Memories of Streatham Ice Rink

[TopCat]

The recent shooting brought back lots of memories (some fond, some not) of Streatham Ice rink. I realise that I first attended in 1978!

The whole place stinks of decades of sweaty feet. Plastic figure skates were for the poor and untrendy (IE me) and expensive hockey skates showed you were the bee’s knees.

We used to go to ice skating lessons there with my school (Ingram High) “led” by our games teacher. He was a right prick, huge walrus tashe and arrogant to boot. He once got leery with a big bunch of the Streatham Posse youngsters down by the Missile Command video games and they gave him a mid morning kicking!

They used to have a disco on a Friday/Saturday night and in 1981 I was there razzing it up when they announced that Brixton was in flames, had rioted and no buses were available. Half the massed crowd left for the riot. I was too young/scared….

There has always been bother at the rink, the lads and lasses from Thornton Heath, Norbury, Brixton and Tulse Hill historically all battled their teen angst away there. I must say that for me at the time, getting kicked in the head by a hockey skate was as bad as it would possibly get. Getting shot back then just did not happen.

Must be hard growing up today eh?

[FabricLiveBaby!]

My mum used to take me when I still lived in Tooting when I was younger (about 8 or so) just to skate. She picked herslef, my brother, and I nice pairs of ice skates in various car boot sales.

I remember doing aberesques on the ice. I was quite good :) I'm still learning to go backwards tho.

My cousing nearly had her finger lopped off by a twat that deliberatley cut her up, made her fall over, and then came back to try and ride over her fingers.

It's been a bit like that latley...

[RaverDrew]

Puddles of manky water, and wet blistered feet, oh happy days. :D

There was always fights and trouble down there every weekend, often involving knives.

Wouldn't have imagined kids pulling guns out on each other though 12-15 years ago when I used to hang about there. :(

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I went there a few times in the early 80s and never returned.

All the big, male skaters speed skating past me intimidated me as I was very wobbly on my feet :o

[story]

I used to go with my then lover to watch the Streatham Redskins, who are still (I believe?) one of the best ice hockey teams around.

"Blood on the ice!"

:( :( :(

[malice]

Puddles of manky water, and wet blistered feet, oh happy days. :D

:(

... black rubbery peeling floor, horrible dark blue blunt skates, weird looking slush puppies... I loved it. It was always our half-term treat, though Mum hated taking us it was so grim.

Was really upset to hear about the shooting there.

[Blagsta]

My dad used to take me there when I was a kid to watch the Redskins.

[TopCat]

My dad used to take me there when I was a kid to watch the Redskins.


The altogethers an insane thing insane thing....:)

[tarannau]

Somehow I managed to get talked into a trial for the Redskins after their coach saw me playing American Football for the London O's a long time ago. My lack of skating ability did prove to be a problem!

I dimly recall some goonworthy DJ/announcer asking you to slide on the ice at the end of every session. And then going home on the bus, limping on blistered feet, shivering wet and freezing cold.

[Andy the Don]

I used to go with my then lover to watch the Streatham Redskins, who are still (I believe?) one of the best ice hockey teams around.

"Blood on the ice!"

:( :( :(

Yes I remember watching the Redskins are they still going..?? Used to be followed by rockabillies, with their baseball jackets with Redskin patches on the back. thought they were tres cool..:cool:

[twisted]

Yes I remember watching the Redskins are they still going..?? Used to be followed by rockabillies, with their baseball jackets with Redskin patches on the back. thought they were tres cool..:cool:

Yeah they are. Play Sunday nights. I keep meaning to go but my Canadian mates think they're muppets though and refuse to try out for them as their training methods are apparently akin to what an 8 year old in Canada is put through. On the other hand I think they might be a a bit scared cos players don't seem to get much protection and Canadians are not fans of English dentistry.

[tarannau]

TBF, it they were serious ice hockey players back home, they probably won't have any teeth left to begin with.

A guy I used to play (US) football with was ex Calgary Flames farm team - a little nutter too small for the big leagues really. He the fastest thing I've ever seen over 20 yards and could dislocate his shoulders and remove his false teeth at will. Honestly one of hardest blokes I've ever played in any sports team with.

He also prompted one of the funniest scenes I've ever witnessed. On the way to a game he went past a hockey field at Loughborough university on in-line skates, dressed in full kit and skating backwards at ridiculous speeds. He just looked horrified, yelling at the blokes on the field at the top of his voice;

'Put some skates on you faggots. Only queers play field hockey.'

It turned out the be the university semi-finals. I doubt they've forgotten him either.

