TREVOR SWALES has done almost every job possible during a long association with Peterborough - now he tells MARK PLUMMER about his biggest-ever task . . .
Peterborough Panthers is more than just a speedway club to Trevor Swales. It's been a huge part of his life four more than forty years.
Swales has probably spent as much time at the East of England Showground over the years as he has done in the marital home.
Just as well then that most of the family share his passion for racing and have been at Alwalton alongside him.
His father, his wife, two of his sons, his brother, his sister-in-law and his niece have also been involved at a club currently which has been a permanent fixture in the sport since 1970.
"I was thinking the other day and flag marshal is just about the only job I could come up with that I haven't done at one point or another," said Swales.
"I was first involved as a rider in the club's second season in 1971 and have done so many things since.
"I've been on the gate, I've been in the bar, I've done the track, I've ridden, I've managed the team and I'm currently a promoter.
"But I would never have been able to justify putting in the sort of hours that I've done were it not for the family also loving speedway and being involved."
After dabbling as a rider in the early days before moving onto moto-cross, Swales returned as a sponsor and official in the 1980s "“ even purchasing a rider for the club.
"I bought Wayne Bridgeford from Rye House," added Swales. "He came in as a number eight for us in one meeting and won both his rides.
"Rye House were playing hard-ball at the time so I decided I would buy him. I'm not going to say what it cost me, but it was a not insignificant sum."
In the 1990s he continued to fill a variety of roles off-track before departing at the end of the Peter Oakes promotion.
He returned early in the current century and became team manager ahead of the 2004 campaign "“ an appointment made by currently outgoing supremo Mick Horton.
It was a reign which featured an unforgettable Elite League title triumph and continued until the arrival of former World Cup-winning boss Jan Staechmann in 2012.
Swales settled into a supporting role with the former Danish chief and his replacement, club legend Ryan Sullivan, while becoming a co-promoter "“ a role he still occupies today at the end of a difficult campaign back at Premier League level for the first time since Panthers dominated the second tier in 1998.
"There have been some great times down there years," continued Swales. "The racing at Peterborough is always second to none and I'll never forget the successes down the years.
"I've had offers to go to other clubs, but I've never even really considered them. Peterborough always has been my club and always will be "“ even when times are tough.
"There's no denying that it has been tough lately. I described the current season as the most trying of my time at Peterborough in an interview the other day.
"Nothing went right for us on or off the track. We had injury problems that ripped our team apart and, combined with the other issues, probably stopped us winning trophies.
"It would have been brilliant to end the season on a high by winning the League Cup, but Edinburgh are an awfully strong team and we were relying on guests."
Now Swales is taking on arguably his biggest challenge yet as he plots Peterborough's survival.
Swales has joined forces with Ged Rathbone (the mechanic of skipper Ulrich Ostergaard and a man who joined the club's management team during this year) to front a rescue package for the club after current supremo Mick Horton pulled out halfway through a two-year leasehold deal.
Swales and Rathbone, a businessman in the North-East, are currently finalising the date and details of a major fans event expected to be staged before the end of the month as they explore all avenues in a bid to ensure Panthers race on into a 45th year.
Swales admitted: "The problems Mick has encountered this year have been well documented.
"People shouldn't be too critical as he stepped in last winter to keep speedway going in Peterborough and it has clearly cost him a lot of money to do so.
"Mick has made it clear he won't be around next year, but we need to everything we possibly can to ensure the club is still around.
"We can't change the past, but we can influence the future and myself and Ged have some ideas.
"If successful we will avoid racing on Tuesday nights like the plague as they just haven't taken off.
"We need to look at running on weekend dates "“ Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays "“ to make ourselves as accessible as possible to families.
"But we will need as much backing and expertise as possible to help us. We've already had some promises of financial backing through sponsorship and we will need plenty more as we are well aware the club cannot operate on admission money alone.
"Commercial revenue is vital and I would urge anyone who is in a position to help us in any way to get along to our big fans' event once we've got the date finalised.
"It is going to be a huge night in the history of the club."
