'Future of Sheffield Speedway in good hands': Simon Stead's message after difficult winter
STEEPED as he is in Sheffield Tigers Speedway, the news this off-season that the promotion he had supported, rode for and managed was being put up for sale was very disconcerting for Simon Stead.
Just days after their season ended in a controversial Premiership play-off semi-final defeat last September, it was announced that the Bates family and Peter Mole would be stepping away from the promotion of the Owlerton Stadium operation.
“It was a worrying time for all involved with Sheffield Speedway; riders, supporters and management,” says Stead, a Sheffield lad who watched from the stands with his dad, rode for the team for a large part of his career, and as their manager, had overseen the most trophy-laden spell in their history in recent years.
“I was worried. A change of ownership could change things dramatically for me. I’ve raced for this promotion and worked for them as a team manager for a long time now, I didn’t know whether I would have that same feeling about the place with new owners who potentially would have new ideas of their own.
“So I didn’t know if that would spell the end for me here.”
The uncertainty lasted for three months until the Bates family from Barnsley did an about-turn and announced they would be staying on and welcoming new investors.
“The goal was always to ensure the long-term running of Sheffield Speedway,” continues Stead. “But at the time the management felt they’d done their time and it was time for some fresh motivation and fresh ideas. They wanted to ensure the right person came along. Whether they had a change of heart or circumstances changed a little bit, or perhaps they felt they had more to give, they came back.
“But it was close and I’m just glad it’s been resolved and we’re back here for another season. The situation getting resolved was a massive thing for me. I spend a lot of time here, a lot of fond memories. But it wasn’t about me, or about them, it was about securing what’s right for Sheffield Speedway. And the long term future is in good hands and we can focus on the track now.”
Sitting in the bar overlooking the famous track at the team’s media day on Thursday, Stead is eager to turn the conversation to the present and the future.
He is excited about the riders he has got coming back to represent Sheffield. Throughout all the uncertainty he remained in constant dialogue with a group of riders who had gone into the off-season smarting about how close they came to extending Sheffield’s streak of winning silverware into a fifth year.
“We’ve built a really strong team again,” says Stead.
“What spoke volumes was that everybody who rode for us last season wanted to come back. The fact we’ve been able to facilitate that and get six out of the seven back is great.
“Jack Holder is going to be fighting for the world championship again, Chris Holder is a former world champion, Josh Pickering could have had his choice of tracks to go to – but he was such an inspirational captain last year. Then the two younger guys Anders (Rowe) and Leon (Flint) were superb last year. We felt Jye (Etheridge) fitted in well, he found his feet at the back end of the season after not being involved in Premiership Speedway for a couple of years.
“And bringing Luke (Killeen) in as rising star, he’s got a lot to prove, he’s well thought of and did a decent job for Oxford in the Premiership as well and I expect him to develop under the guidance of the other Aussies.”
And the outlook for the sport in Britain is a little brighter than it was. Established promotions in Wolverhampton and Birmingham may have gone but a brand new team will ride for Northampton this year, taking the Premiership back up to six teams.
Not enough, everyone would agree, but a building block at least.
“It has been a difficult winter but I think speedway is in a good place again,” believes Stead.
“There’s a vision for ‘27 and ‘28. Look at Coventry not being far away from getting the green light. You’ve got promoters in place that have got a vision and are working towards an improved future for speedway as a whole and that bears well.
“If we can increase coverage, the product, give people a more modern product and increase footfall – once you’ve grasped people and got them here it’s such an easy sport to enjoy. We do have a positive sport to sell to the masses.”
After a winter of upheaval, Stead and his Tigers are ready for the sound of wheels spinning on shale again. “The aim this year is to bring some silverware back to South Yorkshire,” adds Stead.