that we fill the smaller building that we have at our disposal?

TH: It's hugely important. The fans have shown incredible commitment to watch us on the road, and I know it is a pain to go to Deeside but every extra voice will help.  The players really appreciate the support and they are as committed as the fans are.  I know the guys are looking forward to experiencing the kind of support that they can expect once we finally move into our new building and Sunday will be an opportunity for the fans to demonstrate that.

Finally, how are the players settling in to Manchester?

TH: Everyone is settling in fine.  They are all enjoying life in Manchester so far, although some of them haven't got used to going around the city yet!

Tony Hand was interviewed by Mike Landers on Wednesday 20th September