Jump to content
British Speedway Forum
singy13

Derwent Park..update on Town RL forum

Recommended Posts

I'd love to hear something from Laura or Jacko on hear. The silence is deafening when most Comets fans are hurting.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
24 minutes ago, SteelShoe said:

I'd love to hear something from Laura or Jacko on hear. The silence is deafening when most Comets fans are hurting.

What would you like to hear?

Regards 

THJ 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

any sort of excuse thats available , within reason .:t:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 minutes ago, jenga said:

any sort of excuse thats available , within reason .:t:

What.... like me business has gone belly up an av run out of money.... if we could have run the football pitch wouldn't have been as wide as it is now.... we got well and truly shafted off someone who gave the impression they were going to come in with serious finances to help us out  and like a mug I believed them... then the council... followed by the Rugby Club... then a provincial football team who think they will be playing in Europe by 2030!!! Think you have had all the answers your gonna get on here Biffa... could be the time that old adage comes  into play and No News is Good News because no matter how much you polish a turd at the end of the day it's still what it is....

Regards 

THJ 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 minute ago, TotallyHonestJohn said:

What.... like me business has gone belly up an av run out of money.... if we could have run the football pitch wouldn't have been as wide as it is now.... we got well and truly shafted off someone who gave the impression they were going to come in with serious finances to help us out  and like a mug I believed them... then the council... followed by the Rugby Club... then a provincial football team who think they will be playing in Europe by 2030!!! Think you have had all the answers your gonna get on here Biffa... could be the time that old adage comes  into play and No News is Good News because no matter how much you polish a turd at the end of the day it's still what it is....

Regards 

THJ 

see, thats all it took . how come  it was you who got shafted when you are nowt t do wid the speedway . just something i picked out of you post BTW ? , like  will one half of the stadium be painted red and white or just the toilet block . 

anyhow , life moves on . but  if it does return and i aint toast , as Arnie said , i will be back, back,   Bennett 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, jenga said:

see, thats all it took . how come  it was you who got shafted when you are nowt t do wid the speedway . just something i picked out of you post BTW ? , like  will one half of the stadium be painted red and white or just the toilet block . 

anyhow , life moves on . but  if it does return and i aint toast , as Arnie said , i will be back, back,   Bennett 

Aye Commando 20,000 rounds of ammo from a 200 round box and he managed to kill about a thousand men in the process.... but like Sully you would be definitely let go of first Jenga an you have no idea what went on or my involvement and this isnt the place to air it

Regards 

THJ 

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

between you n me . its already been aired .  hope it all works out for you in the end .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Honestly

I'm sorted but still absolutely gutted at what's happened and the demise of the Speedway.... Saturday's are quite honestly just not the same anymore...

Also I know for a fact that many people I speak to when on the tramp in Cumbria feel exactly the same...

Devastated 

Regards 

THJ  

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
11 hours ago, TotallyHonestJohn said:

What.... like me business has gone belly up an av run out of money.... if we could have run the football pitch wouldn't have been as wide as it is now.... we got well and truly shafted off someone who gave the impression they were going to come in with serious finances to help us out  and like a mug I believed them... then the council... followed by the Rugby Club... then a provincial football team who think they will be playing in Europe by 2030!!! Think you have had all the answers your gonna get on here Biffa... could be the time that old adage comes  into play and No News is Good News because no matter how much you polish a turd at the end of the day it's still what it is....

Regards 

THJ 

That's just too close to the point to take right now THJ . What's that about the truth always hurts.

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
12 hours ago, TotallyHonestJohn said:

What would you like to hear?

Regards 

THJ 

Something along the lines of this would be nice and something we could all get behind:

'Due to the fact that the Workington Comets have had to be displaced from their home at Derwent Park in order to facilitate construction of the new Community Stadium the Council is giving the club its full backing in developing a new home on the site of the training track at Northside. Such a move would reduce the costs of running the sport whilst allowing the club to directly benefit from income generated through food and drink sales. There will be great opportunity for local businesses to get involved in the creation of this exciting new facility which will see the continuation of what is a great family sport and one that has been embedded in local sporting heritage and culture over the last 50 years'.

Edited by SteelShoe
  • Like 6

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, SteelShoe said:

That's just too close to the point to take right now THJ . What's that about the truth always hurts.

SS you're not wrong and everyone who is/was passionate about the Comets is hurting, however I am not sure any of the former promotion who quite rightly should be applauded for their success in 2018 will want to disclose their role in the demise of the club and its ultimate failure to come to the tapes in 2019 or to give any details on what has actually gone on with the track or stadium. I would also add to that (non-disclosure) list any discussions that went on with third parties; the council; or the other sporting clubs involved. What I can add is; that there was a genuine intention to run this year however finances dictated otherwise before the track/ground issues were even considered.

