Josh tells us he will be moving

NEWS Saturday 30th September 2023, 12:17pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Fans of the Stellar Monarchs will rarely have seen a more heartfelt or emotional end-of-season speech than that from captain Josh Pickering last night at Armadale. In it he spelt out his intentions for next season, which will see him move on from the club he joined in 2017. Afterwards he was given an appreciative, understanding and warm reception by the fans on the terrace.

These are his words. "This club means everything to me, they gave me my opportunity to come here. It upsets me to say this but I do want to continue to try and progress as a rider and I'm going to have to drop this league next year. I need to try to pick up something a bit more abroad. There are riders I've grown up with and I see they are doing big things out there. I definitely rate myself as one of these riders.

"Right now I've got to get in my van and drive straight to London because I have a 6am flight straight to Poland. It's not an easy task and I can't be doing that every week and expect to do big things out there. I really do appreciate everyone that's stuck by me for the last seven years. John, Alex, Mike. Ronnie, every person that's involved in this club, it's the best club in the world, I'm not embarrassed to be in tears because it is how I feel."

Earlier he had spoken to interviewer John McGillivray about the 2023 season just completed. How had he coped with the bad luck we have suffered all summer?

"Keep showing up. Keep trying. It's never easy this sport. I felt the seven we started with at the start of the season were pretty good if we all could have got dialled in. Edinburgh's goal always is to build a team to make the Playoffs, but making the Playoffs isn't enough for me, I've always wanted to win some silverware for this great club. Unfortunately it hasn't happened for us so far, with everything that happens, riders getting injured, covering r/r, guests here and there, everything just kept knocking us down and we still made the Playoffs and did something that other clubs didn't achieve.

"It's something we can hold our heads high for but it's nowhere near enough for me. It's a shame and I'm disappointed we didn't get to win the last few matches for the people that show up every single week, supporting us. It doesn't go unnoticed and it's much appreciated."

The Monarchs board will be meeting early next week and thereafter will be giving out more news on the 2024 season.