Lions set to roar one more time

Jun 13 2011 by Jeff Holmes, Paisley Daily Express

IT may be 35 years since the last 500cc speedway bike roared round Love Street stadium . . .but that won’t stop a group of fans wallowing in nostalgia about the ‘good old days’.

Former Paisley Lions Supporters Club boss Bill Elliott is arranging a reunion for riders and fans and wants to hear from anyone who had an affinity with the club.

Bill has already tracked down former riders Colin Caffrey, Sid and Mick Sheldrick, Chris Roynon and Alan ‘Doc’ Bridgett ahead of the event – and is hoping to get in touch with many more.

Memories

He told the Paisley Daily Express: “The speedway at Love Street holds a lot of very dear memories for me. In fact, I met my wife Margaret there.

“I’ve been thinking about a reunion for some time now and a 35th anniversary seems like the perfect time to do it.

“I want to gauge interest before booking a venue but I’m looking at a Saturday evening either at the end of October or the beginning of the following month.”

The Lions were noted for signing a host of riders from New Zealand and Bill is hoping to entice a few Antipodean bikers into making the mammoth 25,000-mile round trip to relive the days when Saturday night was “Lions Night” in Paisley.

“That would be the icing on the cake,” enthused Bill, who also worked on the Love Street track staff.

“I’m still in touch with a few of the guys and there’s a possibility that one of the Kiwis, who has relatives in the south of England, may be coming to the UK later in the year to see family, so we’re hoping he might make it up to Paisley for our reunion.

“One of the ideas I’m working on at present is the possibility of setting up a video link with New Zealand on the night so that fans can chat live with their old favourites.

“I would like it to be a night of real nostalgia, with lots of old Lions pics and memorabilia on display.

“The Lions certainly played a big part in the lives of a lot of Buddies and I’m hoping we can recreate the mid-1970s and give people a feel for that period.”

To that end, Bill plans to instruct the DJ at the reunion event to play tunes from 1975 and 1976 – the only two years the Lions were in existence.

Former Lions founder and team boss Neil MacFarlane has insisted a 35-year reunion night will be right up his street.

“Big Mac,” who is currently based in the south of England, where he works as a golf coach, said: “I cannot believe it has been 35 years since the Paisley Lions raced their final meeting. It’s a scary thought.

Tragedy

“It was such a tragedy that we didn’t survive longer than two years but the lack of a top-line rider probably did for us.

“We were crammed full of enthusiastic journeymen, who did a great job for the side, but we just lacked that real bit of quality.

“It was short and sweet but it was also incredibly special, which is why this reunion is a great idea.

“It may be 35 years on from the days when the Lions roared but fans still have feelings for the club.

“I’m looking forward to seeing some familar faces at the reunion.”

If you would like to attend the reunion or have any old Lions memorabilia lying around the house that organisers can use as part of their display, call Bill on 0785 472 4184 or e-mail him at bettens6@talktalk.net