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MOTION
PAINT THE TOWN RED
SPORT
From paintingdecoratoring to the African Nations Cup. Bristol City star Albert Adomah’s incredible story.
PROMO ISSUE • APRIL 2013 emotionsport.co.uk
the line up Who and what has made the grade this month
4
Upfront The stories making the back page headlines
6
Cover Story Albert Adomah’s incredible story
12 The Big Picture Meet the West’s mountain bike massive
15 One To Watch
6
Bristol Rugby scrum half Callum Braley
16 Inside Story
Bristol’s homeless ice hockey warriors
23 Mates Rates
Yeovil’s Dawson and Madden dish the dirt
24 Community
Inspiring our young people through sport
26 Fixtures
12
All the big (and not so big) matches this April
30 Team Talk
e
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eM /March 2013 / 3
upfront The stories making the back page headlines this month
INJURY AGONY FOR SAXELBY Gloucestershire county cricket club have been dealt a blow with news that bowler Ian Saxelby could be out of action for up to six weeks. Ahead of the new LV=County Second Division campaign, Saxelby has found himself unable to bowl in the nets during pre-season due to issues with the same shoulder that forced him to miss the entirety of the 2010 season. The 24-year-old seamer has been a key component in Gloucestershire’s attack, and his loss could not have come at a worse time, so close to the start of the new season.
DRIVING AMBITION Bristol Sport put Clifton driver on GP3 grid Bristol’s Dino Zamparelli will be racing in GP3 this year thanks to sponsorship from Bristol Sport, the owners of Bristol City and Rugby. Zamparelli will race for Marussia during the season, and has been tipped for a career in Formula 1.
Good shot The news in pictures
Bristol’s director of rugby Andy Robinson has taken over first-team duties following the departure of head coach Liam Middleton.
City boss Sean O’Driscoll will take his side to Botswana before the 2013/14 season
City plan African adventure
Yate Town and Paulton Rovers are both pushing in the hunt for play-off places in the EvoStik Division One South & West League after winning displays over the Easter weekend.
Bristol City have announced a pre-season tour of Botswana ahead of next season. The Championship club, currently fighting to stay in the division, will visit the African nation in July, taking in three pre-season friendlies and becoming the first British club to visit the country. “I have been going to Botswana for over five years now and it is wonderful place to visit,” said majority shareholder Steve Lansdown. “For the players, management and supporters who make the trip, I can assure them they will have a great time and be made very welcome.”
With just a few games to go before the end of the campaign, just three points separate the two sides, both of whom could find themselves still in the hunt at the end of the regulation season.
Team Bath’s judo players are celebrating after they won four bronze medals at the Pan-American Open in Buenos Aires.
WINTERS OVER Bristol Rugby stalwart to retire Bristol Rugby’s Roy Winters is to retire at the end of the season, as he calls time on a career spanning almost two decades. The 37-yearold – pictured – made 188 appearances for Bristol, the second highest in the club’s history. He was twice capped for England, making his debut during a tour of South Africa in 2007.
to join Bath Rugby from London Irish next season.
Chairman Chris Booy said: “Roy will go down as one of the all-time greats at the Memorial Stadium. He can be immensely proud of what he has achieved at Bristol. “Roy’s contribution– on and off the field – is immeasurable. He’s been one of the first names on the team sheet season after season, and he’s been a superb ambassador for the Club.” Meanwhile, Matt Garvey is
Oumare Tounkara has joined Bristol Rovers on a free transfer. The Frenchman was drafted in after an injury to top-scorer David Clarkson.
The promising English 25-year-old follows hot on the heels of fellow Irish player Jonathan Joseph to the Rec, having graduated from the club’s academy and made 82 appearances for the Berkshire club. Garvey said after signing: “Bath is a great Club and an incredible set up. I know that the environment there is a tough one, but I am sure it is also one that will make all of us better players.”
