Gladiators v The Bears. Meeting Preview
10PM UPDATE 15/8/22: The meeting has unfortunately been postponed due to the weather.
The Westcolour Gladiators season will be defined by two key home Championship League fixtures in the next 10 days, which sees them facing Play-Off rivals The Redcar Bears and The Glasgow Tigers at The Coliseum on Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 23rd August respectively. Tapes up at 7.00pm.
The Westcolour Gladiators have defied expectation and logic all season in the midst of an incredible injury crisis and approach the two final League Fixtures still without the suspended Ben Barker, the injured Michael Palm Toft, Alfie Bowtell, Dan Gilkes and Edward Kennett, with only Palm Toft realistically expected to return before the end of the season.
The Westcolour Gladiators have bought in some excellent guest riders for the vital clash against Redcar with Richie Worrall and Kyle Howarth, who have proven to be excellent and very popular guests already this season, joined by the exciting and colourful Italian Paco Castagna to complete the line up:
Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators:
1 Richie Worrall
2 RR (for Michael Palm-Toft)
3 Paco Castagna
4 Kyle Howarth
5 Hans Andersen
6 Ben Morley
7 Harry McGurk (subject to a late fitness assessment).
The Redcar Bears, who sit in 6th place with 23 points, are 6 points and 2 places below the Westcolour Gladiators in the race for the top six but have 2 matches in hand.
They will be buoyed by the excellent performance of Charles Wright and Lewis Kerr, who deservedly won the Championship Pairs at Oxford on Friday night with an outstanding performance. The Bears also bring in Richard Lawson as guest for the injured Erik Riss to complete a strong septet that includes the recently signed former Plymouth favourite Kyle Newman and two of the most improved riders in the sport in 2022, Jordan Jenkins and Jason Edwards.
Redcar Bears:
1 Charles Wright
2 Jason Edwards
3 richard Lawson
4 kasper Andersen
5 Lewis Kerr
6 Kyle Newman
7 Jordan Jenkins
Tickets are in high demand and can be purchased online in advance,which is the best way to guarantee a Seat, or by Cash or Card (via an Online App) on the night. A big crowd is expected with the gates open at 5.30pm and Tapes Up at 7.00pm.
Club Promoter Mark Phillips explained the significance of the next two Home Matches for both the short and medium term future of the Club:
“We have been incredibly unlucky with injuries and all sorts of other pitfalls all season, yet have shown an intensity and level of application on and off the track that makes me incredibly proud.
We have some wonderfully loyal support and we hope they will turn out for these two fixtures in large numbers and encourage friends, workmates and family who may not have been to see speedway before to come along and help us over the line.
We are again delighted to welcome all Under 16’s for free for the remaining Championship League and NDL League meetings and offer all of those a chance to participate in a track running race at the Interval. If you imagine being allowed to have a kick-around at Home Park at Half Time, that’s the kind of exciting opportunity we offer every week by featuring the running race.
I’ve had far more agile tactical and statistical brains than mine telling me what the Play-Off permutations are, but the most important thing is that our destiny is 100% in our own hands and if we win both matches that rules out any permutations or shenanigans or tactical collusions by others derailing us.
We’ve had a good season and we can turn it into a great season. These are tough times for us all economically and I won’t deny that a couple of Play Off Matches, with big crowds to cap it off would be a huge financial boost.
It could certainly determine what kind of team we are able to put out next season, and what kind of further Investments we can make in terms of rider acquisitions and Stadium enhancements for 2023 and beyond. Please help us by supporting us over the coming weeks and we can assure you that on and off the track we will be giving it 100%”
We’ll have a match day update on Tuesday morning.
Tickets are available ONLINE now via our Online Ticketing Portal:
Glasgow – TUESDAY 23rd August: Click here.
A reminder that all Under 16’s go free for the remaining Championship League and NDL League fixtures and are eligible for the very popular interval running race around the Track, with a small prize for each runner.
Tickets are also available via Cash + Card on the night, but the best way to secure a Seat in the NHS STAND (Home Straight) is to book early ONLINE. The First Bend VIP Stand is already SOLD OUT.
PLEASE NOTE – Access by Card payment at the Stadium is by accessing the Clubs Online Ticket portal on a suitable mobile / android device. There are no specific Card readers. If you do not have a suitable device to allow your secure Card payment to be collected on the Gate, or before you enter from the comfort of your Car in the Park + Ride Car Park (using this link ) ; there is a secure CASHPOINT at McDonalds Restaurant which you pass when turning in to Coypool Road
A POLITE REQUEST has been made by The Club Management and Turnstile / Entry Staff. It would be appreciated if you could please have EXACT CHANGE for Admission and Programme available if at all possible to avoid delays, especially at peak time between 6.15 and 7.00pm. It would also be very much appreciated, that if you are Entering by Car with multiple occupants, if one person in the vehicle; could collect the Money for Admission and any Programmes and the Car Park Fee to hand over to Gate Staff, as to process one overall transfer of Money will be a lot speedier than 2,3,4 or even 5 separate transactions. Your cooperation in this matter to help speed access for all and to avoid queues and to improve the Customer experience for all. THANK YOU
As always you can be the vital 8th man and the lads would very much welcome your vociferous and enthusiastic support once again, so please bring along a friend and help us to show everyone what a wonderful night of entertainment we get every Tuesday at 7 pm at The Coliseum. The past few weeks have been tremendously difficult for us all with injuries, some controversial decisions going against us and some utterly mindless vandalism that will cost many thousands of pounds to replace let alone the stress it causes Mark and all of the wonderful support Team.
Please rally around the Club and The Team, bring a friend and spread the word and remember UNDER 16’s GO FREE (see the details above).
Your support is always worth extra points and together we can beat all the odds and celebrate success together at the end of the season. These are tough times and in tough times the tough get going and there’s no one tougher than your Promoter, Team Manager and Team…. let’s all join in and beat the odds together. #GladiatorsREADY
Gates Open 5.30pm
Pre-Match Rider Parade 6.50pm
Tapes Up 7.00pm
There are numerous Food and Drink (Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic) outlets around the Stadium serving locally produced products.
Numerous Toilets / Disabled Toilets and Washing Facilities
Our new for 2022 Track Shop is doing a roaring trade with NEW lines every week and well worth a visit.
Car Parking onsite £2.00
36 page Colour Programme £3.00
Image credit: Jon Sproad