Fish 'n' chips and my road to success

One day on a family holiday in Scarborough we were walking down the harbour eating our fish and chips when we came upon five men fishing. I was fascinated. "Please take me fishing dad" I asked.
A week later my dad's friend took us to our local pond. My dad had asked him to take us as my dad hadn't a clue. I went with him as often as I could. I loved it but little did we know our friend didn't know as much as he thought he did.
One day the three of us went to the canal. We sat for four hours and caught three perch. We packed up a little disappointed and had a walk down the canal. We came upon two men fishing. One of them was pulling roach out of the water one after the other so we sat and watched.
My dad started to talk to him and found out his name was Steve Arabskji, the Wakefield Junior Coach. My dad told him we were beginners.
Steve told us we were welcome to come to his next meeting and my dad could even sit at the back and learn too.
We went every fortnight, both of us looking forward to it and on the way home we would ask each other questions to make sure we had taken notice. We also went to our local pond at Ackton and the bailiff, Mark Hayes, sat with me for hours giving me extra tuition.
He said to my dad, "He's not bad at all, you only have to show him once, not like you." Dad wasn't as keen as me but we still enjoyed fishing together.
After a few months I was fishing at Flanshaw Dam when Steve Arabski and Frank Wright, another coach said," Matty how would you like to fish for Wakefield Juniors?" "Can I dad please?" I asked. He didn't have to answer, I knew with the smile on his face and the tear in his eye that he was as proud as I was.
I fished a few matches and did all right but you could tell the other lads had more experience, and I was also very, very nervous.
I started to gain a little confidence and one day Steve asked my dad if I could fish a National Championship for Wakefield. "We want him to fish in the Cadet team. We don't expect them to win but it will be good experience for them for the coming years". Both dad and I said "Yes!" then turned towards each other for a big hug. I knew dad was proud.
The day came and we set off on the four hour drive to Droitwich where we joined loads of other kids and their fathers.
We'd never been to an occasion like this and I was shaking like mad. I didn't think I would be able to hold my pole I was shaking so much.
Dad said "Just do your best." I sat and did what I could for five hours trying my hardest. After the weigh-in I was told I'd come second in my section. I was well pleased. I had done my best. Then we got word that Josh Reynolds, another team member and friend had won the Cadet National Championship as an individual. I was ever so pleased for him.
After we had packed up we went to the presentation. We clapped as they read out the winners. Then over the microphone: "The team winners of the Cadet National Championships 2005 are Wakefield". I was called to get my medal and stood with the other members of the team while the photos were taken. I looked over to my dad and he was clapping the loudest of them all with tears rolling down his face. Once again he was very proud.
Then I fished a match at Kettlethorpe Hall and I caught well. After the weigh-in my name was called: "The Wakefield Cadet 2005 Champion is Matty Mee". I won a silver platter and a fishing voucher.
David Speight (Wakefield AC PR and assistant junior team manager) then asked me if I was fishing the annual police match he organises: Get Hooked on Fishing not Drugs or Crime. I entered the match and won my section. I was called onto the stage to receive my prize of a silver cup and a Browning margin pole.
We then had a series of winter matches against Barnsley Juniors and I was presented with a medal for the Most Improved Junior Angler 2006. I really enjoyed the winter series because I made a lot of new friends from Barnsley.
I then entered the Fred Trenholm under 12 2006 match and won. I have a silver cup for 12 months.
I then entered the Get Hooked on Fishing not Drugs or Crime 2006 match and again won my section winning another silver cup and Browning margin pole.
I then entered the Wakefield AC Christmas Match fishing against the adults and won my section in that too.
I have now had a couple of write-ups and pictures in the Yorkshire Evening Post and the Wakefield Express newspapers: that made my day.
Bob's Carp Fishing shop on Station Lane, Featherstone sponsors me for my baits for which I am extremely grateful.
I'm ever so pleased we bumped into Steve that day and started the ball rolling. I am also very grateful to Wakefield Angling Club for helping me like they have, for helping to make my dad so proud of me, and for giving my father and me so much pleasure.

Matty Mee.
Aged 12
Wakefield Angling Club Junior