Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches race night presenter Kevin Long is stepping down from his role at Foxhall.

Kevin has worked for the club since 1998 having been a fan of the Witches since 1972 and he explained why now is the right time to leave the role.

“I want to make it clear that it isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to Chris (Louis) selling the club. In fact, I told Chris in December of 2024 when we met that the season of 2025 would be my last. That was really to give him a good opportunity to find a replacement and talk to interested people that might want to come on board and take over or start to show somebody the ropes, and future proof the position in that way.

“In Chris’ defence, we did have a conversation towards the end of the season, if that was still my intention to retire at the end of the season and I said yes. All the ducks were lined up in a row. My first year, 98, we won the league, my last year, 25, we won the league. I was honoured at the Supporters’ Club end of season awards night to receive the Lifetime Achievement award for my service. That combined with the fact I’ve done it for 25 years; I had a couple of career breaks in that time, but everything just seemed to align at the right time.”

During his time at Foxhall Kevin has interviewed some of the sport’s greats and it is two Australians who bring back fond memories.

“I have no broadcast background, you find with a lot of stadium presenters, not just in speedway, but in football or any other sports, they have some kind of broadcasting background or experience. I had none of that, I’m a caterer and hospitality professional but just a very dedicated and enthusiastic fan that had a natural ability with a microphone. It has been the privilege and the experience of a lifetime to do it, having been at Foxhall since I was nine years old, watching the legendary John Earrey do his stuff and others, it’s been a memorable experience. Nerve-wracking to start with, but I think once I found my style because you can’t ever copy other people, you have to be able to do it and do it in your own way, so it’s natural.

“The fun we used to have at the start when I first started, with all the rhyming intros, they became a thing and were enjoyed by a lot of people. All the antics we had with Shane Parker, they were legendary! It was three weeks into the job when I had my first dousing of water from Shane Parker, which has been well documented previously. That led to so much fun over the years with him.

“The relationship that I had with Jason Crump was fantastic. When I think about it, speedway is a unique sport in as much as fans can mix with their heroes, whether they’re junior riders or world champions, those riders are happy to have photos. It’s more photos and selfies now than autograph books when I first started. You only have to look at Instagram and Facebook after a meeting and see all those really happy faces that they’ve met their heroes, and I’ve never taken that for granted. Jason Crump used to find me when Belle Vue used to come to get a preview of his rhyming intro and there’s a great picture of him with such a beaming smile on his face as I’m standing there holding my programme board with him reading that night’s intro. When he came to Ipswich, as a rider, he said; “Mate, I’ve always respected what you do, you do exactly what you’re meant to do, and I don’t mind taking the boos because that’s my job!”

Shane Parker’s the same. He said: “If the racing hasn’t been up to much, you’ve got to send them home talking about something.” That was Shane Parker’s sort of modus operandi, at least send them home talking about something because the next time he comes, more people will come. Those two in particular are the standout riders in my time.

“There’s been a few exceptions that haven’t really taken to it or wanted to get involved with interviews or whatever. Even when we gave Tai Wolfenden some grief a couple of years ago after the comments he made about the Witches fans at Sheffield, he took all that in very good spirit and he knew it was coming, he was a good sport.”

Kevin will continue his work for Re-Run Productions in 2026 and recalled some of his favourite memories covering the Witches from the centre green.

“I have no intention of not coming to Foxhall, many people have asked me that since I’ve spoken about my retirement. I still intend to carry on my work with Re-Run Productions, subject to them being at Foxhall next year, which I’m sure they will be. I still intend to do that and work with Steve (Girdwood) and the team at Re-Run. I think in terms of being on the centre, I know I’ve had a couple returns after being away but at some point, you have to say, no, that is definitely it this time.

“I thank the fans really. I’ve been under no illusion that I wouldn’t have been everybody’s cup of tea in 25 years but then show me anybody in public life who is! The absolute vast majority have been very supportive. I know one year, I think I was away and I deputised one week and literally, just as I said, ‘good evening and welcome to Ipswich Speedway’, I heard a massive cheer and that was for me. It was incredible and brought a lump to my throat.

“The last few years, we’ve had some great moments and made some great memories. The 2023 centre green invasion for the Knockout Cup win was memorable, up there with anything I’ve witnessed at Foxhall in my time. Of course, the scenes we had last year, having finally lifted the league again, you can see what it means to people. One person who was older than me said to me, after the Knockout Cup celebrations, ‘Kev, do you know what? I’ve been coming to Foxhall since Speedway started and I’ve never been on the centre green, it means so much to be down here with the fans.’ That’s the great thing, no security. Everyone’s just rubbing shoulders, enjoying it. Long may that for speedway as a sport continue.”

Kevin gave his thanks to those he has worked with during his time with the club.

“I want to thank the management of Ipswich Speedway, who gave me my opportunity at the start. John (Louis), Mike (Western) and Magda (Louis), and then obviously to Chris Louis for carrying that on and believing in me and keeping the faith all that time.  I do want to thank the key officials that I work with every week, because without them, and this is what makes it Ipswich Speedway so special in terms of its professionalism. On a Thursday night, everybody that is an official or anything to do with the running of the meeting knows their job inside out. That is how Ipswich Speedway runs and has run so well for so many years.

“Keith (Barton), Richard (Amott), Brian (Messenger), Shane (Silburn), Pete (Ingram), Mark (Styles) all of those guys, those sort of key officials. They’ve gone along with anything I’ve wanted to change, that’s been the really important thing for me because I did bring quite a lot of change to the whole thing when I first started. They’ve been established in their jobs for many seasons before me, but they always went along with anything I wanted to do, and I thank them for that.

“I’m also extremely grateful to the two announcers that I worked with for all their help, advice and guidance. Firstly (the late) Bryan Knights and then Mike Western. Two fantastic professionals who I learnt so much from. The fans really are the ones to thank for their generosity of support for me over all the years.”

Everyone at Foxhall would like to thank Kevin for his service to the club.