Meet the SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE Tigers 2009

Ricky was a grass tracker until the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001 put the sport on hold and persuaded him to try his hand at speedway. Less than 12 months later "Ricky who?" joined the Tigers.

Fast starting Ricky had a good solid first season in 2002, albeit with the odd mechanical problem, and was a major factor in the Tiger's fortunes. Started the 2003 season at reserve but had claimed the third heat-leader position by August. This earned him rides for Great Britain in the U21 test match wins against Sweden scoring 4+1 at Reading, and a commendable 7 at Wolverhampton.

Ricky doubled up for the Peterborough Panthers in the Elite League in 2004, and 2005 saw him riding for both Sheffield and the Poole Pirates. Ricky concentrated solely on the Tigers in 2006 proudly wearing the No.1 race jacket, and his best meetings seemed to be when he assumed the captaincy when André was injured.

Ricky made the No.1 race jacket his own in 2007 and again improved his average. He sustained a wrist injury in the Premier 4's at Peterborough in July causing him to miss four meetings, but scored 16 (paid 18) in his return match against Edinburgh in August. His best away performance was 13 points at Mildenhall which included a thrilling 5-1 with André in heat 15 to steal victory.

Ricky's 2008 season came to a premature conclusion with a broken wrist sustained in a crash with Trent Leverington in the away win at Glasgow but Ricky will be fit and raring to lead the Tigers in 2009 as their new captain.

Current average from official fixtures = tba

Josh was British Schoolboy Grass Track champion in 2001 (Junior), 2002 & 2003 (Intermediate) and on the speedway tracks he was the British Under 15 champion in both 2004 and 2005. He made his Conference League debut for the Scunthorpe Scorpions in 2005 scoring paid 13 and went on to help them win all manner of silverware in 2006 and 2007. He made his Premier League debut for Rye House at King's Lynn in the Playoff semi-final in 2006, falling twice and failing to score. He made 21 appearances for Redcar in 2007 finishing the season with a 7.23 average. Riding as a second string his confidence took a basking and his average slipped to 5.36 prompting Sheffield to approach Coventry to sign him on loan for the 2009 season. Josh starts out as one of our reserves but will be eager to force his way into the body of the team under the guidance of his mentor, and now team manager Eric Boocock.

Visit Josh's website www.joshauty.co.uk

Current average from official fixtures = tba

In 2006 Paul joined Conference League team Scunthorpe Scorpions as cover for the injured Wayne Carter,  going on to win the Conference League Best-Pairs meeting riding with Sheffield team-mate Benji Compton as the Scunthorpe 'B' pairing. Paul then broke a bone in his wrist riding against the Boston Braves causing him to struggle through the Play-off final for the Tigers against King's Lynn.

He started the 2007 season in the reserve berth and mounted on new JRM bikes. A torrid weekend in April saw him blow his best engine at Stoke, and his second engine while guesting at Mildenhall the following day, but bounced back scoring paid 11 against Berwick at home and a match winning paid 14 at Shielfield Park using an engine borrowed from Gary Flint! He again contested the Conference League Best-Pairs meeting at Scunthorpe, this time representing Boston alongside Simon Lambert and duly won the title for the second year running.

Paul was given a 'last chance' place in the 2008 Tigers team and responded in style with improved performance both home and away as he steadily improved his average and was voted 'Rider of the Year' by the Sheffield track staff for the second year running.

Current average from official fixtures = 5.69

Richard joined the Prowlers from Newcastle after a spell doubling up with the Diamonds and the Gems, wasting little time in regaining his confidence and showing them what a mistake they had made. He was called into the Tigers team as cover for injured Tiger Ben Wilson towards the end of the 2003 season and his impressive performances made him the obvious choice for the Tigers second reserve berth in 2004.

He jostled with James Birkinshaw for a full team place and by July he was back in the body of the team seeing the season out riding in the heat leaders No.3 race jacket as the management attempted to juggle dwindling rider resources.

Richard started the 2005 campaign as a second-string back in the No.3 race and a string a solid performances, home and away, lifted Richard's average and he finished the year challenging Ricky for the third heat-leader position.

A victim of the average trap Richard was forced out of the Tigers plans for 2006 but he went on to be the hero of the Peterborough Panthers as he steered them to the Elite League Championship with a brilliant display against Reading in the final.

2007 saw Richard picking up a foot injury riding in the Garry Stead Grand Prix and he returned to the track at Premier League level with the Scunthorpe Scorpions finishing second in their averages in 2008.

Final average from official fixtures = tba

Ritchie made his track debut for the Prowlers in 2000 before stepping up to the Premier League with Swindon in 2001. After a spell with Peterborough in 2003 he joined Berwick in 2004 becoming the British U21 champion and also helping Mildenhall to a Conference League triple as they took the League, KO Cup and Conference Trophy. He joined Somerset for the 2005 campaign finishing the season with a healthy 6.92 average. With the Rebels unable to accommodate him Ritchie spent 2006 with the Workington Comets upping his average to 7.44 and Somerset ensured he was back with them for 2007.

Ritchie was the first rider signed for the Rebels in 2008, finished fourth in the New Year Classic at Newport and then suffered multiple injuries at an indoor meeting in Kiel which ruled him out for virtually the whole season.

Fit and raring to go Ritchie is looking forward to a new challenge with his new track and team mates.

Current average from official fixtures = 1.92

Chris made his debut riding for local track Arena Essex on the Isle of Wight in 2001, failing to score. In 2002 he rode in the Conference Trophy for Wimbledon, and League for King's Lynn averaging 7.40 over some 20 meetings. He joined Oxford at Conerence level for 2003 (7.78) and rode for the Isle of Wight at Premier League level achieving a 3.70 average. His CL average improved to 9.30 in 2004 and he joined Reading at PL level improving his average to 4.25. He was dropped from the Reading team in 2005 after 8 meetings despite upping his average to 5.29, and joined Somerset. He also made his Elite League debut scoring paid 7 for Oxford against Wolverhampton.

Chris was part of the treble winning King's Lynn team in 2006 and doubled up as Reading's No.8 at Elite level. Chris continued at Saddlebow Road in 2007 finishing the season with a 7.13 average. Another victim of the numbers game Chris joined Reading for the 2008 campaign but struggled with both machine problems and injuries and never came to terms with the Smallmead track.

An out and out racer Chris starts 2009 in the Tigers reserve berth, but he'll have his sights set higher.

Current average from official fixtures = tba

Joel is steeped in the sport. His father was mechanic to Phil Crump and Joel's first bike was bought from Ivan Mauger!

He was first invited over to the UK in 2003 and rode for Rye House in the Conference League, and Reading in the Premier League. He was a member of the championship winning Hull Vikings team in 2004 and only left them after they closed at the end of 2005.

The 2006 season saw Joel put more than a point on his average riding for the Newport Wasps but parent club Sheffield were very keen to include him in their line-up for the 2007 season. Joel put more than 1.5 points on his average despite riding for most of the season in the no.5 heat leaders position and he endeared himself to the home fans with his tenacity as he raced every heat all the way to the chequered flag.

Joel started the 2008 season like he was on fire but blew his best engine at Scunthorpe and never recaptured his early form after that. Joel was the Tigers first signing for 2009 shortly before returning home for some winter sunshine.

Current average from official fixtures = tba