Bryn shares this latest from Island Speedway. Ed
Following on from the announcement last week that Jackie Vatcher will be the Warriors 2017 Team Manager, she is delighted to announce that last year’s influential captain James Cockle will return to the Warriors in 2017, as the club look to build on a 2016’s very successful return to the sport. James, who was an ever present in the side this season is the first name on the team sheet for 2017 and the news is sure to prove popular with Warriors fans.
On announcing her first appointment Warriors Team Manager Jackie said,
“The return of Cockle was a no brainer as he had a fantastic debut season in Warriors colours and Warriors fans would have witnessed on more than one occasion last season the passion that James has for both the club and speedway. Those Warriors fans who were lucky enough to have witness the Warrior’s first win on the road at Coventry in early September will not forget the match winning 5-1 heat advantage James and partner Mark Baseby got over Premier League riders Tom Perry and Liam Carr. All the Isle of Wight management team are delighted to have made their first signing. Welcome back James!”
A delighted Captain Cockle commented,
“Well, what can I say. It’s a dream come true to be back on the Island in 2017 after a fantastic change of teams in 2016 from Kings Lynn. It was a move I wasn’t too sure about at first but it didn’t take long for me to realise what a great decision it was. The Warriors fans have been superb. They are amazing and I love the fans, they supported me in every single race this year and that was a great feeling. I’ve met some great people along the way too, as well as new sponsors.
“I cannot announce my return without thanking two great people. Jane Harvey, being one my number 1 fan who is such fun and we always have great banter. That banter and fun extended to the pits too with help of sponsor/mechanic/friend Tony Cook. Tony kept me going until the end of the season when I was putting some great scores and now I am buzzing to be back next year. I can’t wait to see you all very soon!”
Early sponsorship push paying dividends
Although the 2016 British Speedway season only officially ended yesterday work off track has been continuing at pace especially in terms of building upon the foundations laid over the past twelve months including maintaining existing sponsors/advertisers and obtaining new ones and the response to this push has overwhelmed joint promoters Barry Bishop and Martin Widman.
With heat sponsorship for the official programme at each and every home meeting now complete, the latest in the rapidly growing list of club sponsors and advertisers firstly involve backing the supply of liquid for Warriors team members needs and they are are Tim Cale and crew at Wight Snack Shack who will be ensuring that the riders have a plentiful supply of drinks for themselves at home matches as the club’s official drinks partner and a host of backers for Warriors fuel needs at home meetings with just seven dates out of a planned twenty meetings awaiting backing at this early stage which is quite remarkable.
In addition RMR products will be continuing to produce our racejackets with fresh designs for both home and away match versions as immediately the club’s management announced they intended fans getting to sponsor them and then those that do,owning them come the end of the season they were being snapped up quicker than English cricket wickets were in Bangladesh last week!
In fact they might have all been snapped up by now but both fans and commercial organisations can learn what is and is not available to suit budgets both large and small, and thus backing the 2017 Warriors, by emailing [email protected]
On the social scene
There’s plenty of events planned, many still to be finalised, to save Warrior fans suffereing boredom until next April starting this Saturday (5th November) with the club playing host at Smallbrook to the Rotary Club of Ryde Firework Party BBQ that gets underway at 6.30pm with admission being set at just £5 per person.
In addition to the fireworks there’ll be a BBQ, Steve Hall’s Magic Show, Bloodstone Border Morris Dancers, DJ Mick Weston and the Wight Diamonds Marching Band and rest assured the club will be making its prescence felt at the event via their information stall so why not be there with admission just £5 per person?
Looking ahead to the evening of Saturday, 17th December, the club are putting on a Christmas Dinner in the Premier Lounge at the stadium at a cost of £25 for adults, £5 children and, as our end of season party was something special, by popular demand we are going to stage an End of Year Celebration Party with all proceeds going to Warriors Fuel and Tyres in 2017.
And then on Thursday 29th December in the Premier Lounge at the stadium is again the venue from 7pm onwards and with DJ Phil in the house busting some tunes on the decks, we will have another super raffle, love bike and, if we can, more fun and games than Toys R Us!
Adult admission will cost you just a fiver and kids as always with the Warriors are free. Come along and help celebrate all things Warrior with us?
No doubt there will be many other events staged on the social scene by the club in the months ahead and we’ll update you in the months ahead as such events are finalised.
