Parr: A little bit of luck and we’ll go far!
With the Redcar “Agilia” Bears class of 2024 being announced in front of a sold out clubhouse on Saturday, Gavin Parr believes he has acquired the right side to challenge in 2024! With the evergreen club captain Charles Wright and Jason Edwards already confirmed as starters for next season, the remaining 5 signings were met with a rapturous reception on Saturday night.
Parr, who will be going into his second year as Bears team boss, believes that 2024 will be a good year for the Bears, “ I think we are set up for a good season, we have a team who can challenge at the top end of the table come the end of 2024! If we get that little bit of luck everybody needs then I am confident we will have a good season!”
The Newcastle born team manager explained how he wanted to build the team around 5 of last year’s squad, “I really wanted to build the team around Danny (King), Charles (Wright), Connor (Bailey), Jason (Edwards) and Jake (Mulford). I really believe that Connor and Jason could challenge Thomas Jorgensen for the third heat leader position by the end of the season and that’s an exciting prospect!”
Parr was also effusive in his praise for the returning number 1 Danny King, with Parr revealing he was desperate to acquire the services of the British star in 2024, “ Danny brings everything to the club, not just his on track performances but he also brings superb professionalism and leadership to Redcar. Danny has been around the block and done a lot in the sport but he still has the hunger and desire to do more, and Danny can pass that experience he has on in the pits.”
Parr is excited with the signing of Ben Trigger (who will also represent the Middlesbrough Tigers in the National Development League) with the team boss believing the young Brit has bags of potential at reserve, “ Ben (Trigger) has a lot of potential and he has done a lot of laps around the ECCO Arena, he even hired the track three times for himself last season! Ben is still a young kid but if we can prepare him mentally and physically for the season then I think he will be one of the best number seven’s in the league!”
The former cycle speedway man was keen to emphasise the importance of the returning Connor Bailey, “ Connor has the track record around the ECCO Arena and he always wanted to come back in 2024. However, Connor works for Allied who are heavily involved with Glasgow and he is a Glasgow asset but when Connor spoke to the Tigers and informed them of his wishes, Glasgow told him he could go to the club of his choosing, so fair play to them! Once we got the go ahead from Glasgow, Jade (Mudgway) and Connor did a deal within 10 minutes.”
The man who guided Redcar into the play-offs in 2023 also explained that Jake Mulford’s return to Redcar was a near certainty for 2024, “ Jake was always coming back this season, he’s such a nice lad but he has only done around 18 months of competitive speedway. Before his injury, Jake was really showing his true potential and I am really excited to see him blossom next season.”
Lastly, Parr is excited with the arrival of Thomas Jorgensen, with the Dane returning to Bears colours for the first time since 2018, “ Thomas is a real racer and a crowd favourite. Thomas loves our track and last season, he had a tough year at number 1 at Berwick, and with him not being the best gater, he struggled to pass around Shielfield Park. TJ will fly without the pressure of being the number 1 and I think he will really flourish in the middle of the side.”