Berwick Bandits buyer needed to save speedway

Nov 11 2008 The Journal

OVER 40 years of speedway action in Berwick could come to an end in less than two days if a buyer does not come forward for the Berwick Bandits by midnight tomorrow.

Boss Peter Waite, who has kept the side afloat through its most successful period in the last nine years, shocked fans a month ago by placing the club on the market.

However, no serious offers have yet been made for the team which has competed for 41 consecutive seasons.

A disappointed Mr Waite said last night: “I have had a couple of tentative inquiries but nothing concrete has been offered and I fear the worst.

“I feel people are sitting back and thinking I’m playing a publicity game, that there’s a new promoter sitting there waiting to be revealed as the saviour of Berwick Speedway. But I can categorically say now there is nothing of the sort and if things do not change by midnight tomorrow, I shall have to go to the British Speedway Promoters’ Association on Thursday and tell them Berwick Bandits will not be a part of the 2009 speedway scene. There cannot be any complacency now and I can only urge any prospective buyers to act now.

“By Thursday it will be too late, so do not delay, contact us now.”

Berwick Speedway opened its doors for business at Shielfield Park on May 18, 1968, when the Bandits raced against the Newcastle Colts and the club has been a part of Berwick’s sporting history ever since.

The club has won the Knockout Cup three times and won the Premier League Four Team Championship in 2002.

It has also finished second in the Premier League twice and ended the 2008 campaign in the national final of the Young Shield, losing out to Workington in the last few races.

Mr Waite has been in charge for nine years but announced in October that he is to step down for personal reasons.

He took over the reins of the club when the previous owners were in desperate need of funds and in 1999 the new regime began.

He has endured a hard struggle keeping the team afloat in the face of falling crowds.

In addition, the club boss is said to be seeking a break from the year-round job of keeping a professional speedway team going.