Anthony Payne Podcast Interview

In today’s show I interview former Durham Wasps “Grand Slam” winning,  goal scoring forward Anthony Payne.
Anthony’s ice hockey career was almost certainly destined to happen even before he could walk, let alone skate.

His great grandfather was John Frederick James Smith, known to most people these days as the legendary “Icy Smith”. His mother was also a director of the Riverside Rink and so Anthony spent much of his formative years there.

Anthony learnt his hockey playing for the Durham Midges, Mosquitos and Hornets before finally, in 1987, making the first team.
He recalls;

The biggest influence on my career was Glynn “Benjy” Hall, the Wasps #14, he developed myself and the likes of John Hutley, Paul Dixon, Michael Tasker, Damian Smith, Karl Walker and Robert Wilkinson.
He was very strict, but he taught us respect and the Durham Philosophy that you never quit.

Durham Wasps

Anthony made his debut for the senior team during the 1988 – 89 season. At the tender age of just 16 years old, he played 14 times, scoring twice with two assists.

We talk of the Riverside ice rink, built by his great grandfather Icy Smith out of coffin wood!
Anthony explains how Icy constructed the Riverside rink from the only material readily available straight after the second world war.

Grand Slam Season

We talk about the Durham Wasps unforgettable Grand Slam season of 1990 – 91. How, prior to the start of the season, the team had lost three top British players in the Johnson brothers. How they sacked their Dutch coach, George Peternousek  just one game into the new league season.
His replacement, Canadian coach John Page, lasted just 48 hours before being sacked, he hadn’t even taken a game!
Fortunately the team had received a boost when the Cooper brothers, Ian and Stephen, returned from the Cardiff Devils. Anthony’s eldest cousin Paul Smith took over as coach and the “Big Blue” hockey machine was back on track.
The Norwich Union Cup became the seasons first trophy with a 12 – 6cup final victory over the Murrayfield Racers. This was quickly followed by the Castle Eden Cup.
The Wasps dominated the Heineken League Championship, topping the table 15 points clear of second place Cardiff Devils.

The Wembley Weekend

The season’s finale, the Wembley Playoff Finals Weekend was a must for every fan. Tickets would go on sale months in advance and would sell out, thus guaranteeing a 9000 capacity sell out.
Anthony describes what it was like to skate out onto the ice in front of a thunderous capacity Wembley crowd.
He also reveals why he and Damian Smith weren’t allowed to play in the semi final victory over the Murrayfield Racers.

The Wembley Final

History shows that the Durham Wasps beat the Peterborough Pirates 7 – 4 in the Wembley Playoff Final.
However it doesn’t tell the story of the vandalised dressing rooms on the morning of the Cup final. It doesn’t tell of the damaged equipment or of the anger felt by the team.
It most certainly doesn’t tell of the team’s heightened determination to win the cup and complete the Grand Slam.

Leaving Durham

Despite the Wasps making Anthony a really good offer to stay at the Riverside he chose to depart. He’d received a terrific offer from the Bracknall Bees coach Todd Bidner.
He explains;

It’s the best thing I ever did, it got me out of my parents house and made a man of me.
I met some fantastic people too.

Bracknell had just been promoted from Division One and were building a team to survive in the Premier Division.
The Bees had brought in Rob Breskal, Gary Brine, Grant Slater and Matt Cote’ in preparation for the new season. Playing two line hockey, it was a tiring but enjoyable season for Anthony.
By the end of the season the Bees had survived in the Premier division by the “skin of their teeth”. However Anthony had decided that it was time to move on again.

Journeyman

During his ice hockey career Anthony played for ten teams in eight seasons. These teams included:
the Durham Wasps, Bracknell Bees, Billingham Bombers, Humberside Hawks, Milton Keynes Kings, Peterborough Pirates, Newcastle Warriors, Billingham Eagles, Whitley Warriors and Kingston Hawks.
After signing for Hull based Kingston Hawks he chose to settle down and when the team went bust two years later he stayed put and signed for the newly formed Hull Thunder.

Anthony describes himself as a Journeyman – having played for 10 different teams in 8 years before finally settling in Hull where he spent his last 6 seasons playing at the Hull Ice Arena before finally retiring in 2003.
I asked Anthony why he changed teams so often?
His answer;

“Plain and Simple, for the money”

At the end of the 2002 – 03 season Anthony retired, I asked him if he had any regrets, his answer, a resounding;
Yes, signing for Milton Keynes Kings”
To find out why you’ll have to listen to the interview.
Thanks for the memories Anthony.

You can also listen to Podcast interviews from Anthony’s alumni of former team mates here:
Stephen Cooper (Durham) Episode S3 E10
Frankie Killen (Durham) Episode S1 E12
Scott O’Connor (MK Kings) Episode S3 E03
Scott Morrison (Newcastle) Episode S3 E04
Simon Leach (Newcastle) Episode S1 E19
Ron Shudra (Hull) Episode S1 E03
Tommy Plommer (Hull) Episode S2 E03
Nicky Chinn (Guildford) Episode S3 E02
Peter ‘Jonker’ Johnson Episode S4 E01
Tim Cranston Episode S4 E04
Chris Norton Episode S5E04
Plus Blog Posts:
Tim Cranston Blog
The rise and fall of the Durham Wasps
and
Frankie Killen, the sheep on the bus

Patreon

You know I really love contacting former players and recording their hockey memories and then editing and producing this Podcast to bring those memories to you.
More importantly I know you love hearing them too.
We all love listening to those often hidden stories from inside the game, the stories that we, as fans, never get to hear.
It really gives me a buzz every time I upload a brand new Podcast, knowing that you’ll remember and reminisce about those memories from your hockey heroes of the past.

However, it’s not cheap bringing this Podcast to you, that’s why I’ve chosen to use Patreon to ask for donations to keep the Podcast going.
You can really help the show by donating say, just $2 per Podcast episode (about £1.40) for the price of a cup of Coffee or the price of a Beer at $6 (about £4.20) – you really will be helping to keep the show going.

In return, my Patrons will receive a reward, right now there are 4 different reward levels to chose from.
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Click on to the video below, I’ve recorded a brief  “Welcome to my Page” video – well, that’s from me and the dog – you’ll see what I mean when you checkout it out.

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Shout Out

Today’s Shout out goes to my new Old Time Hockey UK Patrons,  Jeff Povey, Colin Dunn and Oscar Brownsword, these guys, through Patreon, help support the Podcast.
A very, very BIG thank you to all 3 guys for their continued support.

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