WIGHTLINK WARRIORS NAME STEVE PIPER AS NEW TEAM MANAGER

The Wightlink Warriors are delighted to announce Steve Piper as the new Team Manager for the 2021 season. Steve, who has been involved in speedway for many years, takes up the job from today and will formulate the team for the Three Team Tournament meetings against Cradley and Oxford in July and August.

A clearly overjoyed Steve Piper said, “It was an honour to be asked to become team manager and it took me all of one second to say yes. After being part of the set up with my son George in 2016 I understand the ethos of this special club and what makes it work so well on the Island. I have always enjoyed a close relationship with Barry and Martin and I am truly humbled to be asked. Now to build a team with a great spirit, who will represent the Island in the best possible way and who will fully embrace all that is right about the Warrior Way. We race as one. Bring on the season; I can't wait to get started.”

Wightlink Warriors co-owner Barry Bishop added, “It’s been a challenging time of late, however at long last we have reached a position where Martin and I feel we are good to go and so we are thrilled to bring Steve onboard for 2021. He brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas to the table for the betterment of our sport and we are delighted that finally we are able to get Steve more involved with the club. For sure he will add strength to the management team and I know he is elated.

With Steve’s arrival it means sadly we have to say goodbye to Jackie Vatcher who has done a wonderful job over recent years and has been excellent and a first-class role model for women in the management of speedway. It is a shame that Jackie could not participate this year and she will be missed by us all for sure, but we understand why she cannot be involved with the Warriors, and we all sympathise with her situation.

We should also mention Kev Shepherd, our Clerk of the Course at Smallbrook, who was also our Wizards team manager as well as managing the Warrior team at many away meetings. Our involvement with NORA means that his Clerk of the Course position carries much greater responsibility and this senior position within the club will now see Kev oversee all aspects of events on the Island. We will issue an update on the Wizards team manager post shortly.

Back to 2021 and I can feel the excitement starting to build already and personally I cannot wait to unleash our Summer Spectacular series for you all.”