The party, to commemorate Paisley’s only speedway team, has received a welcome boost from the club which used to be the Lions’ deadliest on-track rivals — the Glasgow Tigers.

Elliot, who is organising the event on September 26 in the 5 on 5 Club in Paisley, was delighted to receive a telephone call from the Tigers’ management, offering some very special encouragement to make the party go with an extra swing.

Elliot told Gazette Sport: “I received a phone call from Alan Coyle, one of the Tigers’ management team, who explained to me that they’d heard about our little soiree to celebrate 40 years since the Lions came to Paisley, and that they wanted to help make the night go with a real bang.

“They’ve offered a significant quantity of complementary tickets for their playoff match at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium the following afternoon, sufficient to ensure that anyone who comes to the Birthday Party and who would like to see the table topping Tigers go for glory, has the opportunity to do so for free less than 24 hours later.

“It’s a quite magnificent gesture from the club, and I’m sure that many of our guests, hangover permitting, will want to see the Tigers race the following afternoon, particularly if they haven’t been for a match for a while, and would like to re-live the sensation of attending a live speedway meeting.

“Who knows, they’ll maybe get bitten by the bug once again. I’ve managed over to Ashfield a couple of times this year and the place is unrecognisable from before. The stadium has been re-jigged from top to bottom, and the racing has been second to none, the whole atmosphere of the place is buzzing as soon as you walk in the door.” With the Tigers offer just the latest in a long line of support from a number of businesses, Elliot admitted he is looking forward to the event.

The Lions were once a focal point of sport in Paisley with their displays at Love Street, and Elliot says the evening will be a fantastic opportunity to reminise about old times.

He added: “Of course, if this sounds like a great chance to have a speedway weekend, then that’s because it is, but I have to stress that to take advantage of the offer people do have to be in attendance at the birthday party on the Saturday night.

“It’s a chance to meet up with old friends and riders from a special era in Paisley, with some of the stars flying in from the other side of the world for the event, with the very considerable bonus of being able to see the local Glasgow Tigers race for glory the following afternoon. At that time of the year, it’s very likely that the meeting could be a league playoff battle, or maybe even a cup final.

“If folk are interested in taking advantage of this double header, I can only advise them to get in touch with me at 07854 724184, or email at bettens6@talktalk.net. But better hurry.”