Ice hockey: The Stars rise again

From the archive, first published Tuesday 11th Jul 2000.

The future of Oxford City Stars and Oxford ice hockey looks bright with new sponsorship secured from Invesco and Sportswatch, writes Colin Kirby.

Invesco, the world's second largest fund managing company, are already involved in grass roots sponsorship of rugby and football.

Sportsmatch is a Government scheme committed to developing and encouraging youth involvement in sport.

Invesco's four-fiqure donation will provide 100 team shirts throughout Oxford City Ice Hockey Club's age groups and also help new recruits to the sport with start-up kit costs.

Sportsmatch will provide 25 basic sets of kit for special 'Stick and Puck' sessions for any youngsters keen to sample ice hockey for the first time. City coach James Cameron said: "We are committed to giving local youngsters a chance to join our very successful youth sections and Invesco and Sportsmatch will help to remove some of the start-up costs for anyone wanting to try the sport.

"On a Sunday before the day's main game we will give 25 kids a 40-minute session which will just cost them 2.50 including admission to the main game.

"The new senior Oxford City Stars team will largely be made up of locally-trained youngsters and we see that involvement increasing over the seasons.

"We are very grateful to the sponsors and Oxford City Leisure for their backing which really opens up the sport in Oxford to anyone who wants to give it a try."

The Stars team's return to the English National League is fast approaching, with the first home game on September 3.

They will play 13 home league and cup games and admission will be 3 for adults and 1.50 for children and students.

The division will consist of nine teams from Oxford, Bracknell, Flintshire, Peterborough, Slough, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Telford and Milton Keynes, with the latter four also joining Stars in a cup qualifying competition.

Archive Home