CO-PROMOTER Damien Bates reckons his Sheffield side have reached a second successive Grand Final against all odds – but is refusing to give up on the dream of being crowned Premiership Champions.

The decider heads to Owlerton tonight (Thursday, October 5, 7.30) with the Tru Plant Tigers trailing Ipswich by 18 points.

It means the Steel City side need to produce what would be a top-flight play-off final record breaking display to lift the trophy.

But regardless of tonight’s outcome, Bates, who has taken to the raceday programme and Speedway Star magazine to voice his ‘annoyance’ and ‘grievances’ at certain recent events in the build-up to and throughout the first leg, says he is proud to see his club participating in yet another final.

“Injuries haven’t been kind to us and when you think that we’ve lost two Grand Prix riders in Jack Holder and Tai Woffinden, one of the best racers in the Premiership in Tobiasz Musielak and arguably the fastest progressing Rising Star in Dan Gilkes, it’s actually quite remarkable that we are here for our second Grand Final in two years,” Bates said.

“I know Steady (Simon Stead – team manager) will have the riders fired up, I’m sure there’ll be a great atmosphere from the off and if we could do it, it would make it even sweeter with everything that’s gone on this week.”

A frank and forthright column can be read in full in tonight’s special souvenir Grand Final programme available to purchase trackside for just £4, including reaction from Tuesday’s first leg at Foxhall.

Sheffield Speedway would like to remind supporters that season tickets are NOT valid for the decider at Owlerton on Thursday.

Children aged 17 and under will be admitted for just £1 with adult admission set at £22 while it’s £20 for concessions.

SHEFFIELD: Robert Lambert, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Chris Harris, Jye Etheridge, Jason Edwards.
IPSWICH: Emil Sayfutdinov, Erik Riss, Danny King, Keynan Rew, Jason Doyle, Danyon Hume, Joe Thompson.