Mildenhall Fen Tigers’ final team place for 2014 will be taken by Connor Coles

Mildenhall Fen Tigers’ final team place for 2014 will be taken by Connor Coles, a signing that is sure to have a particular resonance to supporters who have followed the Fen Tigers since they first joined the then ‘National League’ back in 1975.

Connor is the Grandson of Mildenhall legend Bob Coles, the man who did so much to help the Fen Tigers make a mark in league speedway over 38 years ago!

Bob who was affectionately known as ‘The Rock that Mildenhall speedway was built upon” was a very welcome visitor last season when Connor rode for the Kent ‘Kings’ at West Row, his lap of honour gaining one of the biggest cheers of the season.

Connor’s father Michael also had a season at Mildenhall during a long and successful career, riding for the Fen Tigers in 1988.

Club Chairman Kevin Jolly was quick to highlight the importance of this signing -

“I rode with Bob when I was starting out in my career and of course Robert (Henry) was his protégé, and there is a massive link to our clubs history in the signing of young Connor. This is something I am sure many of our fans will appreciate and understand and really get behind Connor when he rides for us.

“We mustn’t get too caught up though in our past as Connor is a very promising rider in his own right, he showed at Mildenhall last season he is a quick learner when he came with the Kent ‘Kings’. After a difficult start to the meeting he really clicked into the track and showed bags of potential scoring paid nine. He will start the season in one of the reserve berths and I am sure he has the potential to be one of the top reserves in the league. We will be doing all we can to support him, as we do with all our riders.

“We are really pleased to have secured our ‘Magnificent Seven’ for 2014 so early, and we are sure that our supporters will be happy with this young and exciting line-up.”

Coles was excited by the prospect of continuing his families link with Mildenhall speedway.

“I think signing for Mildenhall is a great opportunity for me and I am really looking forward to starting the season, I hope to improve really well and quite quickly and hope to be a heat leader at some point which I think will be quite possible with the great team on the Management side at Mildenhall to support me.

“I have spoken to my granddad about Mildenhall and he has told me some stories and what a great place it is to be at, but I have always known myself what a good set up there is at Mildenhall and I know I am so lucky have this opportunity and intend to take it. I look forward to meeting everyone in the New Year and would like to wish everyone connected with the club a Merry Christmas.”