Warriors supporter of 50 years Sarah Tyson is presented with a canvas of the Warriors’ 2019-20 title-winning team photo by Whitley legend Terry Matthews. Photo by IceHockeyMedia.
Prior to Whitley’s face off with Widnes Wild on Sunday evening, supporter Sarah Tyson was presented with a canvas of the Warriors’ 2019-20 title-winning team photo by club legend Terry Matthews in recognition of her having supported the side for fifty years.
Sarah, who celebrated her 60th birthday last Monday, took time to reflect on and share her experiences as an ice hockey fan and avid supporter of Whitley Warriors.
When did your interest in ice hockey begin and what are your earliest memories of supporting Whitley Warriors?
When I was a kid, we moved to Montreal for three years. We used to watch Montreal Canadiens play and, when we came home, we as a family decided to support the local team who were at home that particular weekend. Living in Rowlands Gill at the time, it could have gone either way. I’m just so glad it was Whitley. My earliest memories of ice hockey are of lying on the bed in Canada watching it. I was about seven then. When we first started watching the Warriors, it was the first real game I went to see. We sat with the crowd that were noisy and chanted every week. We called ourselves the Whitley Roar.
As you have been a supporter of Whitley Warriors for fifty years, how has the team changed in that time and who have been your favourite players to watch?
There were no imports when we first saw the Warriors. It appears faster now. My favourite players range from Terry and Kenny Matthews, Bob Gilbert, George, Jim and Harry Pearson to Alfie Miller, Terry Ord and Dave Ross to all of the imports such as Scotty Morrison, Hilton Ruggles, Claude Dumas, Mike Rowe, Stephen Smith and Kevin Dean to name the oldies up to the present team who are all favourites.
What were the standout moments for you when watching various Whitley teams take to the ice over the years?
The highs of watching the team over the years were derby matches with Durham, especially if we beat them, going to Wembley – we made a rap about the team – and receiving a puck and signed hockey stick for my 18th birthday on the ice. The lows were mainly when Sir John Hall amalgamated the clubs to have the Cobras which meant no further derbies.
As you have supported Whitley for so long, how strange was it when that was put on hold due to COVID-19 in 2020?
COVID left a massive gap and it was weird not being able to go out on a Sunday night.
How did it feel to be part of Sunday’s presentation with our current team and what are you most looking forward to as Whitley head towards the conclusion of their 2021-22 campaign?
On Sunday night, it was very emotional. It brought back so many memories and made me still proud to be a Warriors fan. I am so proud of the current team. I still think we have the best fans in the country and I am so pleased to be part of that. I am looking forward to the playoffs in Leeds and hope we return very worthy winners.
Everyone at Whitley Warriors would like to take this opportunity to thank Sarah for her continued support and we wish her many happy returns for her 60th birthday.