Arena Essex speedway are calling on a past hero to bring home their first silverware for a decade.

Kelvin Tatum is back at the Purfleet Raceway after a two-year break from the sport, and the three-time world longtrack champ is set to spearhead the Hammers' Premier League campaign.

He is joined in the top order by Leigh Lanham, Colin White and this year's captain Shaun Tacey as co-promoter Colin Brine demands success.

Brine said: "We expect our riders to deliver. This is my third season at the club and it's ten years since the club won a significant trophy. Now is the time to put that right."

Another new face, Ronnie Russell, is taking on dual role as co-promoter and joint team manager with Martin Goodwin.

And Brine paid tribute to the new man, who returns to the club he managed in division one.

"All who know Ronnie appreciate his enthusiasm, which is infectious, he added "He is eager to see the Hammers restored as a leading club and that's exactly what we set out to do three years ago."

Andy Galvin, Lee Herne and 19-year-old Scott Courtney complete the squad while behind the scenes South African Gerald Richter replaces Peter Thorogood as track curator.

The experienced 55-year-old is looking forward to tackling a new challenge after building a proud reputation in his homeland. "I've worked on circuits in and around Johannesburg back home and I've actually built tracks from scratch," he said. "In fact, I've done most things in speedway including refereeing and running training schools."

This season's other big signing is a real boost for all the riders -- but won't earn a single point. A £20,000 air-fence -- the first of its kind in the Premier League -- has been installed to protect against injury in the high-speed sport.

And co-promoter Brine was keen to get one after it proved its worth in the Grand Prix series in the last two years.

"It seemed the right and proper thing to do," he said. "The financial cost is high, but so are the risks riders take just to entertain us.

"This is another step forward in the image of professionalism we've introduced at this club."

The first meeting of the season is a challenge match at home to Rye House on Good Friday, starting at 3pm. The opening competitive match is on April 5 against Reading at the traditional start time of 8pm.

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for seniors and £2 for children. Season tickets are £200, or £110 for concessions.

Published Thursday, March 14, 2002