Biggest match of the year for Edinburgh.

Casting aside the misery of recent weather, Scottish Speedway fans look forward this week to Friday's Premier League clash at Armadale between the Fulfilment Factory Monarchs and Glasgow Tigers.

A big crowd is expected to see if the Tigers can repeat their win (by 2 points) in the corresponding Premier Trophy match back in April.

Biggest match of the year for Edinburgh.

Casting aside the misery of recent weather, Scottish Speedway fans look forward this week to Friday's Premier League clash at Armadale between the Fulfilment Factory Monarchs and Glasgow Tigers.

A big crowd is expected to see if the Tigers can repeat their win (by 2 points) in the corresponding Premier Trophy match back in April.

A needle match?

The last Scottish derby finished in a 45-45 draw at Ashfield amid controversy, as James Grieves was excluded for bringing down Frede Schott.

There was a fracas in the pits, and although Schott and Grieves soon made peace there was much heat on the terraces.

"That should bring a few extra along for the next match!" said Schott. "I don't mind it if their fans boo me, in fact I love it!"

It should be lively on the Armadale slopes on Friday!

Weather problem:

Never in their history have Edinburgh had such a bad run of weather. Last Friday's postponement meant three of the last home meetings lost to the rain, and actually one of these fixtures was postponed on the Friday and Sunday.

With a KO Cup tie against Newport to be replayed, and no possibility of running two matches in a week, it's hard to see where these fixtures are going to be fitted in - though they will be!

The only dates known so far are 5th July for the Cup visit of Newport, 9th August for the League visit of Newport and 17th July for the away match at Hull.

Still to be scheduled - home and away matches v Somerset, home matches v Berwick and Swindon and the cup visit to Newport.

Prices forced to rise:

As announced last week, prices for adult and OAP admission and for the club match magazine will rise by 50p from this Friday. Armadale Stadium has changed hands and these rises have been forced on the club by a substantially increased weekly rental.

The club are offering season tickets for the remaining matches at pre-increase prices.

Away results:

Edinburgh lost 33-57 at Exeter on a very deep track, and 41-49 at Trelawny in a thrilling fixture. The Fulfilment Factory Monarchs took the aggregate bonus over Trelawny.

Teams for the Premier League match at Armadale on Friday 21st June (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

Edinburgh Fulfilment Factory Monarchs: Frede Schott (capt.), David Meldrum, Dalle Andersson, Theo Pijper, Peter Carr, Christian Henry and Ben Shields.

Glasgow Tigers: James Grieves, Kenny Olsson, Mick Powell, Martin Dixon, George Stancl, Robert McNeil and David McAllan.

Dangerous Tigers:

Glasgow's current lowish League position is a misleading one. They did lose an early home match to Trelawny, but their form (especially away from home) is excellent.

Like most teams their recent racing has been seriously disrupted by the weather, but their home and away victory over Workington in the KO Cup was very impressive. They have a powerful heat leader trio in Grieves-Stancl-Powell, and a dangerous pair of second string riders in Kenny Olsson and Martin Dixon.

At reserve David McAllan knows the circuit well from his time as a Monarch. Edinburgh will need to be at their best to avoid a repeat of the Premier Trophy result.

Last week's meeting...

...became the third Armadale rain-off in four weeks as the visit of Swindon was washed away by incessant rain for most of Friday. This is the worst run the club has experienced in over half a century.

Next week's meeting:

Arena Essex became one of the glamour sides of the Premier League when they snapped up the signing of former World Finalist and ex-British Champion Kelvin Tatum. They come to Armadale on Friday 28th June.

Theo success:

Edinburgh's young Dutchman is really making a name for himself on the dirt and grass tracks of Europe. After his sixth place finish in the first round of the World Longtrack recently, he won a Dutch grasstrack meeting on Saturday (heading Jeremy Doncaster) and finished runner up to Brian Karger on Sunday in a sand meeting in Germany.

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