Dudley Heathens' success to be celebrated at civic reception
They've won the national league and cup double and now Dudley Heathens speedway team have been invited to toast their success at a civic reception in their honour.
Riders and officials will attend a celebration event hosted by the Mayor of Dudley Councillor Alan Finch at Dudley Council House on Tuesday.
They will be joined by representatives of the Heathens 1983 team, which featured the likes of Erik Gundersen and Jan O Pedersen to mark the 30th anniversary of one of the club's greatest team successes.
The Dudley Heathens, which rose out of the former Cradley Heath side, won the National League this year which is the third tier of speedway in Britain.
They secured the title for the first time with back-to-back wins over King's Lynn. More than 300 fans travelled to Norfolk from the Dudley and Cradley area to watch the racing.
Victory has also been theirs in the Knockout Cup Final.
In 1983 the Cradley Heathens won the top flight league and cup double and the side went down in club history, with the team known by Heathens' fans as 'simply the best'.
Councillor Finch said: "We are looking forward to speaking to the riders who have been outstanding this season in winning the league and cup double. I was honoured to be a guest at the cup final home leg and was very impressed with the young Heathens."
Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson welcomed the announcement.
He said: "We are honoured and thrilled to be invited to a Mayoral reception in Dudley. It's events like this which again underline what the team achieved this year."
