Jade and Kossa boost for Berwick Bandits
Dec 20 2010 By Lawrence Heppell, The Journal
BERWICK Bandits have secured the return of crowd favourite Jade Mudgway for the 2011 season – and announced the arrival of extrovert Australian Kozza Smith.
Smith, 22, described as a “crazy never-say-die, fence-bouncing crowd pleaser”, has raced for the past two seasons at King’s Lynn, who have now advanced to the sport’s Elite League.
“With team manager Ian Rae totally involved in setting up our deals, we have now announced another two names to be added to the already-signed Josef Franc and Lee Complin for our 2011 line-up,” said Berwick speedway co-owner John Anderson.
“We would have been lynched by the fans if we didn’t bring Jade Mudgway back,” admitted fellow owner George Hepburn. “It was fairly well known Jade was getting offers from other clubs – but his heart and mind belong to Berwick Bandits, and he’ll be back in business for us in March.”
Smith has worn Berwick’s colours as a guest rider in the past and the chance of taking on this colourful character full-time was something the club’s bosses believe was just too good to miss.
“It took no more than a quick phone call, then a couple of e-mails to Sydney, and Kozza was a Bandit,” said a delighted team boss Rae. “Since he signed up, he’s already been on the line a couple of times, eager to set up local contacts and we all know he’s going to BE a massive favourite.”
Smith has been nominated by his nation to race in all five rounds of the forthcoming Australian Championship Series – at Parramatta, Kurri-Kurri, Adelaide, Broken Hill and Mildura during seventeen days in January.
Anderson, making his first public appearance at Saturday’s Supporters’ Club gathering since undergoing cardiac surgery in September, was warmly welcomed by the assembled fans and confirmed the Berwick team’s commitment to entertainment would not risk the club’s financial security.
“There are other outfits in the Premier League hell-bent on self-destruction if the financial inducements to riders we hear about are to be believed,” he said.
“Here at Berwick we have a budget – and we will not break that budget if there is any risk of breaking the club.
“Speedway has been a Saturday night staple in Berwick-upon-Tweed for more than 40 years and we are laying solid foundations to keep it here for at least 40 more.
“We still have our targets, we have identified riders we want and we are continuing to talk to them while politely declining others who might suit our line-up, but who rate their services at too high a price. But we do want to continue to move up the table.”
