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MattJ81

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Everything posted by MattJ81

  1. MattJ81

    Leicester NDL 2020

    Glad to see Tom fixed up, he was an entertaining part of the Heathens team last year with an unorthodox style and bravery that meant you had to keep your eyes on him, his knock at Leicester was a nasty one but I'm sure he will progress this year.
  2. MattJ81

    Reading blocked from Entering NDL

    A shame that Reading aren't able to compete if they are willing and able to do so. I remember something about the Cradley situation whereby we were allowed to use Monmore for as long as the club were actively seeking a new stadium of their own (this may be something I've made up or confused admittedly) - would this be a sticking point? It may be that Cradley were already in place by the time the powers that be made any change to the rules, or they are looking to increase the link between the Top leagues and the NDL by trying to get as many second teams involved as possible rather than stand alone clubs?
  3. MattJ81

    KENT 2019

    The Cradley statement says that "The aim is to ultimately return the third tier to a junior development league" - could it be that with that in mind teams need time to assess whether they can take part? Depending on how it will look I'm sure admission costs would need to adjust accordingly which may not suit standalone clubs with fixed costs
  4. MattJ81

    Cradles Golden Hammer

    Hi, really sorry for the delay my daughter had filed the programme away! Heat 1 58.14 (Stoneman) Heat 2 57.76 (Clegg) Heat 3 58.01 (Greaves) Heat 4 57.08 (Clegg) Heat 5 57.86 (Lawlor) Heat 6 58.48 (Stoneman) Heat 7 56.94 (Clegg) Heat 8 56.83 (Lawlor) Heat 9 58.06 (Edwards) Heat 10 58.31 (Stoneman) Heat 11 58.09 (Clegg) Heat 12 59.21 (Perry) Heat 13 59.97 (Greaves) Heat 14 58.23 (Clegg) Heat 15 59.58 (Perry) Final 58.65 (Clegg)
  5. MattJ81

    2020 NL Season

    CVS is attending the AGM representing Cradley so there is some hope that we will continue, although I wouldn't imagine it's something he could do alone. Wolves will have between 14 and 17 home meetings (I think!) depending on progress in playoffs/supporters cup so there will be a few free Mondays; although as this season there wouldn't be much room for manoeuvre when a few fall foul of the weather.
  6. MattJ81

    Cradles Golden Hammer

    I have the programme at home so I should be able to post them later
  7. MattJ81

    2020 teams

    That must be the hope, coupled with possibly fewer teams in the top league CVS may like Cradley to fill the gaps (assuming it helps with rent or what have you)? In an ideal world the supporters trust would take a role although I'm sure that depends on many factors/costs. CVS still being around is the only thing we have to indicate any future interest, Will I believe has a full time job outside of speedway and is busy with Eastbourne so understandably this limits the time he can dedicate to Cradley. New faces and investment are definitely required. I'm sure identical programme columns have been around for many years haven't they?
  8. MattJ81

    All speedway

    I can pay for an ice cream from the van in Monmore using a contactless card but the turnstiles are cash only. Appreciate it's probably not going to be top of the list of things that need attention, and with speedway often being tenants it may be outside of their control but in an increasingly cashless society especially younger people would perhaps appreciate the option of payments by card. Not so much an issue with the current demographic and folks who know the setup but another thing that could make it look old fashioned to new attendees
  9. Was planning to start a topic for this one as it has become play off defining since last week's win at Plymouth. Sadly the weather has won but it has been re-arranged for next week (Monday 16th) as part of a double header with the Belle Vue cup semi final. Not starting til 7:30 which may be optimistic to get 30 heats in but fingers crossed we can get two positive results
  10. MattJ81

    Cradley Heathens 2019

    I think, although I can't remember exactly, some of the criticism is making a lot of money from large crowds on NL racing when the appetite and support is there to move into the higher leagues. I think this increased apathy with NL racing links to the reduced crowds - certainly away from Monmore. I can't see that there are nearly enough dates as we stand at Monmore to consider moving up and Perry Barr has been shown not to attract enough for whatever reason(s), which brings you back to finding land and building a place of our own. As you say on the face of it surely as long as they aren't ripping off supporters and paying the bills on time it's a good thing if any promotions are managing to make any money, fair play to them
  11. MattJ81

