Aces come up trumps with a funding boost

Having long been at the forefront of developments in their sport, Wednesfield Aces cycle speedway club are celebrating yet another first after being handed a cash injection by Sport England.

The Ashmore Park club have been given £6,284 to help with the cost of coaching courses, new bikes and winter training.

Wednesfield are the first cycle speedway club in the country to be awarded a funding from Sport England.

"It is really good news and the money will be a great deal of help," explained president Paul Bodley. "We applied for the funding with the help of British Cycling. The benefits we can gain from this funding will enable mainly the junior side of the club to recruit and keep lots more kids."

The Aces have been at the forefront of the sport since being founded – originally named the Ashmore Dragons - in 1962 by Bodley and David Parry.

Over the course of more than five decades they have gone on to win countless Elite League titles and with more than 100 riders, are one of the largest clubs in the country.

Bodley says it is the hard work of those riders and other members which is the real driving force behind their success.

"The money is essential for us to keep doing what we do but what it means, in reality, is that people who are already working hard have the resources to work even harder," said Bodley.

"That is what keeps us going more than anything else. The Elite League titles, the British Team Championships – it has all been down to hard work.

"At the moment we have people down at Wednesfield High School on Tuesday nights for winter training, making sure the youngsters are in shape for when the season starts in March.

"That is where a lot of this money will go. It is a big way to encourage working together."

With the club having enjoyed a fantastic 2015 – the highlight of which saw them host the World Championships last August – Bodley is optimistic of another strong season on the track under management duo Lee and Wayne Aris.

Both men are among the best in the business with Lee having been appointed British Lions manager, while Wayne is in charge of the England team.

"That is something quite unique and a real accolade for the club," explained Bodley. "Ever since the club was founded we have tried to attract the best people."

The Aces have held Clubmark status since 2006, allowing them to apply for various funding streams.

Bodley, who has helped other clubs in the region with their application, hopes others can now follow the lead.

"At the moment the sport comes under the umbrella of British Cycling and we are one of the smallest disciplines – but the support is there if you want it," he said.

"Cycle speedway had its heyday just after the end of the war, when there were said to be more than 2,000 teams in London alone – now there are just 34 clubs in the whole country.

"Some are strong, though others do struggle and the overall health of the sport is important to everyone. This is a funding programme that can be open to most clubs and I urge clubs to make an application."