Tommy's Telford Tigers roaring to glory

So how does the man himself relate to all this noisy adulation?

"I'd better get my blazer," he says coolly, as he prepares for photographs in the dressing room.

It is Telford Tigers' first home game since clinching their English Ice Hockey Premier League title for the first time in 27 years, but if head coach Tom Watkins is overcome with emotion, he is concealing it well.

For the 36-year-old, who returned to Telford Ice Rink in 2010 when the Tigers were reformed as a supporters' trust after years of financial problems, it has been a remarkable turnaround.

1985: Telford Tigers formed by Gary Newbon, Dave Ismay and Chuck Taylor.

1988: Win their first league title, after winning the Southern Conference, and then beating Northern Conference winners Cleveland Bombers.

1990: The team is put into liquidation following a disappointing league season. Reformed the same year.

1994: Won the Autumn Trophy, finished league runners up, but folded after running up a £30,000 unpaid VAT bill. Reformed again.

1996: More cash woes, but Ken Crickmore listed them on the Ofex stock market.

1997: John 'JL' Lawless appointed head coach, finishing runners up in the British National League and winning the Upper Deck Christmas Cup.

1998: Runners up in the Benson & Hedges Plate Final.

1999: Club wound up owing money. Competed as Telford Timberwolves.

2001: Telford Wildfoxes compete in amateur league.

2003: The Tigers are back, joining the English Premier League.

2009/10: Dropped out of the league due to cash problems. Reformed as supporter's trust.

2013: Bought by Wayne Scholes.

From the brink of oblivion to the league title in just five years, many of the fans are struggling to believe the transformation. But Watkins, the headmasterly, authoritative figure in the smart blazer, will not let any of his players take their eye off the puck.

"You're on the ice in 10 minutes," he says after gathering them together in a pre-match huddle.

But beneath the unflappable exterior and steely determination lies a driving passion.

"It was a great feeling, finally winning the title," says Watkins, who previously played for the Tigers between 1996 and 1999.

"It's been a long time coming. For the first few years after the club was reformed, we didn't have a budget that would allow us to compete, but we kept going through sheer hard work."

Then, in October 2013, the picture changed dramatically with the arrival of Wellington-born media tycoon Wayne Scholes as the new owner.

Scholes, the founder of computer software giant Red Touch Media, had been a stick boy the last time the Tigers won the title in 1988, and his takeover brought the financial clout to sign the likes of team captain Jason Silverthorn and former Israeli international Max Birbraer.

Scholes says it will be some time before the reality of winning the title sinks in.

"I am honestly ecstatic and it's all a bit dreamy, I'm not completely certain of where we are," he says. "It feels a bit like a dream, after 27 years.

"I was the stick boy last time and I remember that vividly. It is just a fabulous experience."

Like many British ice hockey teams, Telford Tigers have had a somewhat chequered history during their 30-year existence.

The club was founded in 1985 by Central News man Gary Newbon, with former Golden Shot warm-up man Dave Ismay as chairman, and Canadian defenceman Chuck Taylor as player-coach. Telford Ice Rink had opened the year before, and Newbon, who was previously involved with Solihull Barons, believed Telford could support a team of its own.

The Tigers got off to a flying start, finishing third in the First Division of the British Hockey League. Fascinated by the new sport, huge crowds packed out the ice rink, and in 1988 the Tigers scooped their first – and until last week – only league title.

Chuck Taylor was named Coach of the Year, and it looked like the only way was up, but the joy was shortlived.

The following season the club was hit by problems both on and off the rink, and at the end of a disappointing league campaign the Tigers were placed into liquidation. The club was reformed in time for the new season, but continued to be dogged by financial troubles, finally being wound up in the High Court in 1999.

They competed as Telford Wildfoxes in the amateur English National League, nurturing several promising youngsters such as Jared Owen, Daniel Mackriel and Tom Carlon, and in 2005 they returned to the English Premier League as Telford Tigers.

However, the financial difficulties would not go away, and the club failed to compete in the league during 2009/10. The Tigers were then reformed as a fans' trust and, with Watkins at the helm, returned to the English Premier League.

"The last five years have been a learning curve," admits Watkins. "We've had a very loyal crowd, who have stuck with us over the years, and it is they who kept the club going."

Talking to the players in the dressing room, there is no doubt that the feelgood factor is back.

Former Israeli international Birbraer, who signed for Tigers from Elite League side Cardiff at the start of the season, typifies the fresh mood.

"It's amazing to be part of the team which has finally lifted the title," says the Kazakh-born star. "I'm excited to be part of it."

Captain Silverthorn is another big name lured to Telford following the Scholes takeover, leaving Elite League side Hull Stingrays after five years.

"Tom has recruited a good team. When he approached me it was a chance to be part of something really exciting," says the Canadian.

But for all the glamour of the overseas stars, the fans still love a local lad. Owen Bennett has become a firm favourite after following in the footsteps of his uncle Norman Pinnington, who played for Tigers during the 1980s and early 90s.

"It's just awesome to win the league," says Bennett.

He adds: "I'm Telford born and bred. "I was little when I first started watching my uncle, and after that I was fascinated with hockey."

In the meantime, it's back to business for Watkins, who wastes no time in getting his players out on the ice to prepare for the game.

His next focus is on securing an historic treble, taking on Manchester Phoenix in the British Challenge Cup final next month, before finishing with the play-offs at Coventry.

"A couple of the players have said this is the first of three trophies," he says. "It's been five years of really hard work and I'm really happy for the guys who were here in the trust years."