:D

[yardbird]

Twas about 44/45 years ago when I used to go Saturday mornin's. 14 years old, hockey skates and well flash:o . Did pull a couple of times.
Was a wee bit Chav even then.........

You don't forget how to skate and I could still be flash now.
But only for about 3mins 22secs:(

[dynamicbaddog]

I only went once - spent the whole time holding onto the side trying not to fall over:D

[twisted]

TBF, it they were serious ice hockey players back home, they probably won't have any teeth left to begin with.

:D

or expensive caps/crowns..not a cheap sport!

[RubyToogood]

My great aunt hung out at Streatham Ice Rink as a teenager in the 20s. I'd had no idea it was that old. I can't imagine there were a lot of fights in those days but I might be wrong.

We used to get taken to Richmond more and I'm not sure if I've ever actually been to Streatham rink. As a teenager myself I was meant to meet a school friend who hung out with her friends there, but I got as far as Streatham Hill station, had a fit of shyness and chickened out.

[pk]

Used to go to Richmond Rink as it was nearer to where I lived (Kingston) as a kid.

Once or twice went to Streatham, but as a 15 year old it was pretty obvious where the foxy chicks were at, and it wasn't Streatham.

Streatham's a shithole really, let's be honest here, always has been (well since the 1950's anyway).

At least Brixton's got some character and some decent pubs.

[sir.clip]

I used to go to a kids night club upstairs...
kate moss used to go there as well...

[Blagsta]

My dad used to take me to Richmond as well, to see the Flyers. I also used to have ice skating lessons there on a Saturday morning when I was about 6 or 7. My dad is a bit of an ice hockey nut, used to referee games and has written a book about it.

[pk]

Mate of mine was well into it, spent a fortune on Bauer Turbo skates and all the kit, then broke his ankle and never went back. The cunt.

[gaijingirl]

Used to go in the 70s/80s as a kid. Once ran over my cousin's finger and we all ended up hot tailing it to A&E to sort out the bloody mess... :eek: :D

Used to prefer roller discos though.

[tarannau]

heh. Roller discos. I remember the days when Tim Westwood started... as a roller disco dj in the West somewhere. His accent was slightly less wanktastic then.

[story]

heh. Roller discos. I remember the days when Tim Westwood started... as a roller disco dj in the West somewhere. His accent was slightly less wanktastic then.



:D wanktastic.... :D

[gaijingirl]

there's a roller disco 2x a week in Vauxhall which i'm quite tempted to try out for old times sake:

http://www.rollerdisco.info/vauxhall/

[Streathamite]

I used to love going to streatham ice rink, went lots a decade back. desisted when realising that I spent 2/3rds of my time on my arse, whimpering from all the bruises.:o
don't think I'll want to go again now
RIP andre smarrt-ford:(

[ramjamclub]

I used to skate at the streatham ice rink 1964. Saw "live" groups and singers on friday saturday evening. The kinks, The Pretty things and most 60's groups played there. We put rabbit fur on our hockey skates and used to skate across the stream of skaters doing rounds. The mods and rockers period was in full swing. happy days.

[Tricky Skills]

The Redskins (http://www.streathamicehockey.com) are still going, and very well, thank you very much.

*cough (http://www.aimoo.com/forum/freeboard.cfm?id=563396)*

We play in the English National League 1 and were top until a few weeks ago. Despite being League 1, there's two other leagues above us (it's a hockey thing...) propped up mainly by imports.

Div 1 is mainly UK based with an emphasis on devloping Junior talent.

Invicta are the main rivals and we have a double header against them over the next two weekends which will effectively decide the league title. Away at Invicta this Sunday (10th) and then a home face off next Sunday (17th) back at the High Road.

This all depends on the ongoing police enquiry. Our game last week was cancelled. 6.45 FO if anyone is interested, six quid gets you in.

Make the most of the old High Road - the hub project is still very much alive and hopefully we'll have a new rink within four years.

Streatham Rink is falling down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcFV1Yq3MGg), etc...

[TopCat]

I went recently and took my two kids. I still remembered how to skate which was cool after 20 years away. The place is a mess though and has not been decorated for twenty years plus.

It still stinks as well.

[tarannau]

I suspect that's the smell of those superannuated boots that they hire out.

I remember that the fun of my uncontrolled ice skating was somewhat negated by the displeasure of travelling home in sopping wet, icy clothes (fecking DJ and his 'slide' fixation) and a week's worth of painful blisters.

[drag0n]

I liked how you could request tunes from the DJ. :)

[zenie]

I really wanna go ice skating again but the second boots really puts me off :(