SKIPPER STEVE SET TO SIGN OFF

Poole Pirates will go into SGB Championship action for the first time without Steve Worrall amongst their number in 2024 as he one of the victims of a dramatically reduced team average planned for next season.

Worrall announced his forthcoming departure after the Pirates missed out on retaining the Knockout cup and Poole promoter Dan Ford has admitted "it is going to feel strange next season not to have Steve around but as is always the case in speedway nothing lasts for ever because of the restrictions of the points limit. Even if there was to be no change to the points limit for next season from this, we would still have had to make major changes to comply, but with an even lower figure likely to be signed off at Conference then regrettably Steve won't be the only current Pirate that we will have to release and it is with a heavy heart that we say farewell and good luck to Steve who has been a great guy to work with and was a good captain for us this season, stepping into the role after we had to release Danny King last season for the same reasons. I am convinced that, like Danny and so many others, Steve will always receive a warm welcome whenever he comes back to Wimborne Road to ride against us, as he is certainly very popular with the fans."

Worrall was signed ahead of the 2020 season which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions but became a strong figurehead alongside King and Rory Schlein in the 2021 as the Pirates lifted the league and cup double. The following season, with Schlein announcing his intended retirement from British speedway, Worrall and King were joined by Richard Lawson in an equally potent top three that saw the two titles successfully defended as well as qualifying for the new competition latterly named the Jubilee Trophy. Due to a prolonged season after the weather caused considerable fixture congestion, the final of the Jubilee trophy was carried over to this campaign, one in which Worrall was handed the role of captain and he again steered the Pirates to the finals of the league and cup and win the BSN series, a restructured competition to replace the Jubilee. 

In his three seasons with the Pirates Steve, who skippers the Poole side on Wednesday in the much delayed 2022 Jubille Final,  scored over one thousand points in official meetings and will feature in the top forty all time Poole scorers.