PAGE PICTURE CREDITS HERE
Duo duel for play off spots
Promotion-chasing Weston-super-Mare have signed Bristol City’s Lewis Carey on loan, to act as cover for first-choice goalkeeper Lloyd Irish.
eM /March 2013 / 5
WORDS Richard Latham IMAGES Joe MerEdith PHOTOGRAPHY MAKE-UP CATS WHISKERS
PAINT THE TOWN RED Not so long ago Albert Adomah was taking a course in painting-decorating and riding his bike to training. Now the Bristol City winger is starring for Ghana in the Africa Nations Cup and valued at £2 million. But the popular footballer hasn’t lost his infectious sense of humour, as Richard Latham finds out.
eM /March 2013 / 7
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hat is it like for a footballer who took a course in painting and decorating while riding his bike to training as a part-time player to suddenly be told he is worth £2 million? That is exactly what has happened to Bristol City’s 25-year-old winger Albert Adomah, who was given the glamorous price tag by his club as they warded off interest from Crystal Palace during the January transfer window. Albert was away representing Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations at the time. Since his return he has found the best way of dealing with his newly acquired status is by using an infectious sense of humour. “I say to my friends ‘how much does a Ferrari cost?’ and when they answer I tell them I’m worth more than that,” he said with the broad smile that is never far from his face. “When I was at Barnet I was worth a good watch because they didn’t pay much for me. Now I’m the price of a really good house and I can make jokes about that. “My parents would say I’m priceless! It does give you credibility as a footballer to know you are worth a lot of money, but it hasn’t changed me at all. I just laugh about it. “Obviously I am well paid and there might be more money if I was involved in an expensive transfer. But I don’t spend much on material things. “If I really need something I am blessed in that I can afford it. I prefer to save and think about investing for later life. “I don’t buy designer gadgets for the sake of it. I have a nice
car (an Audi Q7) because I feel I need that for my family, but I won’t be going out and buying a Ferrari or Lamborghini. “My partner Berry and I have a six-year-old daughter Faith. Berry has been with me since my non-League days so she has seen both sides of football. “Along with my parents, my partner and daughter are the most important things in my life and help me keep everything in perspective.” Albert was born in Lambeth, London, although both his parents come from Ghana. Money was tight “although there was always enough to provide for us” and when he first set sights on becoming a footballer it was felt prudent to also get a trade behind him. “I took a course in painting and decorating when I was about to turn 18. It gave me something to do during the week when I was playing Under-18 football and getting only pocket money from my mum,” he said “When I joined Harrow Borough I used to cycle to training, with my music playing. It took about half an hour and I actually enjoyed it because it saved me money and helped my fitness. “From that time I always had faith that I would become a professional footballer one day. I played for the first team for a couple of years and then Barnet came in for me. “Actually, Dagenham and Redbridge were first to show interest. Their manager John Still asked me to sign, but by then Barnet were also keen and I signed for them the next day.” More than 100 appearances 4
“I say to my friends ‘how much does a Ferrari cost?’ when they answer I tell them I’m worth more than that!” eM /March 2013 / 9
4 and 19 goals followed before Steve Coppell made the best move of his short spell as Bristol City manager by signing Albert in the summer of 2010.
but I did have to try to make every cross count because I knew opportunities to create chances would be fewer against top class defenders.”
Since then he has become a crowd favourite at Ashton Gate with his ability to take on defenders and remains a potent weapon in this season’s battle for Championship survival.
Albert’s next international ambition is to represent Ghana in the finals of the World Cup. His country are currently involved in a tough qualifying campaign.
“That’s all I am concerned about at the moment,” he said. “Because of all the transfer speculation people get the idea that I am keen to leave, but that is not the case.
“It is a dream of mine to play in the World Cup finals,” he said. “At the moment we are second in our qualifying group, but if we can beat Zambia and Sudan, we will qualify for the next stage. There is a long road ahead because only five or six teams from Africa will make it to the finals. But I would love to be able to tell my kids and grandchildren that I played in a World Cup finals.
