In Part 1 of our Series 5 interview, David Simms recounts how a chance visit to an ice rink in the mid-1980s sparked a lifelong love affair with ice hockey. From discovering the sport at Solihull Barons, David rose from fan to committee member and team manager before finding himself at the heart of a defining moment in British hockey history — the birth of the Sheffield Steelers in 1991.
David shares candid stories from his Barons days, including firing imports, the truth behind Brent Sapergia's sudden departure, Jim Pennycook's injury, the collapse of the Barons and even receiving his first death threat. He also explains why he walked away to join the newly formed Steelers, how the club started three tiers down, becoming the game-night announcer, and the identity of the most important player in Steelers history.
This is a revealing, nostalgic and often unbelievable first chapter — and it's only Part 1.
