Room 101: James Tincknell – Doncaster centre

1. Sleep jackers
There is nothing I like more than a good night’s kip. However, living where I do, in a shared house, it is virtually nigh on impossible to achieve the dream eight hours plus. My room is located directly above the bathroom which is definitely NOT ideal for a sleep lover, especially in our house because my flat-mate tends to go to the toilet in the small hours and leaves the ridiculously loud extractor fan on all night. The noise and vibration comes straight through my pillow, resulting in me being shaken and stirred and like a bear with a sore head.
TRP verdict:  Wake me up when you’ve finished whining. You’re out.
 2. All the gear…but no idea
I grew up in a little town called Cockermouth in Cumbria, right on the door step to the Lake District. In the summer there’s nothing I like more than a walk around Ambleside in my shorts and flip flops to take in the beautiful surroundings. But when you are out-numbered by packs of tourists kitted out in their all-terrain hiking gear, with their ‘David Attenborough king explorer ski sticks’, you can’t help feeling like a visitor in your own back yard. I can understand the need for some of this equipment if you are climbing Mount Everest or exploring the North Pole, but is it really necessary for the busy streets and quaint ‘Beatrix Potter’ tea shops of Ambleside? The first thought that comes to my mind is: ‘All the gear…but no idea.’
TRP verdict:  Tourists should get some stick, not own one. You’re in.
3. Changing room pranks
The team changing room can be a very dangerous place. Anything – or anyone – can become a target for a prank and quite a few of the boys have come back to find their trainers or boots in the freezer. The last major wind-up, though, was a complete waste of time. I share a corner with Jamie Lennard who loves taking up a huge amount of space. So we decided to get our own back by taking his car keys, when left unattended in his trouser pocket, and moving his car to the other side of the ground, completely out of sight behind the main stand before returning his keys as if nothing had happened. As usual he was the last one to get showered and dressed, and took an age to get out of the changing room. After some 45 minutes of waiting to see the horror on his face, all of a sudden there was a screech of burnt rubber as he pulled up alongside us to say, ‘Good try boys, but better luck next time’. Fair play to him for sussing us out, but we were absolutely gutted that he hadn’t fallen for our cunning plan.
TRP verdict:  The winter nights must fly by at Donny! You’re out.