“I have always said I would only depart for a Premier League club. I have another year on my contract and if I do go anywhere in the summer it will be because it suits Bristol City as well as Albert Adomah.” Albert’s transfer value may even have risen as a result of his recent participation in the African Cup of Nations. “I had four starts for Ghana in the tournament, which was more than I expected and proved a fantastic experience,” he said. “The big disappointment was when we lost the play-off game for third and fourth place, which meant I didn’t come back with a medal. “It was my first major international tournament and I found myself mixing with some great players. I was surprised to start the first game and from then on I knew the manager had faith in me. “At that level you see the special players doing things you don’t see in club football. As a winger I didn’t feel I had to adapt my game because I was chosen in my normal position,
10 / eM / March 2013
“That would be the ultimate achievement and I could retire happy. I have no great thoughts about staying in the game when I hang up my boots and would probably look to invest in a business of some sort. “Perhaps it might even be painting and decorating! Then I would have come full circle.” eM
“Because of all the transfer speculation people get the idea that I am keen to leave, but that is not the case.”
BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOOTAGE
Watch Cats Whiskers create Albert’s incredible body-painted Ghana shirt at EmotionSport’s You Tube site now. Click here or visit youtube.com/EmotionSport
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the picture
WALKING IN THE AIR Brooke Foster from Bristol, performs a jump on the 4 X track in north Nibley. Brooke was riding a specialised demo 8 I 2012. Off-road biking is becoming a hugely popular pursuit across the country. Bristol is now a celebrated destination for enthusiasts hosting world-class mountain bike trails at Ashton Court and Leigh Woods in Bristol. The picture was captured by Alex James for JMP JOSEPH MEREDITH PHOTOGRAPHY
eM /March 2013 / 13
Proud sponsors of Bristol Rugby
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www.capitasymonds.co.uk successful people, projects and performance
one to
watch
C
allum Braley is a first-year scholar at Bristol Rugby Academy, having joined the club at the beginning of the 2012/13 campaign. The highly rated scrum half has represented the senior side twice in competitive fixtures, featuring from the replacements bench against Cornish Pirates and Ayr during the 2011/12 B&I Cup competition. A product of Colston’s Collegiate and Hartpury College, Braley was part of the Hartpury side that defeated Henley 34-21 at capture the 2012 AASE title at
Twickenham. The 18 year old came through the ranks of Bristol’s Combination system, representing St Mary’s Old Boys. Braley has represented England at U16 and U17 levels, before helping England U18 to the FIRA/AER European crown in Madrid in 2012 – scoring twice in victories over France and Scotland. He was called up to Rob Hunter’s England Under-20s side, featuring from the replacements bench against France Under-20s in the Six Nations during February.
eM /March 2013 / 15
JMP / JOSEPHMEREDITH.COM
CALLUM BRALEY
RINK O SW
Bristol’s football sides verge of getting sport 21st century, but follow city’s ice rink last autu are forced to play thei road and change Conor Stephen
NK OR WIM
WORDS CONOR STEPHENS IMAGES JoSEPH MerEdith PHOTOGRPAHY
s may at last be on the ts stadia worthy of the wing the closure of the umn its ice hockey team ir home matches on the e out of a kit van. ns investigates. eM /March 2013 / 17
F
rom announcements about Bristol Rovers’ new stadium to news of Bristol City’s plan to redevelop Ashton Gate if they cannot build at Ashton Vale, there has been plenty of positivity flowing in the Bristol sporting world of late.
“The Pitbulls has never been an ego trip for us – it’s about ice hockey, it’s about these kids enjoying what we had for 20 years but in their home city.”
their first season. “Chasing the league title is a position we probably didn’t expect to be in at the beginning of the year – we just wanted to make sure we could continue,” said Richie, the Pitbulls’ player-coach.
But amid all the good news, one team still waiting for its light at the end of the tunnel is the Bristol Pitbulls. The city’s ice hockey team have been playing their home games on the road and living out of a kit van since their home rink in Frogmore Street was shut down last autumn.
