Appeal for support as Fife Ice Arena reveals plans to open

Fife Ice Arena has endured world war, a devastating fire, and the highs and lows of British ice hockey’s chequered history.

Today, it is making final preparations before opening the doors to an uncertain future.

Six months in lockdown have had a drastic impact on venues which rely on big crowds, and the return of new, tighter restrictions have raised new fears for the future of many.

For the rink, the issue is simple - it HAS to move forward, safely, but with a determination to open, and give people the chance to lace up their skates once more.

They’ve been doing that for generations in Kirkcaldy.

The rink is one of the town’s most important and enduring community landmarks.

The pillars which stand at the front of the art deco building have ushered in hundreds of thousands – probably a million or more – since the opening night in October 1938 drew over 4000 people.

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Generations of Langtonians have come to skate, curl, and play, or watch ice hockey, while the post-war era saw many marriages formed from meetings while dancing to the biggest bands of that era.

For Billy Hanafin, arena manager, it’s personal as well as business.

“Sport is my life. I love this place,” he said as we sat in Flyers’ old dressing room – socially distanced – talking about the rink and what it means to so many people, and how, now more than ever, it’s their turn to support the grand old lady of Rossyln Street as she prepares to take a deep breath and throw open her doors on October 9.

And that familiar, re-assuring creak which accompanies the sound of those art deco doors swinging back and forth as folk pour in is exactly what the staff want to hear once more as it looks to the community to come together and enjoy a skate on an ice pad which will not buzz with the constant activity of ice hockey from top flight to reccie – or the familiar clunk of curling stones for some time yet.

“It’s a big call from the directors to open up,” said Billy.

“They have been really bold. They want this rink open. We have to do it. It’s either that or we sit here forever like Groundhog Day.

“This building cannot survive if it remains closed. It needs constant TLC and care.”

The rink has invested heavily in safety measures to ensure compliance with all COVID guidelines, and numbers on the ice pad will be strictly limited.

The days of simply rolling up with your skates over your shoulder have also gone.

“We have an app where people can book a time slot,” said Billy.

“We can have up to 120 on the pad at any one time - to put that into context, previously over 400 folk could be skating at any time.

“If people don’t have access to the app, they can phone and we can book them in, but everyone will be registered for track and trace.

“People with their own skates will have one access round the rink, those hiring equipment will have another.

“There will be very stringent safety measures in place and directional guides around the building to get people in and out safely.”

Hand sanitisers have been placed around the arena, and its giant seated areas can be zoned for use with social distancing firmly in place.

The rink’s re-start comes with a very strong appeal for the community to support it more than ever.

It needs numbers through the doors, and it also needs volunteers to pitch in and do their bit to support a place close to so many people’s hearts.

Billy explained: “We now have a totally different model for working.

“We are operating with a core staff – we normally employ a lot of casuall staff during the hockey season, but we can’t do that right now, so we really need people to come on board.

“Volunteers have played a huge part in keeping this rink going for many years.

“What has become apparent is the huge number of people who do want to help.

“That has been fantastic – we need that to continue for the next 6-8 months.

“Anyone who is skills-based and can give their time is welcome. They’ll get full training and support.”

A huge amount of work has already been done behind the scenes – more than normal – to keep the rink ticking over.

The dressing-rooms have new matting, showers have been upgraded, and the place has been painted, while ice staff have adapted to new ways of working to keep the building operational while minimising all risks to safety.

It has been a huge undertaking to get it to a stage the doors can open and people can again look forward to skating on the Olympic sixed ice pad.

“The ice staff know this place inside out. If a switch trips they will know exactly where to go – their knowledge is second to none, and they have all adapted to different shifts to help keep this place going,” said Billy.

“The rink means so much to so many people. I’ll do everything I can to bring people through the doors – provided we can do so safely and within the guidelines.

“This is an incredible place. When I’m in here on my own, you feel it seeping into you.”

“On match nights, I love to be out front. You can’t help but get involved in the atmosphere of the building.”

The swish of skate blades on ice cannot come soon enough for all who have grown to love the grand old lady of Rossyln Street.

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