Roll up, roll up! The Barnsley Black Heart Rollers are drumming up support for their first game next month.

 

Barnsley's first and only roller derby team will take on Mansfield Misfits at the Metrodome on February 15.

 

Amie Richards, 27, of Honeywell Grove, Honeywell, joined the team in August.

 

"We're all really looking forward to it. We've always trained but we've stepped it up. Everyone has got a lot faster, which is probably why we've had two broken bones in the last few games.

 

"We're hoping to have quite a lot of games. We're not in a league at the moment, we're just playing friendlies."

 

The full-contact sport is made up of two teams of five, who roller skate in the same direction around a track.

 

Play consists of a series of short matches known as bouts and both teams have a scoring player, known as the jammer, who has to score points by lapping members of the other team.

 

The rest of the team then assist their own jammer by hindering the opposing jammer.

 

The team was formed in August 2012, and players must achieve certain minimum standards to play.

 

Each player has their own unique nickname - Amie's is Lady Punk Block, which is a combination of her ladylike ways and love of punk music.

 

Block comes from the position of blocker.

 

Amie added: "I'm really passionate about it. Barnsley has never had a team before, we are the first team and this is our first ever game. We want to get as much support as we can.

 

"I like that it's really fast paced and is so intense. I love the skating and team work mixed with that fast pace."

The team currently has 21 members, with ages ranging from mid 20s to mid 40s, but is looking to take on more.

 

Training is at the Barnsley Academy School on Thursdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 2.30pm.