Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2008 21:08:49 GMT
Thought you might like to know.....
Plymouth Devils yesterday rubber-stamped their ambitions to bring higher level speedway to the city by officially applying for the Premier League. Devils chairman Mike Bowden revealed he was already putting a squad together to compete at a higher level. The Plymouth team at present competes in the Conference League, which is largely due to disappear at the end of this season. It will be be replaced by what is, in effect, an academy league for younger riders.Devils, should their application be accepted, would enter Premier Two, with the opportunity of competing for promotion to the top flight, Premier One. Bowden said he believed the club's application would be accepted – and he said that he could see no problem in moving up a level. Devils, based at St Boniface Arena, off Marsh Mills, are only in their third year. But Bowden, who set up the club virtually single handedly, felt it was time to move on. He said: “We gave notice of our intention to join the Premier League yesterday and I really can't see any reason why we won't be accepted. “We've got good facilities, we've got good crowds and we've got good racing and I'm sure we can compete. “At the moment, the Conference League is all right, but we have been in it for three years now and I think we've outgrown it. “The academy league will help a lot of younger riders coming through and will be good for the smaller teams, who might only get 100 spectators on race nights.” He added: “The good thing is that we are going to bring some of the top teams down to Plymouth for people to see.” Bowden said he was excited by the prospect of putting the Devils into the Premier League. He said: “I'm quite sure that we will be all right. I know a lot of riders (to strenthen the side) and there's three or four that I know are going to ride with me next year. “Let's get this season over and see where we can go from there.” Several of the Devils riders already have riders with Premier League experience. Speedway regulations allow riders to sign for a Premier and a Conference League team during the season. Nicki Glanz is riding for Reading as well as the Devils, while the ever-improving Kyle Hughes races for Sheffield. Devils have made huge strides in their last three years.
more can be found on my blog www.surfinsba.blogspot.com
Plymouth Devils yesterday rubber-stamped their ambitions to bring higher level speedway to the city by officially applying for the Premier League. Devils chairman Mike Bowden revealed he was already putting a squad together to compete at a higher level. The Plymouth team at present competes in the Conference League, which is largely due to disappear at the end of this season. It will be be replaced by what is, in effect, an academy league for younger riders.Devils, should their application be accepted, would enter Premier Two, with the opportunity of competing for promotion to the top flight, Premier One. Bowden said he believed the club's application would be accepted – and he said that he could see no problem in moving up a level. Devils, based at St Boniface Arena, off Marsh Mills, are only in their third year. But Bowden, who set up the club virtually single handedly, felt it was time to move on. He said: “We gave notice of our intention to join the Premier League yesterday and I really can't see any reason why we won't be accepted. “We've got good facilities, we've got good crowds and we've got good racing and I'm sure we can compete. “At the moment, the Conference League is all right, but we have been in it for three years now and I think we've outgrown it. “The academy league will help a lot of younger riders coming through and will be good for the smaller teams, who might only get 100 spectators on race nights.” He added: “The good thing is that we are going to bring some of the top teams down to Plymouth for people to see.” Bowden said he was excited by the prospect of putting the Devils into the Premier League. He said: “I'm quite sure that we will be all right. I know a lot of riders (to strenthen the side) and there's three or four that I know are going to ride with me next year. “Let's get this season over and see where we can go from there.” Several of the Devils riders already have riders with Premier League experience. Speedway regulations allow riders to sign for a Premier and a Conference League team during the season. Nicki Glanz is riding for Reading as well as the Devils, while the ever-improving Kyle Hughes races for Sheffield. Devils have made huge strides in their last three years.
more can be found on my blog www.surfinsba.blogspot.com
