News Article | 4th March 2008 » Neil Abel's Fife Testimonial Game

Neil Goes Back Home to His Roots

A testimonial game is to take place in his native Fife and has been organised for the 3rd May 2008, face off 19.00.

It is the game that had to be postponed from last year due to the disastrous fire in the building at Fife. It was always the intention to return to Scotland to allow Neil to take to the ice where he spent his entire young and growing career. He dressed for the Flyers 1980/81 season for 360 games before leaving to join the Sheffield Steelers in 1991/92. This will allow more people who could not travel to Sheffield for the previously held night to honour and celebrate with him and his family.

Neil began his senior career when he was 20 and played for the Flyers in the 1980 season competing in the Northern League and the Scottish National League, apart from a few games with the Nottingham Panthers he remained with the Flyers for 12 seasons as the team moved up to compete in the British Hockey League in 1983. During this time he was a fundamental element in the team reaching the Autumn Cup in both 1984 and 1986 and the team went on to win the Playoffs in 1985.

Recent seasons have seen him dress for both the Sheffield Steelers and then on to his current team the Sheffield Scimitars. He currently coaches the Scimitars and has achieved great successes with also being awarded the Ice Hockey Journalists UK's coach of the year for the 06/07 season.

He played alongside some of the modern greatest British players and a fantastic line up is shaping up including, Todd Bidner, Gordie McDougal, John Kidd, Scott Neil, Ally Reid, Bernie McCrone, Martin McKay, Gordon Latto, Chick Cotterell and many more. The phone calls by ex- teammates have been coming in thick and fast asking for a spot in the line up!

Tickets cost just £5 and can be obtained via Pam at the supporter's desk at Flyers matches or via the Flyers forum, or for those in Sheffield by contacting shirleyann.packwood@virgin.net, or on the night itself. Any one wishing to travel and stay in the area a limited amount of rooms can be booked at specially discounted rates at The Strathern Hotel 2 Wishart Place 01592 652210 or at The Elbow Room 131-135 Rosslyn Street, 01592 654826.

The evening itself will see a format of 2 periods of hockey plus a skills competition and the current junior Flyers taking to the ice. There are lots of opportunities to take away souvenirs from the night including official photographs that will be taken as the action happens, along with a shirt auction, merchandise and lots of other ways to get involved with the action.

Why not come along and join in a fun night honouring one of this country's longest serving statesmen. Keep an eye on the press for more updates.

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10th March 2008
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20th February 2008

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