NATIONAL SUPPORTERS GROUP REPRESENTATIVE ANNOUNCED
Wednesday 16 January 2019
Kent Speedway fans have an appointed representative on the new National Supporters Group [NSG] - an exciting new initiative being launched this year by the sport's governing body, the British Speedway Promoters' Association [BSPA].
It's Ben Clifton, a fan of the sport who has been a near ever-present on the terraces at Central Park since league Speedway returned to the Garden of England in 2013. And he has strong family links to the sport, being the son of former National League title winner with the one-time Canterbury Crusaders back in 1978, Graham Clifton. Ben is also the cousin of former Kings' rider, the hugely popular, Luke Clifton. With such devotion to the club and an insight from both sides of the fence, Ben is champing at the bit to get going after winning his own version of the 'meaningful vote' to get the job as the club's representative on the NSG,
"I see this as a massive opportunity for us the fans to have a voice with the powers that be. I invite any Kent Kings Speedway fans to contact me via Facebook or via email (Teaboy279@btinternet.com) to share their views with me. I will then form a consensus of opinion and prepare a presentation to make on everyone's behalf."
The idea for the NSG came out of the 2018 BSPA Annual General Meeting where the sport's power brokers agreed to form the Group to provide a structured platform for supporters (each representing one of the sport's tracks/clubs) to meet with the BSPA to air their views (however critical!) and provide ideas.
The BSPA believe greater supporter engagement is vital to the future of Speedway in this the 90th. year of League racing in the UK - seeing the formation of this new Group as adding significant value to the sport's continued development.
The NSG will meet three times per year at various locations around the country wiyh the first meeting planned for next month..
Ashford-based Ben is known to many by his 'Teaboy' moniker and he'll be looking to stir things up on behalf of all of the supporters of the Kings,
"I feel very honoured to be selected for this role, and I intend to grasp the opportunity with both hands to help improve our sport for everyone involved."