Speedway crowds pack out Wolves stadium for emotional semi-final clash that could be city's last
The biggest speedway crowd seen at Monmore Green Stadium for years roared when the tapes went up on what could be Wolves' last meaningful meeting at their famous old home.
Hundreds of fans were locked out of the stadium on Monday night, with the desperate ones attempting to scale fences and walls to try and glimpse a piece of history.
Wolves announced there will be a 'Farewell to Monmore' exhibition meeting in October so the emotional goodbyes can wait for another month - Monday's meeting was about the pursuit of glory.
And sporting immortality. Wolves' quest to win the Premiership in the last race at their home of nearly 100 years before being turfed out by multi-million pound betting corporation Entain has captured the imagination of speedway fans across the world.
Entain told the Express & Star this week it will not add an extra night of greyhound racing next year, so Monmore Green Stadium will lie empty, in darkness, as thousands of speedway fans will be sitting at home wishing they could be standing next to friends and family as they have for decades.
However, the two-leg semi-final against familiar foes Sheffield Tigers has to be negotiated before any dreams of a bittersweet sporting fairytale can be contemplated.
Wolves wanted a dominating home victory to create an insurmountable second leg lead in the Steel City, and their riders grasped the nettle from the get-go.
The fans were at fever pitch from the start. The Turn One Crew got to the Monmore Green Stadium, no Wolves fan ever uses the prefix "Ladbrokes" or "Greyhound" when describing their spiritual home.
Ranging from six years old to 31, Willenhall's self-styled FCC pulled out every Wolves branded garment they could find to look the part to cheer on their heroes.
