Edinburgh Monarchs fans planning to Bridge funding gap

Two long-time Edinburgh Monarchs speedway enthusiasts are teaming up to organise a fundraising event for the Capital club following a spate of rain-offs at Armadale this season.

Monarchs fans will aim to raise thousands of pounds by walking the Forth Road Bridge

Meeting presenter Scott Wilson, who has filled that role since 1997, and Derek Wilkinson, boss of Monarchs’ official transport supplier Duddingston Private Hire, have launched Monarchs 100 and are inviting a hundred Monarchs supporters to walk the Forth Road Bridge on Sunday, August 28.

Wilson said: “If all of those hundred people can raise an average of £100 each then we will be able to pour £10,000 into the club’s coffers, which should ensure, along with the efforts of the Monarchs Fans Trust, that we will have a Monarchs team to support in the future.”

Duddingston Private Hire will provide courtesy transport to and from the bridge and there will also be a small lunch laid on by the Black Bull Inn at Mid Calder.

And Duddingston Private Hire have also agreed to step in to sponsor the weekly Monarch of the Match award. Wilkinson said: “I want to sponsor it but I don’t want to stop anyone else coming in so if anyone wants to take a week for a birthday or some other celebration I will step aside on those occasions.”

While Monarchs insist there is no financial crisis in the wake of five home washouts and several other rain-affected meetings, the club have been hit hard by the weather and have asked supporters to turn out in greater numbers for the rest of the season.