IT will be an historic occasion for the speedway stadium at Queensway Meadows tomorrow night when the new floodlights come on during the Premier League match between the Newport Wasps and the Glasgow Tigers (tapes up at 7.45pm).

The sport was run under lights between 1964 and 1977 at the former track at the now defunct Somerton Park Stadium. There was no speedway in the city until its revival at the new site in 1997 and so that is a 33-year gap.

To celebrate there will be a happy hour in the Wasps Nest Bar between 6pm and 7pm, a firework display at the conclusion of the match and a karoake evening in the bar to follow. Importantly there is a special offer on admission for children aged five to 15 of ‘kids for a quid!’ Club owner Steve Mallett said: “It is a moment we have all looked forward to and I would like to thank Gareth Ward and his volunteers for turning the project around in only six weeks. We now have more options over our raceday plus we can attract more events to the stadium which is good news for the continuity of the sport in the city.”

On track the visitors have what is regarded as the strongest spearhead in the division after the Scottish club signed the former British champion, England international and Grand Prix rider Joe Screen this summer to join another rider also riding outside of the Elite League for the first time in his career in the form of Australian Travis McGowan.

They will enjoy support from young Australian Josh Grajczonek who has come on in leaps and bounds this season.

Newport come into the fixture on the back of four consecutive home victories and confidence is high in the camp despite the strength of the opposition.

NEWPORT ‘DARLOWS’ WASPS: 1. Leigh Lanham (C), 2. Craig Watson, 3. Kim Nilsson, 4. Kyle Legault, 5. Robin Aspegren, 6. Alex Davies, 7. Todd Kurtz

GLASGOW TIGERS: 1. Joe Screen, 2. Lee Dicken (C), 3. John Branney, 4. Travis McGowan, 5. Josh Grajczonek, 6. Nick Morris, 7. Mitchell Davey - Speedway continues at the stadium on Sunday afternoon when the Newport Hornets take on the Isle of Wight Islanders with tapes up at 2.30pm.