DARCY Ward was back at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday night and thanked the Swindon Robins family for their sustained support as he continues his rehabilitation after his speedway career cruelly ended last year.

The prodigiously talented Aussie, 24, joined the Robins midway through the 2015 season and helped propel Alun Rossiter’s side into the Elite League play-offs but on August 23 last year, he suffered life-changing spinal injuries in a crash whilst riding for Zielona Gora in Poland.

Ward, who is wheelchair-bound and is expected never to be able to walk again, has travelled back to Europe alongside his partner Lizzie Turner and after dropping in on the Speedway World Cup in Manchester last weekend, the Queensland native thrilled Robins fans with an appearance at Blunsdon.

And Ward took the time to thank the Abbey regulars who, like so many around the world, have supported him in every which way imaginable.

Addressing the crowd, Ward said: “It’s good to be back. It’s good to be here, get a bit of methanol under my breath and be part of it.

“It was a short month-and-a-half (with the Robins) but I really enjoyed it. It was an easy decision for me to come to Swindon, somewhere where my mates were and Rosco is here.

“It was a great decision for me to come here and I was proud to ride here, and really enjoyed it.

“We had a good run while I was riding. I think I jumped into the team and everyone got boosted and everyone started riding well and we were title-contenders while I was riding.

“Throughout the world (support for me), it’s been amazing and especially here; it’s been just awesome.

“I appreciate all the messages and the support that’s been given the whole time.

“It’s been busy. We landed and went straight to Manchester and then we’ve been back to Poole and just everywhere; we’re planning to go to Poland on the weekend and we just hope to do as much as we can whilst we’re here for three weeks, which is a short period.

“A lot of people want to see me – I’m trying to get everywhere but we’re just going to try and see everybody that we can and then get back in the sunshine.”

Ward’s rehab is taking place at the Making Strides facility near his home on the Gold Coast and he is even working towards getting back in control of a vehicle with an adapted car.

He added: “I’m nearly coming up to a year now and I’m doing well. I’ve got a good place to do my rehabilitation.

“I’ll just keep going. You just do the best you can.”