New group leads Coventry Bees fightback

The wrangles over the future of Brandon Stadium finally triggered the heartbreaking point where the team was ruled out of this year’s British Premiership.

Initially it was thought Bees could continue to race by holding fixtures at Leicester Lions.

But then late last month, the British Speedway Promoters’ Association ruled it did not believe the team could fulfil the season and put the Bees’ licence on ice.

The door has been left open for a return in 2018 but the news has fired up the long-running efforts to secure a brighter future for the team.

Seeing how many people were taking up the fight, track photographer at Brandon for 33 years Jeff Davies brought the key players together.

He said: “Different people were doing different things so we’ve come together so wecan ensure everything is properly co-ordinated.

“There are about ten of us, we’ve had two meetings already and have had a meeting with Cllr Michael Stokes, leader of Rugby Borough Council.

“We are also trying to get a meeting with Rugby MP Mark Pawsey, Coventry City Council and other influential people.”

He added that while the main aim was to get the Bees (and stock cars), back in action at Brandon in 2018, they will also search for land where a new stadium could be built.

They have also set up a series of challenge matches, the first of which happened on Sunday.

Jeff said: “The purpose of arranging these matches is firstly, to enable the riders who’ve been hit financially by the club’s late withdrawal, to earn some money. And secondly, we wanted to keep the name of the Bees going and the fans, a team to follow.”

To get involved, go to: savecoventryspeedway.com