Sheffield are gunning for their first ever top-flight league title on a huge night of Speedway in South Yorkshire this Thursday (October 13, 7.30pm).
A bumper crowd is expected at Owlerton for what promises to be a momentous occasion for the Tru Plant Tigers against Belle Vue on, arguably, the biggest night for the sport in the Steel City.
Last year saw Sheffield move up into the Premiership where they secured a Play-Off Semi-Final spot at the first time of asking.
This season saw them top the league standings ahead of the cut-off date before storming to a 36 point aggregate Semi-Final triumph over Wolverhampton.
That set up a Grand Final against their War of the Roses rivals Belle Vue – and it’s the Manchester men who lead by 12 points at the halfway stage following Monday’s first leg at the National Speedway Stadium.
Sheffield are on a nine match winning streak in the Steel City though and face an Aces side who have suffered three defeats at Owlerton in 2022.
The Tigers beat a weakened Belle Vue line-up 53-37 in the League Cup back in April before pulling off a surprise 54-36 victory over a much stronger side in the league a month later.
But the scorelines kept improving as Sheffield racked up their biggest win of the regular league season with a 57-33 triumph over the Aces just three weeks ago.
Team boss Simon Stead is expecting much more of a fight from Belle Vue this time around with the Premiership trophy on the line – but reckons a big crowd and a deafening atmosphere could play a crucial part. “I hope the place is absolutely packed out,” Stead said. “I know Belle Vue fans are due to make the short trip in good numbers and I have no doubt that the Sheffield public will respond as well.”
“We heard a decent level of noise in Manchester on Monday, but we want it even louder at our place. There’s no greater sight than a full Owlerton Stadium under the floodlights and with the atmosphere that’s bound to be generated, I think it’s going to be something else – I just really hope it’s our supporters who have got something to shout about by the end of the night and hopefully it will be us stood out there lifting that trophy.”
“We know the job in hand and as we’ve proven a couple of times here already this year, they are far from unbeatable. The boys are so, so hungry, they really do deserve success, so here’s hoping that they can go out there and get the job done.”
Season tickets are NOT valid and tickets can either be purchased by cash or card on the night, or in advance via the ticket office.
Supporters are urged to bring air horns, hand clappers and Sheffield Tigers foam hands previously handed out this season to help create a night to remember.
A special souvenir Grand Final programme has also been produced and will be available to buy for £4 trackside.
