7:00am Thursday 25th September 2008
By Phil Chard
MATT Ford has issued a rallying cry to Pirates fans - help us win the Elite League title for the first time since 2004.
Poole Castle Cover head for the play-offs as overwhelming favourites to lift the crown after finishing top of the table.
But Ford believes Pirates' riders need a big helping hand from their "eighth man" - Poole's supporters - to win the championship.
So he's calling for a big turn-out for their home semi-final against Ipswich or Swindon on Monday when the business end of the season really begins.
Ford, whose side complete their regulation league programme at Ipswich tonight (7pm), said: "We need our eighth man now.
"It's crucial, just as Paul Azinger told the American people they were going to be his 13th man in the Ryder Cup.
"We need the Poole and Bournemouth public to get firmly behind us."
Ford, whose double-chasing side contest the Knockout Cup final against Eastbourne on October 25 (away) and 26 (home), added: "We really are pretty good at this sport at little old Poole.
"We're taking on some of the biggest cities in England including London (Lakeside), Manchester (Belle Vue) and Wolverhampton in our competition and have been beating them.
"Our little town is very good at this sport, but we still need our crowd to get behind us and help cheer us on to some more silverware.
"There are two more competitions to go and if ever we need our fans to turn out and play their part it's now.
"We've got the play-off semi at home on September 29 and if we win that one, the two-legged final.
"Then there's the two cup matches against our south coast rivals Eastbourne to look forward too.
"The play-offs are on Sky, but there is no reason to stay at home.
"We'll have a big screen at Poole on Monday so everyone can watch the live speedway and at the same time they will be able to watch the other semi at Lakeside as well.
"It probably looks like it's going to be Ipswich in the semi for us now.
"We're 90 per cent certain that's what will happen and we'll be happy with that.
"To be honest, we don't mind who we face. We just want to know who the opposition is.
"Ipswich are capable of beating us and Coventry, who are second on in a double header tonight, by a combined total of more than 34 points to leapfrog Swindon into third in the table.
"But we don't care whether it's Ipswich or Swindon."
Pirates, who won 51-41 at Foxhall in June, are at full strength.
Witches are without Jarek Hampel, who has to ride in a Polish ExtraLeague play-off meeting, and use rider replacement for injured Tobias Kroner.
Pirates: 1 Chris Holder, 2 Magnus Zetterstrom, 3 Bjarne Pedersen, 4 Adam Skornicki, 5 Davey Watt, 6 Freddie Eriksson, 7 Daniel Davidsson.
Ipswich: 1 Piotr Swiderski, 2 Rider replacement for Tobias Kroner, 3 Guest to be confirmed in place of Jarek Hampel, 4 Robert Miskowiak, 5 Rory Schlein, 6 Steve Johnston, 7 Chris Schramm.
The cup final second leg against Eastbourne begins at 3pm the same day.
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