TRIBUTES have been paid to the founder of Glasgow Tigers who has passed away at the age of 97. 

Ian Hoskins, who set up the speedway club in 1946 when he was just 21, became one of the best known faces in the sport as he helped to establish it across Scotland. 

Born in Australia, he was the son of legendary promoter Johnnie Hoskins and his death comes in the 75th year of the north Glasgow team. 

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Current Tigers owner Gerry Facenna said: “It is poignant that Ian Hoskins’ death comes in our 75th year.

“There would be no Glasgow Tigers without Ian, right down to the red and white stripes that we continue to race in today, and the influence he had on the sport in Scotland over several decades is immeasurable.

 

Glasgow Times: Gerry Facenna was among those to pay tribute Gerry Facenna was among those to pay tribute

“Speedway is a different sport in 2021 but no less exciting than it was back in 1946.

“The thoughts of everyone at Glasgow are with Ian’s friends and family.”

Speedway had already featured in Glasgow in the 1920s and 30s, but when the White City track in Govan was reopened by Johnnie in 1945, Ian took on the role of promoter aged just 21 and founded the Tigers.

According to SpeedwayPlus, writing in his book, History of the Speedway Hoskins, Ian told how the formation of the club came about: “As there had been no league racing in Scotland since 1930, I had to decide quickly on a name and set of body colours for the team.

Glasgow Times: The Tigers, wearing their trademark red and white stripes, have gone onto enjoy great success The Tigers, wearing their trademark red and white stripes, have gone onto enjoy great success

“I later learned that speedway had once taken place at Celtic Park, home of the Celtic Football Club, in 1927. Jimmy Baxter had run a few meetings there. This gave Scotland the honour of staging Britain’s first speedway event ahead of High Beech.

“I decided that Glasgow Tigers had the right ring to it and that the team’s colours should be red and white vertical stripes, the same as the Sunderland football team, the club I had followed for years when at school.

Glasgow Times: Fans watch the modern day Glasgow Tigers in action at the Ashfield Stadium Fans watch the modern day Glasgow Tigers in action at the Ashfield Stadium

"My father agreed to both ideas and the next stage was to find a team. This was easier than expected, as the Control Board had drawn up a list of all of the known riders in Britain, and at a big meeting of potential promoters in London, they were allocated to teams on a grading system of merit.

“The first division tracks, of course, had all of the stars and the six second league teams, of which we became one, made do with what was left.”

The Tigers finished bottom of the league that year, but averaged 13,000 fans a week.

Hoskins – who also took on roles including matchday presenter and team manager – was later involved in several other clubs including Edinburgh Monarchs.