Who are we? How did all this start? What do we do?
What can we do for you?
Hulls Angels was formed in 2010, reflecting the fast growing nature of roller derby leagues in the UK and Europe. Roller derby was even faster becoming a prominent sport with a fanatical following in the United States.
A diverse group of women had found an interest in derby and in skating around Hull and the East Riding and set about starting a league. The well-established Lincolnshire Bombers gave inspiration as we watched them bout, and practical help with running initial training and lending out equipment. People joined from a wide area with a wide range of skating experience – from those who had never been on skates before, to dance skaters, to street skaters and ice-hockey enthusiasts. As time went on we gained more experience through the help of guest coaches and skaters, and began to share our own experience with each other and with our new members...
Was it easy? No. Every derby league has its own story about how it began, and the highs and lows along the way and here is a little of ours:
Over the next few months people left for personal reasons and due to previous injury that was stopping them skating. Others decided to leave feeling unhappy with the league set-up. There were problems with coaches, venues, insurance, sponsorship, registering names, organisation and the snow. Did we learn from it? Of course! We changed the organisation of the league and used people’s strengths to make the best of what we had. We trained up our own coach who was looking for a challenge, and NSOs to help run sessions. Later we began training up a referee. Then we were again able to recruit new members and what’s more, we had raised the money to lend out our own spare kit. We've contributed to a book that’s currently being written about setting up your own league, so that others can take an easier route. Hull and the east coast can sometimes seem isolated from other places, so we’ve been trying to get out and meet up with other teams, attending bootcamps and bouts wherever we can. We’ve made derby contacts all over Britain and even in Germany. Recently we were pleased to offer our friendship and support to a league being set up in Whitby. New leagues are starting all the time and the future of the sport when we are all competing (and co-operating) looks very exciting.
As a beginner league, Hulls Angels cannot compete in a full bout until we have enough league members who have passed minimum skills. At present, we are looking to train and to ‘safe scrimmage’ with other players of a similar level.
We are always running events to raise league funds and to raise awareness of HARD and derby in general – please join us!
We are recruiting skaters (women over 18 years old) and referees (these can be male or female) - find us on facebook!
We would also welcome sessions with guest coaches , NSOs and refs – please contact us!
Ideally we would like to train in a larger venue – do you know about one in the area?
And we’d always welcome funding and sponsorship – let us know!
