Once at Chelmsford’s Riverside Leisure Centre, I was warmly welcomed by the Essex Roller Derby team, with Jade stepping in as my guide for the day. After speaking to a few of the crowd the enthusiasm of the supporters was clear, meanwhile the teams were gearing up, and a sea of referees in stripes patrolled the track. It felt a little overwhelming at first, stepping into a high-octane subculture I didn’t yet fully understand.