“We won this title three years ago and that was a special moment for us, because we had only existed for eight months and we went the whole season losing only one game. Now we’re going to go the whole season without playing a single game on our home rink – and maybe, just maybe, win the league again.”
The old rink will soon be turned into yet more student flats, while the Pitbulls – the creation of Bristol brothers Richie and Mike Hargreaves – take on a nomadic status, playing “home” games as far away as Solihull, Basingstoke, Oxford and Swindon just to survive.
The speed with which the Pitbulls grew – from the Hargreaves’ idea to a sustainable club, with plans for a women’s team and further recreational teams, in a couple of years – should make them an attractive proposition for sponsors and investors.
“The reason Richard started this was that we were sick of playing for other cities,” said Mike, the Pitbulls’ captain. “We wanted our team in our city, and this is why we are still Bristol Pitbulls, as opposed to just the Pitbulls or the M4 Pitbulls!
But, while they have retained a core of loyal fans, who troop up and down the motorway for home matches, as well as sponsors, Mike has conceded that “playing on the road season after season after season is not sustainable”.
“Our argument has never been that we want to keep the old ice rink open but simply that Bristol needs an ice rink. Bristol is such a great city, but one by one we’re losing our facilities, whereas you can go to places that half the people in this country haven’t heard of and they have ice rinks – and good ones.” After successful careers away from Bristol, the Hargreaves brothers set up the Pitbulls in 2008, mainly as a way of offering the city’s ice hockeyplaying youngsters a vehicle to play competitively on their doorstep. After entering the National Ice Hockey League in 2009, they won the South 2 title at the first attempt, before reaching the South 1 play-offs last season. But the imminent closure of the rink in Bristol forced them back down into South 2, into their van and onto the M4. And, quite incredibly, despite the odds being stacked firmly against them, a stunning run of form has put the homeless Pitbulls in contention to repeat their unlikely title success from
“We keep getting drip-fed information that may or may not happen, in terms of the rink situation,” he added. “With the bits we get drip-fed, you have to stay positive and build towards Bristol having another rink. “But, I think, if the news comes out at some point that Bristol isn’t going to get a rink in the immediate future or at all, then I think it will be more a case of putting the Pitbulls on the back-burner and starting to really go at trying to figure out how to get a rink in Bristol, then re-launch.” As optimistic as the brothers are about the club’s future, Richie admitted: “We’ve got to have a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, I think.” The brothers’ passion for ice hockey was sparked by a visit to their school in Cotham by their next-door neighbour, Paul Farmer, a former star player of the top-flight Cardiff Devils, who was who was turning out for the short-lived Bristol Bulldogs in the early 1990s. “We grew up next to Paul Farmer, and I got to 14 without knowing what
eM /March 2013 / 19
“If the news comes out at some point that Bristol isn’t going to get a rink in the immediate future or at all, then I think it will be a case of putting the Pitbulls on the backburner.�
4he did,” said Mike. “One day he turned up at our school, handing out free tickets to the match. We were like, ‘That’s our neighbour – what’s he doing here?’ Rich got hooked first, then I turned up to watch him play a game and got dragged into it, so we were relatively late starters.” A hobby soon became an obsession, with the brothers being chased out of their local churchyard for playing improvised games of ice hockey, while drivers driving past their family drycleaning and launderette business in Coldharbour Road, Redland, would regularly have to stop to avoid the pucks that were flying into the road. “We’d use the company van as a goal net – we’d be out there shooting balls and pucks at the van and one of us would pretend to be in goal,” said Mike. “My mum wouldn’t be too happy, because we’d absolutely batter this red laundry van that we had at the time.” Even as they wind down their own illustrious careers, the brothers’ passion for their sport – one which they admit “you either love or hate” – and their city remains as strong as ever. Which is precisely why they hope the two can continue to be strongly linked. “In the summer, we’ll have to look at whether it is possible to keep going,” said Richie. “You never know what’s around the corner, and, as long as guys want to keep doing it, I’ll keep pushing to do it. “People say to me, ‘I bet you’re gutted’, but I’m more gutted for the players who are just starting out, especially the young Bristol kids we took four years ago. Now they’re good players at this level, they’re really enjoying their hockey and they’re getting noticed in other teams. “We’ve had our careers, it just never was in Bristol. What people see with us is the back end of our careers; we’re doing offthe-ice more than on-the-ice now. If we close tomorrow, I can walk away saying that I’ve had my career, but these kids are only just starting theirs.”
