Phoenix vs Vipers - From the GM

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What a good Sunday that was for our club. A good performance from the team, two more valuable points from our first 'home' win that lifted us into the top half of the table and a terrific atmosphere in the Deeside Leisure Centre helped by our improved sound system to which a big thanks must go to the technical staff from Comtec Presentations.
 
What a good debut too from young Matt Rich - I thought he fitted in excellently on the back of just one training session with the rest of the squad. He showed he's got a great work ethic, drive, ambition and no shortage of skill for a young man making his first appearance against the team he'd just left... and it was nice to talk to a number of the Vipers players afterwards who all said nice things about Matt.
 
And as for zero tolerance well, we said it would take a few weeks for not just ourselves but all the teams to buy into it and I think Sunday was further proof that providing you don't do stupid things, you can play a fast, physical game without the referees' arm going up all the time. Credit both teams last Sunday for an entertaining game with an edge of the seat - more of that and the wavering fans should surely be tempted back to this great game and our growing club.
 
Hopefully, most if not all of you who were there on Sunday got chance to have a good look at the ever-increasing range of merchandise the club are producing and I can tell you, there is more in the pipeline so with Christmas not too far away, there should be some good stocking-fillers here in plenty of time.
 
Only one game again next weekend, and the first visit of the Basingstoke Bison so, it's a full week of the rallying call to anyone you know who's never been to hockey to come and join in the fun. We all know it's fast, it's furious (at times), it's noisy and it's great fun - together we need to encourage more to come and try it. The more fans we have for our home games, the better the atmosphere and the noise levels. Sunday was great but, let's make it a full house against the Bison and much louder.
 
Finally, tune into Radio Manchester on Tuesday evening for the Ian Cheeseman show between 7pm and 10pm. Between 8pm and 9pm, Ian's studio guests will Scott Basiuk, Jason Wolfe and yours truly, and Ian is keen to open the 'phone lines to Phoenix fans at some point.
 
Have a great week and see you next Sunday when we go Bison hunting.
 
Andy C

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