Rebels ready for debut TV appearance (From Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News)

Rebels ready for debut TV appearance

3:38pm Tuesday 21st April 2009

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SOMERSET Rebels chief David Croucher has praised the efforts of the club owners, track staff and previous promotions for the culmination of ten years of speedway in the county that has resulted in the first ever live Sky TV broadcast from the Oak Tree Arena.

The Rebels take on the King’s Lynn Stars in front of the live cameras next Tuesday.

“The meeting is yet another huge milestone in the club’s history and one which rewards the hard work and dedication of many people here at the OTA,” said Croucher, the Rebels’ general manager.

“Right through from the Hancock family’s massive financial investment to the thousands of hours of unpaid work put in by the dozens of volunteers who have helped keep speedway running over ten years.

“This track was voted Track of the Year by the Speedway Riders’ Association last season – and that doesn’t happen by accident.

“Many people who work here are those who worked on the original construction of the track – and this is their reward.

“To see their track on Sky, with their team taking on one of the most formidable teams in the Premier League. This is their night.

“The night will belong to them, to the Hancock family, who have changed from ploughing fields to ploughing money into their speedway club.

“It’s for all those supporters who have stood on those terraces year after year in the cold, whether they won or lost, supporting the Somerset Rebels.

"This meeting is theirs, and we will do our very best to win it for them, in front of the many thousands of Sky viewers who are used to watching Elite League speedway every week.

“Of course ‘Johno’ is in front of the cameras on many occasions as a Sky interviewer and presenter, but for many of the others in the team this is the first time.

“It will be a very big night for them too.”

Croucher pointed to the example of Justin Sedgmen, who just a few months back qualified in Australia to be able to ride Premier League in the UK.

“It’s a dream come true for him, I’m sure,” said Croucher.

“And Tom Brown, who I have known since he first started riding after slaving away on training tracks and working hard in the then Conference League.

“He’s now a Premier League reserve and going on the TV. It’s fantastic for all of them.

“I think the racing at the Oak Tree Arena will be a great advert for both the club and the Premier League.

"On so many previous occasions it has been said ‘Why didn’t they televise the previous week’s – that was a cracker’. And I’ve been there.

“At Rye House and at the Island we had better meetings than the ones that were televised live, but I don’t think that will be the case this time.

"Somerset is such a fair track and a good racer’s track that I am sure it will produce a fantastic meeting.

“The opposition couldn’t be tougher either. Consistently one of the top clubs over a number of years, King’s Lynn can always upset the apple cart away from home.

“We would be very foolish to be even the slightest bit complacent, but we won’t be. I promise that.

“There is no way our boys will want to see themselves beaten on their home track live on TV – no way!

“And King’s Lynn will be coming down looking for a fight.

“Bring it on, I say. Come on down Buster and Jonathan, all guns blazing, because you will be in Rebel country and we are up for it!

“Whatever the result, I am sure all the fans will be entertained by some excellent speedway and by the spectacle that is a live broadcast.

"I’m really looking forward to the night.”

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