This edition of our Get to Know series features Kerry Smith, Operations Manager with the Glasgow Tigers. The Glasgow Tigers Speedway team, alongside the Allied Vehicles Group of companies, is owned by the Facenna family. We spoke to Kerry about her career, her love of the Tigers and what she gets up to in her spare time.
What’s your role and how long have you been with the Tigers?
My role is Operations Manager and I’m entering my fourth year but fifth season at the club.
Can you tell us a bit more about your role?
Every day is really different. The off season is quieter in terms of events but you’re spending every moment working on the track and facilities for the new year. You’re also getting the new season kit and merch designed and stocked up, booking up all the hospitality and sponsorship. No two days are the same.
You need to make sure that everything is top quality in the off season so that by the time the first fixture happens, you don’t have to worry about it as you don’t really have time to do any of that work once it kicks off, and it’s got to last six months to a high standard.
On race day you’ll coordinate tickets sales, manage riders coming onsite, make sure the stadium is stocked up with food and drink and organise health and safety, first aiders and stewards. Once the gates open you do anything needed to make sure the event runs smoothly then close everything up. On Monday you start it all again for the next meeting.
But, on a sunny summer’s night with the noise of the crowd and the smell of the engines there’s nowhere I’d rather be than the third bend at Allied Ashfield Stadium with an ice cream or a cool drink.
Were you a fan before you worked here?
My husband took us on one of our first dates in 1990 to the old Tigers ground at Shawfield stadium. We got right into it after that and met loads of friends who still follow the Tigers today. We fell away from attending when we had kids but then came back to it about 10 years ago. My husband Russell was looking for something to do with my son Cameron and took him along and he loved it.
Russell, Cameron and I were attending and then Aimee, our youngest daughter, got involved and loves it. She even works at the stadium sometimes as does Cameron. Russell is also the home pit marshall now, so it’s a real family affair!
What were you doing before you joined Allied?
I had been working with Asda for 20 odd years. I was a Nightshift Manager, and it suited the family lifestyle while the children were young. I worked through COVID and it was tough. Night shift takes a toll as well and I decided that there was more to life and wanted a new challenge.
Alongside that, I had been volunteering at the speedway for about five years and had worked with the marketing team, Gerry, Peter and David. I was invited to a meeting with some of the more senior volunteers to discuss the future. Gerry and Peter knew I was looking for a new work challenge and after that meeting asked me if I’d like to join the Tigers team as Operations Manager. What a surprise that was!
It’s been a huge learning curve for me but everyone at Allied has been incredible in making me feel welcome and offering support. I work closely with Laura Robertson in the Allied Marketing team. We work really well together.
What do you enjoy most about the job?
It might sound a bit much but, I can genuinely say it’s my job and my passion as well. I genuinely love what I do and Allied are so supportive which has been a huge help.
I think as well, because Gerry, Peter and David trusted me and brought me in with less experience of the job, it makes you want to work even harder for them to pay back that trust and show they were right to take a chance.
What are the biggest challenges you face?
The weather and the unpredictability of that can be challenging. Speedway is an outdoor event and if it rains heavily, it can be unsafe to race. That means you have to be able to think on your feet and change at a moment’s notice.
Sometimes you put everything in place for a meeting then have to cancel it late in the day and reschedule. The logistics are tough and it can be very frustrating, but it’s the nature of the sport.
I’m worse than a golfer come March, the BBC weather is the first thing I check when I wake up! Dealing with refunds and people who may have travelled a long distance to watch or ride can be difficult, but people usually understand.
Who do you work closely with?
Laura, Lisa Keir and the whole Marketing team are a great help. Janine McGlone is amazing and I also work closely with the IT guys especially Troy Magee, Derek Baillie and Ducky Dorman as well. Michael Robertson in Pre-Production does an amazing job making signs and advertising boards. The whole team from Facilities are incredible, keeping Ashfield looking impeccable every week. Everyone at Allied has been genuinely fantastic and a huge help.
We also have an amazing group of volunteers who help out year after year. The fanbase are incredible and many of them have been following the Tigers for decades. I worked with many of them when I was a volunteer here and I can honestly say the volunteers and supporters are what make the club special and help keep it going.
What would you say to someone who hadn’t been before?
I would recommend anyone try it at least once! It’s the noise. It’s the smell. It’s the adrenaline. It’s thrilling, it really is. It’s also really family friendly because the crowd are really welcoming. Lots of people take their kids along and get them involved.
It’s also great for kids because the races are short, sharp and exciting. It takes less than a minute for the riders to go around the track four times, but that minute is so action packed. There’s nothing else like it and if you get hooked, I’ll see you in the volunteers group next year!
What are your best moments with the Tigers?
It’s all been fantastic, but two moments stand out. Firstly, winning the championship in 2023 was incredible. It was away at Poole, but we showed it on the big screen at Ashfield and, as a fan, that was fantastic.
Then, hosting an SGP qualifier at Ashfield in 2022 was a huge event that I was proud to work on. It’s the biggest event in Speedway and it all ran so smoothly and showed how professional we are as a club.
Both of those memories are fantastic.
What do you do in your spare time?
Mainly speedway to be honest! Edinburgh, Workington and Berwick are all within a few hours and as I don’t actually get to see a lot of the racing at Glasgow because I’m working, it’s good to travel to these clubs and see the racing. Or we catch up on the streams.
Any final thoughts?
People need to come and experience speedway at the Tigers. It’s a great night and if you take a date, you might even fall in love with both like I did!
Thanks to Kerry for taking the time to speak to us and for the hard work she does for the Glasgow Tigers.
The first home meeting of the season is on April 17th and if you’ve never been to a meeting, why not consider going along?! Click here to visit the Glasgow Tigers website to find out more.
