A SOUTHAMPTON sports team has launched a first for its fans – an online colouring book.

The online book, which was launched this month, features skaters from roller derby team Southampton City Rollers (SC*R).

It was created by Jolie Angel, who used to skate for the team as Bambi and is now involved in SC*R's leadership, organising competitions – bouts – and organising events.

"I had some free time and started drawing some headshots of some of the team," says the travel agent from Bishopstoke.

"Because of the style, the idea struck me of turning them into a colouring book.

"Like other roller derby teams, engaging with the community is really important to us. We thought the pictures would be something that people could print off and decorate, either at the games or in advance, to wave to support the team at our events."

The pictures have proved very popular with the team, and Jolie is working on a second volume, featuring more of the skaters.

Roller derby is a fast and furious full contact sport, which sees two teams of five race each other around a track with their jammer attempting to score points by lapping the other team.

Blockers try to stop the opposing jammer from passing, while also assisting their own jammer, playing offence and defence simultaneously.

Skaters are known by their racing names, which often include puns. The SC*R colouring book features team members Joystixx, Terrordactyl and Knitphomaniac.

The Southampton team was set up in 2014, and has since grown dramatically in terms of membership, followers and skills.

Jolie hopes that the colouring book will help to bring in a new generation of fans, and the team is running a colouring competition for under 16s, with the chance to win a SC*R goodie bag for the best decorated picture.

Jolie says that the idea is also catching on with other roller derby teams.

"Other teams have been sharing it and saying what a good idea it is, so it's good that we did it first," she says.

For more information, and to enter the competition, visit: www.scrderby.co.uk/2019/04/30/colouring-book