I hope all Tigers fans are keeping well during these continued slightly strange times.
I am still missing live speedway but enjoy the Polish and Swedish league racing that is currently being shown on satellite TV! Add in the GP meetings we now have, and there is no shortage of action to watch. I still think the GP series showcases speedway at its best, and the changed formula this year is no exception. The racing has been out of the top drawer, with some different names at the top of the score charts.
Watching speedway on the small screen is no substitute whatsoever for the real thing. You cannot beat live shale action, and that is why I am so pleased and excited to see live racing at various tracks in the UK. Not only that, but this is in front of crowds too, with limited numbers of fans coming back into the stadiums. Take a bow the likes of Scunthorpe, Kings Lynn, Plymouth, Belle Vue and Ipswich who have either staged meetings in front of fans or are planning to soon. This can only be good for British speedway, and shows we are well on the way to getting back to regular track action in time for the 2021 season. Another real positive is that many of the competing riders are young British lads, which can only be of benefit to British speedway and its development. Well done also the directors of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd, who in their busy schedule this summer have set up plans with the British Government for the British Final to be one of the test cases to how successfully fans can be accommodated safely in a sporting arena post-covid. A real feather in the cap for British speedway, and welcome publicity.
Here at Sheffield the costs and logistics mean it is very unlikely we will be staging a meeting at Owlerton this season, but we are fully confident everything will be up and running for tapes up in March 2021. The hope is all teams will be lining up with similar line-ups to this season, although personal circumstances will almost certainly result in a few changes across the leagues. I am particularly excited in anticipation of seeing who between Nicki Pedersen and Jack Holder will finish as number one for the Tigers next year. Nicki has been in his expected good form in Poland, but since stepping up into the Ekstraliga Jack has looked fantastic. I cannot wait to see him around the wide fast track here at Sheffield in Premier League action next season and am convinced he is ready to make the step up to becoming a top Premier league rider.
I must thank our stadium landlords here at Owlerton who have been, and continue to be, fully supportive of our move to top-flight speedway on Thursday nights. Regular greyhound meetings have been held here for some time again now, and this week fans are once more being welcomed into the stadium to enjoy the fantastic facilities we are fortunate to have here at Sheffield. This can only be positive news that when we start our season next March, our landlords will be fully aware and experienced in all aspects of manging spectator events to ensure your complete safety and enjoyment. Restricted numbers based on stadium capacity should not affect out speedway crowds, and it will be fantastic to meet with friends and fellow fans to enjoy our speedway once again.
Appreciation to season ticket holders, sponsors, “100 Club” members and all fans who have continued to back us throughout this year and for 2021. As a promotion we have already committed a lot of money into Sheffield Speedway this year, with the purchase of our own tractors and additional equipment, race suits, signage around the stadium, and the like. Your continued support for next season has ensured the club will be ready for tapes up next March, and I thank you for this.
I hope to see some of you at the regular STAARS meetings which should be starting soon at the excellent “New Barrack Tavern”, albeit with pre-booked limited numbers. Look out for news of those, always a fantastic catch up during the winter. Thank you again for your continued support.
