Tributes to Ivan on must-win night

THE Newcastle Diamonds return to Brough Park this evening (6.30pm tapes-up) for one of the biggest missions of revenge they have embarked on for many a long year.

On Thursday, the Redcar Bears did a fine job on the Diamonds, taking a whopping 26-point victory over their local rivals, and nothing short of a home win tonight will do, but there’s confusion over just who will be turning out for the Diamonds.

Team manager George English has a few headaches to contend with. “We might be at full strength,” he said tentatively, “but we have two hand injuries to worry about which kept Lewis Rose and Stuart Robson out of last night’s match at Berwick.”

Lewis damaged his hand at King’s Lynn on Wednesday night and Robson is believed to have severely dislocated his finger at Redcar on Thursday.

Tonight will also be an emotional night for fans of the Diamonds, as the event will also be a celebration of the life of six-times World Speedway Champion, three-times World Long Track Champion Ivan Mauger, who died last weekend.

Mauger raced for the Byker club from 1963 until 1968, the season he won his first world title.

It is hoped some of his former Diamonds team-mates will be there tonight.

A special tribute edition of ‘The Diamond’, Newcastle’s match magazine, has been produced, filled with memories and photographs of Mauger, some of which have rarely been seen in public.