Mildenhall Fen Tigers fans called upon to raise £10,000 to get West Row club back on the track for 2025 speedway season

Fans of the Mildenhall Fen Tigers are being called upon to help raise £10,000 to get the club back to the track for the 2025 speedway season.

A public meeting is set to take place at West Row Village Hall on Sunday (3pm) after a proposal to set up a Supporters’ Trust to get the club to the tapes in this year’s National Development Trophy has been put forward by a steering group.

It is the second time in three years that fans have been asked to dig deep to get the West Row-based outfit to the tapes after an appeal was launched to secure £15,000 to help them line up in the 2023 National Development League (NDL).

However, unlike on that occasion, those pledging cash would then part own the club with their funds going straight into the Supporters’ Trust, which is the brainchild of steering group member Steve Ribbons.

“We realise at this moment in time to start speedway back up at Mildenhall would be too much for one person. There is no white knight coming in over the horizon with a bucket load of cash,” said Ribbons.

“Following the example of some football clubs we propose to start a Supporters’ Trust where everyone would pay into it and they would run the club.

“The club would be owned by the fans and members would be elected into certain positions that are required to run the club.

“What we are looking at is for 100 people to put £100 in and each of them would have a vote on matters.

“I’ve already had one person, who wishes to remain nameless, that has offered to put £500 in.

“I know people have given over money in the past, but this is not going to be like before as it goes straight into the Supporters’ Trust which will run the club. I want to make this clear though that, while this is exciting, without the support of the fans this project will go nowhere.”

After sitting out the 2024 campaign, the Fen Tigers were put up for sale by outgoing promoter Greg Palmer in August, a month after part of Mildenhall Stadium was damaged by fire.

However, Ribbons insists both Palmer and Deane Wood, managing director of Spedeworth Motorsports that own Mildenhall Stadium, are behind the current proposals on the table which, if they come to fruition, would see the Fen Tigers, who were formed in 1975, race on in their 50th anniversary.

Ribbons added: “I’ve spoken to Deane Wood at Spedeworth and he has been very helpful in giving us 14 dates where the whole stadium is completely unused.

“Greg Palmer has been fully on board with it. He was the first person that we approached and he believes this is an excellent idea.

“We need to pass a track inspection following the fire that took place at the stadium, but if this comes off the idea would be to have a press and practice day in April and the first meeting in May.”

And while remaining tight-lipped about potential rider signings, Ribbons believes that fans would be happy with the names that have already been in contact.

He added: “I’ve had a good number of riders get in touch and I feel we could put together a competitive team of faces that will be familiar to the fans and some that will be completely new.

“If we can get this off the ground I think Mildenhall coming back is not only good for speedway in the south east, but good for speedway overall.”