Aside from trying to win the title against the odds, the Pitbulls’ main focus has understandably been on the campaign for a new ice rink in Bristol, backing up their argument with strong numbers. “Regardless of us and what we do – and this has never been just about us – I think if that rink wasn’t used then you could understand the decision to close it and not build a new one,” said Richie. “It was 50 years old, but you’d have 1,000 kids skating on a Saturday and 500 on a Friday. People enjoy the idea of skating in any shape or form. It’s a massive blow to the city and I’m hoping that good things will come in the future.” While options such as a temporary rink in a warehouse somewhere in the city may be looked at, on the ice the Pitbulls have plenty to keep them busy between now and the end of the season. “It’s funny, because we’re almost one of the most hated clubs to play against, because we’re a physical team, but we’re possibly the most liked club out of both divisions,” said Mike. “People are really rooting for us. No one wants to play us, but at the same time, no one wants to lose us. We’re every other team’s fans’ guilty pleasure.” Despite the winning hockey, the community initiatives, the schools programmes and the rapid growth, there is no doubt the Pitbulls are fighting for their future in their city. And the threat of another generation of ice hockey-playing Bristolians missing out on the game is the main driving force for the Hargreaves brothers to succeed in keeping their team in Bristol. “The Pitbulls has never been an ego trip for us – it’s about ice hockey, it’s about these kids enjoying what we had for 20 years but in their home city,” said Richie. “It was about giving these kids an opportunity we never had – we had to commute somewhere else. The only reason we’re doing it is because no one else did – there was nothing for 20 years before we did this – so we will keep going and keep pushing for a rink, because it’s something Bristol needs.”
eM /March 2013 / 21
Kevin Dawson on Paddy Madden
What was Paddy wearing when you first met? I think it would have been on e of those really baggy tracksuit s. Would Paddy rather have arms for legs or legs for arms? Wh Arms for legs. More for feeling y? things. What is Paddy’s most annoying habit? He has loads. Snoring is up there though. If Paddy was a superhero, what would they be? He’d be Spiderman What is Paddy’s favourite position? Bent over ,,, What is Paddy’s best feature? His massive forehead
What makes Paddy laugh more than anything else? **** rolling down a hill (private joke!) What is Paddy’s favourite meal? Chicken stir-fry What is Paddy’s most embarrassing moment? Mine would be the celebrat ion against Tranmere. His would be shit banter Have you ever seen Padd y cry Yeah, watching the film Casta ? way Which vegetable best describes Paddy ? Cauliflower, he has big ears that look like a cauliflower Does Paddy prefer chili or chocolate? Chocolate If Paddy owed a pub what would they call it? Paddy’s pub If Paddy wasn’t a footballe r what would they be? He quite fancies himself as a musician
Mates Rates Yeovil Town team-mates Kevin Dawson and Paddy Madden dish the dirt in our fun new series ...
SELF PADDY MADDEN ONWhHatIM is your favourite meal?
en What were you wearing wh Chicken Pasta t? ssing you first me What is your most embarra a at kit ll tba foo a bly Most proba moment? re of Kev’s training session when we we Getting caught coming out ssing!) younger. s mahs bedroom! (Only me leg for s arm ve ha r he rat Would Has Kev seen you cry? or legs for arms? Why? No, don’t think so e Legs for arms. That way I hav Which vegetable four legs to shoot more. you ? sition? best describes What is your favourite po l say wil he t bu o, tat Po Striker / Doggy! though ge ba cab What is your most Does you prefer chili annoying habit? or chocolate? Snoring. Chocolate What superhero If you owed a pub what would you be? would you call it? I’d definitely be Batman Paddy’s Paradise r What is your best feature? If you weren’t a footballe ? My lovely eyes be u yo uld what wo re What makes you laugh mo Most probably on the than anything else? dole Our mate Dave Carbary
eM / 23
community leaders
Away from the glamour of first team endeavours, Emotion Sport takes a look at the real difference that teams in the region can make to people’s lives.