    Cradley Heathens 2019

    Admission prices reduced the the play off meeting at Perry Barr - £10 adults, £2 kids http://www.cradley-speedway.com/news.php?extend.1888
  12. In Heat 15 he straightened up across bends 1 and 2 first lap and ended up a distance behind Smith in third - he gained a little over the race but didn't seriously threaten
  13. Very nearly got all 30 heats in before the 10:30 strict curfew and some decent races especially in the Kent meeting. A mention to Harry McGurk who completed 12 rides last night and along with a couple of the other Cradley riders was visibly shattered by the end! Great result against Kent in a close meeting, Clegg was rarely troubled after Heat 1 of the first meeting to stay unbeaten in 9 rides and Luke Harris had a good night using the Karlsson korridor to great effect several times. Agree with those above who mentioned that Drew Kemp doesn't quite look his old self, it almost seemed he was riding with a slight injury the way his body language seemed after Heat 15 in particular. He was very good around Monmore last season but didn't threaten a big score at all. The track was dusty from pretty early on, understandably with the rain earlier in the day Mildenhall need to gain maximum 4 points at Plymouth on Thursday to take the last play off place
  14. I believe Tom is still suffering from the concussion despite having ridden and put in one of his best performances of an encouraging season at Plymouth. R/R is never easy in a double header but can't be helped - Cradley do usually name a number 8 which may help keep things ticking over Raining at the moment but due to clear up before lunchtime all being well, fingers crossed it goes ahead as planned as they have the potential to be two good meetings
  15. MattJ81

    Stoke closing down

    That's a real shame. Obviously have some vivid memories of our time there in 96 along with fainter ones from previous trips to watch the Potters (including I think with a very young Jason Crump in opposition). Visited for the NL fours recently and enjoyed the evening, it has its charms the old place - I'm still a sucker for a big grass bank to watch speedway on Thoughts with the Potters fans
  16. Thanks I hadn't realised that. I guess that is what has stopped the double headers with Wolves PL meetings too
  17. MattJ81

    My Top 20 Riders

    Sorry Sings, made the same point I was just a bit slower doing so!
  18. MattJ81

    My Top 20 Riders

    Of those there are several who may well be ineligible for NL next season, rule changes not withstanding of course - Ayres, Flint, Brennan, Morley, Bickley, Perks, Wood, Clegg and Rowe are over or around the 4 point mark in the CL (that's still the benchmark for not being able to double down isn't it?). That's almost half of the list moving on which should clear space for others to move into, in theory anyway!
  19. MattJ81

    Colts v Mildenhall 02/09/2019

    Sounds broadly similar to the Cradley match last week, my first visit to the NSS and enjoyed the experience (if not the actual match!) Seeing the Colts guys deep in the dirt was a pleasure, especially Flint who has a fantastic style leaning over so far. Cradley couldn't lay a glove on the Colts, I can't remember the last time Clegg went a whole match without winning a heat, nor the last time he registered a last place but none of the Cradley riders were able to live with the home team. Harry McGurk was unlucky in the reserve race where he was in the mix for the lead and suffered engine troubles. Great value NL racing for sure at a fantastic venue, kids for free and £10 per adult is great stuff
  20. Match re-arranged for this evening, Cradley without Harry McGurk who has school (!!), Sheldon Davies is taking a break from the sport and is replaced by James Chattin. Tom Spencer is still missing due to the crash in the first staging of this meeting and there are fears his season is over as it was a nasty one.
  21. MattJ81

    Cradley Heathens 2019

    I believe Jack has posted on FB with a picture of his bashed up crash helmet (which seems to have done a great job considering part of Andrews or his bike hit him in the head), he also suffered soft tissue damage to his arm. It was a pretty direct hit as Andrews was so close behind him he couldn't avoid it - really glad the result was nothing more serious and he should recover quickly
  22. MattJ81

    Cradley Heathens 2019

    "Heathens Speedway Limited" is the company with Messrs Pearson and Van Straaten as directors, so I would imagine that along with the right to promote Cradley if such a thing exists?
  23. MattJ81

    Cradley Heathens 2019

    Not at all, I was planning on commenting or starting a thread for last night if nothing else to say how impressive Nathan Stoneman looked (how is he on a 4.5 average?!). Good performances from Luke Harris and Harry McGurk too. I don't think there's too many Cradley fans on here; I'm not sure about the various Facebook groups that exist - I left most of them as I didn't have the time to keep up! The noises coming out of the club are that we will be in a similar situation in the Winter to every other recent year waiting on the availability of Monmore and the league structure before being able to make too many decisions. Not sure how many times the management/club can go through that until motivation runs out while a permanent home appears no closer on the horizon. I'd say it's obvious we wouldn't have come to the tapes this season if other NL teams hadn't have dropped out therefore reducing the amount of meetings. I'm trying to get the kids to as many of the remaining meetings as possible, we haven't been to Belle Vue yet so that's in the diary next week and then what will be will be I guess
  24. MattJ81

    NL Pairs August 25th

    Thanks, makes it even stranger in that case
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