Berwick Bandits set for Knockout Cup final in late September

Berwick Bandits’ bid to win their first speedway Knockout Cup in 37 years will begin in late September.

The club’s Shielfield Park home will host the first leg of the final against Plymouth Gladiators on September 26th, with the tie decided in Devon on October 10th.

With both clubs racing on a Saturday night, the choice of legs was decided by a random computer-generated “coin toss” staged by the sport’s governing body, which the Devon club won.

It will be Berwick’s ninth appearance in the final, but their first since a 1989 victory over Poole Pirates - the win wrapped up at their then-home of Berrington Lough near Ancroft.

Their only other triumph was when they beat Middlesbrough in 1980, with the second leg raced at neutral Newcastle after the Bandits tenancy agreement at Shielfield Park ran out a month earlier and landlords Berwick Rangers chose not to extend it in a row over rent.

After 16 years at a purpose-built stadium in the north Northumberland countryside, the Bandits returned to Shielfield Park in 1996. The previous final at Shielfield Park was against Rye House in 1979 – one of four staged at the Tweedmouth stadium.

Berwick have not lost a home leg in any of the nine finals, but only twice has that led to them lifting the famous old trophy.

This year’s final will be Plymouth’s first at this level, although they did win the third-tier Conference Knockout Cup in 2008 - a trophy won by Berwick in 1994 and 1995.