T
he community-based side of sport finds itself regularly unnoticed versus the greater publicity of on-field events, despite playing a huge role in engaging a wide number of different groups who otherwise wouldn’t think to – or have the opportunity to – be involved with their local clubs. Children are some of the main beneficiaries of the community schemes run by football and rugby clubs across the South West, with teams going into schools regularly to deliver the message of the benefits of sports, and are often joined by first-team members give kids an extra incentive to learn from their idols. The amount of ground covered may seem staggering; over 100,000 children have been involved with Bath Rugby’s community projects alone. Rugby may sit second in many children’s mind to football, but the benefit of both Bath and Bristol’s presence through the schemes is evident, the latter recognised with seven major awards within the last five years. The West’s football clubs are also in on the act, and their work is by no means limited to young people. At
the far end of the spectrum, Bristol City’s Community Trust launched a ‘Walking Football’ initiative at the end of 2012 designed to enable over-55s to continue playing football in a competitive environment. This is not a new thing, either. Yeovil’s Community Sports Trust has been running initiatives across Somerset and Dorset for a number of years, working with authorities and employers to interact with local communities. Work from all the clubs includes coaching in schools within a large catchment, professionally trained coaches offering their expertise while creating a positive rapport with the next generation of fans. Bristol Rovers launched their Football in the Community project in 1991, and more recently have been able to draw on the wealth of experience from Peter Aitken, who captained both Bristol clubs during the 1980s. Further down the ladder, both Bath City and Weston-superMare have launched charitable community project in the last few years, increasing the clubs’ community involvement and beginning a number of successful projects.
For further information
For more details on events and courses run by our professional club’s community schemes click on one of the sites listed below:bathcityfcfoundation.co.uk bathrugby.com bristolrugby.co.uk bristolcitycommunitytrust.org bristolroverscommunity.weebly.com ytfc.net
eM /March 2013 / 25
fixtures
Your comprehensive guide to the big (and not so big) matches this month
Saturday 6th April Burnley v Bristol City, npower Championship (3pm) Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon, npower League 2 (3pm) Weston-super-Mare v Bromley, Blue Square South (3pm) Chelmesford v Bath City, Blue Square South (3pm) Bath Rugby v Stade Francais, Amlin Cup (1pm) Bristol Pitbulls v Invicta Mustangs, National League Division 2 South (5.45pm) Bristol Flyers v Leeds Carnegie, VCARS.co.uk Division 1 (7pm) Sunday 7th April Bristol Rugby v Leinster A, B&I Cup (3pm) Leeds Carnegie v Bristol Flyers, VCARS.co.uk Division 1 (5pm) Bristol Pitbulls v Wightlink Tigers, National League Division 2 South (7.15pm) Tuesday 9th April Bradford v Bristol Rovers, npower League 2 (7.45pm) Basingstoke v Weston-super-Mare, Blue Square South (7.45pm) Paulton Rovers v Bath City, Somerset Premier Cup (7.30pm) Wednesday 10th April Durham v Somerset, LV= County Championship Division 1 Essex v Gloucestershire, LV= County Championship Division 2 Thursday 11th April Durham v Somerset, LV= County Championship Division 1 Essex v Gloucestershire, LV= County Championship Division 2 Friday 12th April Durham v Somerset, LV= County Championship Division 1 Essex v Gloucestershire, LV= County Championship Division 2 Saturday 13th April Durham v Somerset, LV= County Championship Division 1 Essex v Gloucestershire, LV= County Championship Division 2 Bristol City v Bolton, npower Championship (3pm) Southend v Bristol Rovers, npower League 2 (3pm) London Scottish v Bristol Rugby, RFU Championship (3pm) Harlequins v Bath Rugby, AVIVA Premiership (2.15pm) Welling United v Weston-super-Mare, Blue Square South (3pm) Eastleigh v Bath City, Blue Square South (3pm) Bristol Pitbulls v Basingstoke Buffalo, National League Division 2 South (5.45pm)
