steve roberts 9,246 Posted September 11, 2017 (edited) So you don't think studying the right degree would have opened up more opportunities? Who knows...left school at seventeen and straight into work and I am more than happy with what I have achieved during my working life and a variety of interesting jobs and meeting many interesting people. The thought of going to University never crossed my mind. Edited September 11, 2017 by steve roberts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waiheke1 4,295 Posted September 11, 2017 ...far better learning a trade than going to University picking up a degree on the bleeding obvious...or the dreaded media studies. I work with many who have degrees but barely earning more than the minimum wage...never mind living wage but as Steve Shovlar states on another thread they could always clean toilets (something I've done incidentally) as apparently there are plenty of those jobs available!Really depends what u study. I initially did a BA in English literature and philosophy, which somewhat surprisingly didn't lead to well paid jobs, so when I was last in London I was earning a couple of quid above minimum wage while my tradie flat mates were earning 4 times what I was each week.But since then I got a more useful degree and then a professional qualification and now earn well over 10 times what I was back then- and for sure I wouldn't be without the qualifications (that my previous employer paid for). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted September 11, 2017 And no doubt your employer can afford you That's the whole point - promoters should only be paying what they can afford - if it doesn't suit the riders with their bespoke vans, etc - tough titty 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted September 11, 2017 Really depends what u study. I initially did a BA in English literature and philosophy, which somewhat surprisingly didn't lead to well paid jobs, so when I was last in London I was earning a couple of quid above minimum wage while my tradie flat mates were earning 4 times what I was each week. But since then I got a more useful degree and then a professional qualification and now earn well over 10 times what I was back then- and for sure I wouldn't be without the qualifications (that my previous employer paid for). ...thereby lies the dilemma. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
New Science 1,059 Posted September 11, 2017 Didn't seem like Kelvin Tatum was against ditching the double points rule after his comments tonight. " adds spice to the meeting" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PHILIPRISING 7,298 Posted September 12, 2017 SORRY but I cannot agree with most of that. As far as I am concerned all riders are vastly underpaid although that doesn't mean they can expect what isn't there. However, considering that most have to fund their own equipment and transport, face increasing insurance, know that every time they go to the tapes it could result in serious or even life-threatening injuries or worse and more often than not for a relative pittance earns my admiration. Without them there wouldn't be speedway and as we see now, fewer and fewer youngsters are coming through the ranks in places like Denmark and Sweden because a career in speedway simply isn't that attractive. Your comments about brain surgeons is particularly insulting. I know of one young rider who can earn between £800 and £1000 a week as a plumber. He knows he will never be a World Champion but he loves speedway and tries desperately to combine the two. But it isn't easy and if he had to make a choice on purely financial reasons he would quit. One down and many more in a similar position. In the news today ... electricians earning £156,000 a year. Plumbers close behind. Unless you actually want to be a brain surgeon, this seems to be a serious alternative for kids leaving school today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted September 12, 2017 In the news today ... electricians earning £156,000 a year. Plumbers close behind. Unless you actually want to be a brain surgeon, this seems to be a serious alternative for kids leaving school today. It says "up to" £156,000 and it would be interesting to know how many are bringing in £600 a day. That kind of money is achievable in most industries where workers are in demand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grand Central 2,654 Posted September 12, 2017 (edited) Strange how this thread has turned into 'Plumbers Weekly'. And I cannot undertsand the relevance. I just thought the laws of supply and demand have been understood for well over 200 years. So hardly a necessary task for us here. But now we have have established that those people who go into a trade that is in great demand and there is a lot of avalibale cash; can earn great money. Which applies to some Plumbers in Britain. Can we get back to the issue of people going into a trade that is not in great demand and there is not a lot of available cash.. Which applies to most Speedway Riders in Britain. Edited September 12, 2017 by Grand Central 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedibee 3,091 Posted September 12, 2017 ...I'm in my fifties and don't regret for one minute not going to University. Having worked in a University Department for 17 years I saw the process first hand. I wish I had gone to university , In the 70s full student grants , living with a house full of mates ,great bands on the uni circuit , the education side of it , just enough to keep me in for the 3 years ,, I wish I had gone to university , In the 70s full student grants , living with a house full of mates ,great bands on the uni circuit , the education side of it , just enough to keep me in for the 3 years ,, I , like Phillip Rising have just enough education to perform , Whoosh straight over his head 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted September 12, 2017 How many clubs have actually gone bust in the traditional sense - as in run out of money and stopped trading? As far as I can tell, there is always another generous benefactor prepared to step in and have a stab at running the club when the previous promoter leaves. All the clubs who have closed in recent memory have done so due to losing their venue, Reading, Oxford, Coventry... Of course, you could argue that running a club sustainability may have helped, particularly in Oxford's case, but this seems like a minor factor in thr grand scheme of things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grand Central 2,654 Posted September 12, 2017 How many clubs have actually gone bust in the traditional sense - as in run out of money and stopped trading? As far as I can tell, there is always another generous benefactor prepared to step in and have a stab at running the club when the previous promoter leaves. All the clubs who have closed in recent memory have done so due to losing their venue, Reading, Oxford, Coventry... Of course, you could argue that running a club sustainability may have helped, particularly in Oxford's case, but this seems like a minor factor in thr grand scheme of things. Hasn't the reason the 'previous promoter leaves' been because he has lost too much money to continue ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted September 12, 2017 Hasn't the reason the 'previous promoter leaves' been because he has lost too much money to continue ? True, but isn't that part and parcel of being a promoter? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grand Central 2,654 Posted September 12, 2017 True, but isn't that part and parcel of being a promoter? Indeed it is. But I think there are many people involved in promotions who have left having suffered a fair degree of pain and loss (especially in their final year or two) that has been funded by their outside businesses as the Speedway business could not be described as viable in its own right, The rules of the sport and the bond with the BSPA tends to make sure that they get a gullible buyer with cash to blow on the sport to take over before anyone actually goes bust. And the cycle continues. Of course the Sky money made a big difference. Making some financial decision look sane when they were quite the opposite. The reality of life without that windfall could make the 'clubs going bust' numbers increase markedly. Unless they get a grip this winter. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tsunami 10,219 Posted September 12, 2017 How many clubs have actually gone bust in the traditional sense - as in run out of money and stopped trading? As far as I can tell, there is always another generous benefactor prepared to step in and have a stab at running the club when the previous promoter leaves. All the clubs who have closed in recent memory have done so due to losing their venue, Reading, Oxford, Coventry... Of course, you could argue that running a club sustainability may have helped, particularly in Oxford's case, but this seems like a minor factor in thr grand scheme of things. Didn't Oxford under Waggy go bust, and new promoters in the shape of the Purchases take over as a new company. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted September 12, 2017 (edited) Didn't Oxford under Waggy go bust, and new promoters in the shape of the Purchases take over as a new company. It was the other way round. Steve and Vanessa sold the promoting rights to Waggy however I'm not sure if anybody went under although I may be wrong. All I known is that Steve became very disillusioned with the sport and Vanessa more or less took over the day to day running of the club. After Waggy came that Poole supporter whose name totally escapes me! Edited September 12, 2017 by steve roberts 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites