Floodlight Speedway returns to Mildenhall this evening (Thursday 27/10) with the staging of a double header of two Cup Finals: with Mildenhall Fen Tigers – proudly sponsored by Manchetts Rescue and Recovery – fighting for silverware on two fronts. The opposition in the meeting (restaged after being called off due to rain on Sunday) in both matches are Leicester Lion Cubs, contesting the first leg of the National Development League Play Off Final followed by the second leg of the Knock Out Cup Final.

The Fen Tigers are reigning league champions; the Lion Cubs, holders of the KOC; and the sides finished in the top two places in this year’s NDL table: so this really is a Clash of the Titans where Speedway’s third tier is concerned.

After some concerns that both sides might be depleted by being without one of their respective heat leaders, with the hosts’ Jason Edwards and Leicester’s Joe Thompson scheduled to ride in the Premiership Pairs meeting at Belle Vue on the same evening, in the end the authorities have given the green light for them both to ride in this NDL crunch decider.

So both teams are unchanged from the line-ups named for last Sunday’s postponed Play Off Final –

Mildenhall Fen Tigers

1) Jason Edwards 10.00; 2) Rider Replacement for James Shanes 8.66; 3) Josh Warren 5.79; 4) Alex Spooner 6.93; 5) Jack Kingston 6.45; 6) Ashton Boughen 3.00; 7) Luke Muff 4.78; 8) James Laker 3.00

Leicester Lion Cubs

1) Dan Thompson 9.80; 2) Max Perry 6.00; 3) Connor Coles 8.58; 4) Tom Spencer 5.14; 5) Joe Thompson 9.26; 6) Vinnie Foord 3.84; 7) Mickie Simpson 4.25

For 80-year-old Mildenhall Co-Team Manager, Malcolm Vasey today is his final home meeting in charge of the Fen Tigers and the club legend who has been involved at West Row since the 1980s, serving as announcer for over a decade before periods away from Mildenhall as a successful Team Manager at Boston and Stoke before what has been a hugely successful return as Team Manager with his first love.

“It would be fantastic to finish my career on the ultimate high by winning the League once more with the Fen Tigers”, the octogenarian commented on the eve of the most important night for the club in many years.

The KOC Final is the second part of the meeting tonight and represents a steeper task on paper for Malcolm’s charges as they trail 29-55 from the first leg a fortnight ago – but having put 67 points on the board in their Play Off semi win over a strong Berwick side in their last home meeting, Vasey knows his side (joint managed with Jason Gardner who will be stepping up as sole Team boss next season) are in red hot form and looking to do all they can to bring both pieces of silverware into the West Row trophy cabinet.

The action gets underway at 7.45pm.

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Club Honours

2023 NL KOC Winners
2022 NL Runners Up
2021 NL Champions
2018 NL Trophy Winners
2017 NL Trophy Winners
2014 NL Trophy Winners
2012 NL Champions
NL Fours Champions
NL Pairs Champions
NL KOC Winners
NL Trophy Winners
2011 NL KOC Winners
NL Runners Up
2004 CL Champions
CL Fours Champions
CL KOC Winners
CL Trophy Winners
2003 CL Champions
CL KOC Winners
2002 CL Trophy Winners
2000 CL Cup Winners
1987 Fours Champions
Pairs Champions
1984 Fours Champions
1979 NL Champions