MUST-WIN MATCH
London Scottish v Bristol Rugby, Saturday 13th April RFU Championship (3pm) With leaders Newcastle to face in the final round of fixtures, this looks like a must-win game for Andy Robinson’s side to give them any real hope of finishing inside the play-off pack this season. Three points off fourth-placed Leeds, London Scottish have lost half of their 20 league games this season and found themselves beaten 43-16 at the Mem in November. Bristol will most likely still need a result in the north-east to secure a top-four finish, but without a win here all hope is already gone
Sunday 14th April Bristol Pitbulls v Oxford City Stars, National League Division 2 South (6.15pm) Tuesday 16th April Bristol City v Birmingham City, npower Championship (7.45pm) Wednesday 17th April Surrey v Somerset, LV= County Championship Division 1 Thursday 18th April Surrey v Somerset, LV= County Championship Division 1
DAY OF DESTINY?
Hull City v Bristol City, Friday 19th April npower Championship (7.45pm) If results go against them, this could see City relegated from the npower Championship even before their relegation rivals play their round of fixtures the following day. In a cruel twist of fate, Hull – who beat City in the 2008 play-off final – are also looking to cement their second consecutive promotion versus the Bristol side. Without a win on the road since December, this Sky TV encounter could easily be the final nail in the coffin of City’s six-year Championship spell. Friday 19th April Surrey v Somerset, LV= County Championship Division 1 Hull City v Bristol City, npower Championship (7.45pm) Saturday 20th April Newcastle Falcons v Bristol Rugby, RFU Championship (3pm) Bristol Rovers v Accrington, npower League 2 (3pm) Bath Rugby v Leicester, AVIVA Premiership (3pm) Bristol Pitbulls v Cardiff Devils, National League Division 2 South (5.45pm) Sunday 21st April Bristol Pitbulls V Chelmesford , National League Division 2 South (6.15pm) Wednesday 24th April Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire, LV= County Championship Division 2 Last season’s bottom two in the LV= County Championship Division 2 come face-to-face in the second encounter of the season. Basement Gloucestershire finished just four points from their east-midlands rivals last season, and will be keen to rack up an early win to help avoid another nightmare season. Thursday 25th April Somerset v Warwickshire, LV= County Championship Division 1 Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire, LV= County Championship Division 2
Saturday 27th April Somerset v Warwickshire, LV= County Championship Division 1 Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire, LV= County Championship Division 2 Bristol City v Huddersfield, npower Championship (3pm) Dorchester Town v Weston-super-Mare, Blue Square South (3pm) Bath City v Sutton United, Blue Square South (3pm) Torquay v Bristol Rovers, npower League 2 (3pm) At the time of writing, Rovers’ incredible form since the turn of the year leaves then with a slim hope of a League 2 play-off berth. John Ward’s side have seen a vast upturn in fortunes and will view all their remaining games as winnable. This final-day tie at struggling Torquay, who have themselves suffered an alarming drop in form, could see them sneak into the top seven at just the right time. Sunday 28th April Somerset v Warwickshire, LV= County Championship Division 1 Tuesday 30th April Leicestershire v Gloucestershire, LV= County Championship Division 2
Friday 26th April Somerset v Warwickshire, LV= County Championship Division 1 Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire, LV= County Championship Division 2
DERBY ON ICE
