HE WAS A MATE

Arriving at Armadale tonight, I was shocked and saddened to be met by the news of Nigel Pearson’s sudden passing.

Everything else was wiped from my mind. He was a mate.

I’d known ‘Nige’ since the mid-eighties, when he was a noisy young supporter of Cradley Heathens, and used to join his pals in handing me plenty of terracing abuse while I was working on the infield at the old Belle Vue.

We kept in casual touch over the years, and I was more than impressed by his rise as a multi-faceted journalist and radio commentator on football, darts and – after Sky Sports took over the screening of both Grands Prix and league racing – speedway.

Nigel’s death leaves a huge, gaping chasm in speedway’s infrastructure. Quite apart from his public persona as the prime voice in the TV commentary booth, he was a huge presence in the day-to-day administration of our sport.

He acted as Press Officer for the BSPL, and was also deeply involved with the group who have seen the Curtis organisation expanding throughout a number of sports with the supply of match programmes, advertising special events and innovative marketing ideas.

At Berwick, I recall Nigel coming up with Cradley when we raced at Berrington Lough (when his co-commentator Kelvin Tatum was our captain, of course) and then his several visits with Sky Sports to cover our televised matches during the past decade.

He was a speedway enthusiast, a darts authority and a devout follower of West Bromwich Albion.

We have lost Nigel Pearson far too young, far too soon.

My thoughts and sincere sympathy go to Kerrie and his family. Speedway ain’t ever going to be the same.

But the show has to go on – and tomorrow (Saturday) our show has both the Edinburgh teams in town.

Their Devils will be seeking revenge for a gubbing administered by our Bullets at Armadale just a week ago, while the FTS Bandits will be hoping to have regained their gating skills – which had clearly deserted them this evening – for the main event.

If we feel our team was crucified tonight — well it is Good Friday.

Resurrection must happen tomorrow. First race of thirty will go to the tapes at 6.30pm.

Let’s go skidding!
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