A Plymouth speedway team has been bought by Cobra, star of the American version of Gladiators - and renamed after the show.

Plymouth Devils will now be known as 'Plymouth Gladiators'.

The stadium which was previously known as the St Boniface Arena, has now also be renamed as 'The Plymouth Coliseum' in a bid to make the "place a fortress'.

The change has come about through team manager Matt Bates’ close links with Exeter-born Steve Luxton, who was Cobra in the American version of the Gladiators, a hit TV show in Britain in the 1980s and 90s.

Steve's stint as Cobra on the Orlando Live shows was cut short after just eight months as he sustained a shoulder injury.

Cobra

The speedway fan and garage owner in Florida has agreed to back the city club.

Club bosses also want to draw a line under the ‘old’ speedway club, which frequently ran into financial problems and almost closed down before the present promotion took over.

In a bid to forge forward with the development of Plymouth Speedway, the club’s promotion have taken the decision to rebrand the club for the coming season.

They have not only changed names, but have also changed the team’s colours. They will be blue and yellow with black will be the riding colours for next season instead of the familiar red and yellow.

Plymouth Devils' Steve Boxall in action during the clubs Press and Practice Session on 8th April 2017.

Promoter Mark Phillips said: “We are so pleased to have linked up with Steve, who has many contacts both in the UK and USA and will open up new commercial avenues for us as a club as we aim to build on the financial base we committed to 12 months ago.

“Safeguarding the future of the club in difficult times in the sport is vital and we firmly believe this to be a sound business partnership.

"We have been in discussions about this change for over two years now, and thanks to Mattie Bates who has a link with former Gladiator Cobra from the 80s and 90s hit TV show, it made perfect sense.

“We understand that for some a complete re-branding can change what we all love, but as well as the commercial aspect for the club we can put a line underneath the Devils and look to a more promising future.”

Team manager Bates agreed: “We want to make this place a fortress next year and as cheesy as it sounds our riders are modern-day gladiators risking life and limb for our entertainment."

The 2018 Plymouth Devils (from l-r): Ryan Terry-Daley, Henry Atkins, Bradley Andrews, Adam Roynon (capt), Richie Andrews, James Cockle, Macauley Leek

It is the sixth name for the Plymouth speedway team , who were originally called the Tigers from their inception year in 1931 until 1934.

They were subsequently known as the Panthers in 1935-36.

They were briefly known as the Devils in 1937, and apart from a break in the sport continued until the end of 1954 under that name.

They ceased operating until 1960 when they came back as the Plymouth Drakes for one season. The following season they changed again – this time to the Bulldogs.

In 1962 they became the Devils again and apart from further missed seasons have been known as the Devils ever since.

The re-branding is wanted to put some distance between the new owner and previous promotions.

A club’s spokesman said the club’s rebrand had already borne fruit with a new influx of support, due somewhat to the club’s introduction of children’s football training at the racetrack’s centregreen, coupled with two girls’ football teams who hold their matches on Saturdays throughout the football season.

Do you have a story to share or for us to investigate?

Get in touch using katie.timms@reachplc.com, call 07584591102 or tweet me @KatieTimms94.