Bristol Pitbulls v Cardiff Devils, Saturday 20th April National League Division 2 South (5.45pm) Pitbulls’ last home-game of the season could, at the time of writing, see the Bristol side finish inside the top two in National League Division 2 South. Just four points off with a number of games in hand over their rivals, a local derby with Cardiff to finish the season may be the thing cement a runners-up position behind runaway leaders Oxford. 4
eM /March 2013 / 27
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elcome to Emotion Sport. We hope you didn’t have too much trouble finding us. It gives us a great amount of pleasure to introduce you to something that has been an idea bubbling along for the last 18 months, and which for the last few months has been something we have tried hard to put in to practice. We came up with the idea of putting together a magazine that will cover sports in the Bristol and Somerset area, from our top professional clubs to academies, universities and grass roots. We also wanted to give some superb coverage to the sports that are underexposed in our areas. We want to bring them up to the level of coverage that our national teams get. Now, seeing as we at Emotion Sport are very much of the digital age, we will only be available as an online magazine, but completely free. You’ll be able to read the magazine at home on TV, on your desktop, laptop, iPad or phone should you wish. We are lucky enough to have a great team behind us, with some superb writers, photographers and of course designers. We maintain great relationships with the “bigger clubs” in our area, meaning some great exclusives and access. We also have our
32 / eM / March 2013
PAINT THE TOWN RED
sport
From paintingdecoratoring to the african nations cup. Bristol city star albert adomah’s incredible story.
ear to the ground to make sure we don’t miss a beat when it comes to our lesser-known sports. Everything will get its 60 seconds of fame. This edition is just an example of what we are planning on doing on a monthly basis. Every month, on the 22nd, we will send you our latest 80-page edition of Emotion Sport – full of fixtures, features and fun that you may not get anywhere else.
#1 • March 2013
eMotionsport.co.uk
“We also wanted to give some superb coverage to the sports that are underexposed in our areas. We want to bring them up to the level of coverage that our national teams get.”
There’s no obligation to sign up to the mailing list, you can visit us online and read the magazine whenever you like, but subscribers will have the opportunity to win a prize monthly. Prizes will range from tickets, shirts and boots to experiences that money can’t buy. The magazine will consist of in-depth and entertaining interviews, superb imagery and some features and fittings you won’t get elsewhere. We hope to inform and entertain in equal measure, as well as building relations that might not have existed before. So please sign up as a subscriber and, more importantly, let us know what you are doing with your team or your bike or your yoyo over the coming month by visiting and we will get you the coverage you deserve.
vs
BOLTON WANDERERS vs
SATURDAY APRIL 13TH, 3Pm • ASHTON GATE STADIUm
TICKETS ON SALE NOW PRICED fROm £22 ADULTS AND £10 UNDER-16S
BIRMINGHAM CITY
TUESDAY APRIL 16TH, 7.45Pm • ASHTON GATE STADIUm
TICKETS ON SALE NOW PRICED fROm £21 ADULTS AND £8 UNDER-16S
BOOk ONLINE AT BCfC.CO.uk TO AVOID BOOkING fEES OR CALL 0117 963 0600
March 2013 17 FA Women’s Cup - 5th Round April 2013 14 Everton Ladies (FA Women’s Cup) 18 Everton Ladies 28 FA Women’s Cup - Semi Final May 2013 02 Birmingham City LFC (CC) 05 Lincoln Ladies (CC) 09 Doncaster Rovers Belles 16 Chelsea Ladies 19 Arsenal Ladies (CC) 26 FA Women’s Cup - Final 30 Arsenal Ladies June 2013 05 Birmingham City LFC 08 Lincoln Ladies August 2013 04 Everton Ladies 10 Liverpool Ladies 17 Doncaster Rovers Belles 29 Birmingham City LFC September 2013 01 Lincoln Ladies 05 Chelsea Ladies 15 Liverpool Ladies (CC) = FA WSL Continental Cup
H 14.00 H 19.00 H H H H A
19.00 17.00 19.00 19.00 14.00
H 19.00 A 19.45 H 18.00 A H A H
14.00 18.00 18.00 19.00
A 14.00 A 19.30 A 14.00
Tickets Adult: £5 Concessions: £3 Contact
0117 919 2620