For me and as close as I was to the promotion they did try their best but the path they ultimately chose (or were led down) was not sustainable and unless you have a vibrant club (support wise) and in the Comets case that would have been around 750 adults paying around an average of £15:00 each per meeting the whole thing financially was not viable; then of course you could always look to a benefactor who has cash to spare and loves Speedway however KD a very competent businessman sank thousands into the spot before seeing the light and bailing out and of course we all know what has happened to LM and the position she now finds herself in with regards to losing her businesses and the club she loved dearly.

Also this isn't a new phenomena to the Comets as previous owners of the club Eddie Thornborrow and Ron Bagley went through similar pain in the early 80's though not dissimilar it was finances that were the main influence in folding the club. However this is all water under the bridge and everyone (including Jenga) has a view on what the real reason was then as to why the spot folded.

So you may only have some of the truth as to what has gone on and some sensible suggestions on here that are very near to the truth (and some a mile off) but I doubt you will get all of the real reasons, however it is hurting everyone who is/was passionate about their speedway in West Cumbria and those loyal fans who followed the team through thick and thin up and down the country let alone home meetings. The Supporters Trust and the Friends of Workington Speedway who in two seasons sank over £20k into the club setting up direct debits and paying in additional cash all to no avail; these people need answers for sure and no doubt if it ever came back these supporters again would be at the forefront of supporting the club. However I doubt it will ever come back now and I am normally a "pot half full" type of guy but in this case the pot is definitely half empty.

Regards
THJ

1 hour ago, SteelShoe said:

Something along the lines of this would be nice and something we could all get behind:

'Due to the fact that the Workington Comets have had to be displaced from their home at Derwent Park in order to facilitate construction of the new Community Stadium the Council is giving the club its full backing in developing a new home on the site of the training track at Northside. Such a move would reduce the costs of running the sport whilst allowing the club to directly benefit from income generated through food and drink sales. There will be great opportunity for local businesses to get involved in the creation of this exciting new facility which see the continuation of what is a great family sport that has been embedded in local sporting heritage and culture over the last 50 years'.

Oh!!! got called away from me desk and see you have been at it again so I will stick this one on here as well to respond to. (have you retired; are you on holiday or do you just have time on your hands?)

It would be nice to hear the "Clarion Call" and have something positive to look forward to but where will that come from? who will put up the cash or take the risk to run a business that has seen off Keith Denham and Laura Morgan in recent times and has (as pointed out above) a history of being a major financial risk and a gamble business wise over the years.

As you state "Something along the lines of this would be nice and something we could all get behind":

'Due to the fact that the Workington Comets have had to be displaced from their home at Derwent Park in order to facilitate construction of the new Community Stadium the Council is giving the club its full backing in developing a new home on the site of the training track at Northside. (They weren't displaced? the club run out of money and folded before the ground issues started? if they came back they would now not have a viable home granted; so I would suggest this request is made to the council as you have directed it toward them and see what they say as it is not in any promotions gift to give to the fans) Such a move would reduce the costs of running the sport whilst allowing the club to directly benefit from income generated through food and drink sales. (Why should/would the council be concerned with this (making a private individual money?) and I would suggest it would be a hard sell as the speedway in general does not generate a vast amount of jobs in the community or support any cause that the council can get behind for them (the council) to garner any kudos from the process) There will be great opportunity for local businesses to get involved in the creation of this exciting new facility which see the continuation of what is a great family sport that has been embedded in local sporting heritage and culture over the last 50 years'. (what benefit is there at present to any local business, we (my company) have supported Speedway for the last 10 years and not one job has been earned from this advertising, not one new client has banged on our door saying here is a contract mate as you support the Speedway; and we are not alone in this as speaking to Alan Hedley of Sapphire Engineering a few years back with regards to business opportunity and speedway advertising he said that even as a main sponsor of a club he had not reaped one benefit business wise in all the years he sponsored the Diamonds; not one return for all that investment; again another sensible businessman with no axe to grind being honest)

What the Comets needs first is a Promoter before there is any shouting about where a track can go, then the promoter will need to know what support the council will give him/her. Then a rational business decision will be made as to whether it is viable for the club to run, but again the big issue is support as 450 fans paying on average £15;00 per meeting does not pay for a championship team without secondary income, so where is all this money coming from? sponsorship? because again and what seems only prevalent in speedway is businesses would rather give money to the riders than the club! its crazy as surely no club; no riders! or am I missing something here? maybe the sponsors should pay the riders and save the clubs money that way!

Look at what is successful in the Championship; Glasgow Model: Joking apart we know how they survive; they are losing money hand over fist however they have the support of a very successful company (and family) who back (financially) the Tigers along with some very generous sponsorship, it isn't a problem and it is working for them at present and long may it last, however if this support was racked back then things could be different. Scunthorpe Model: Rob Godfrey has a great set up at Scunny but he will be the first to tell you Speedway costs him money but it is what he loves, Rob owns and runs his venue and has other revenue streams which subsidise the Speedway and Rob runs a tight ship financially and I believe this is the way to go but it is difficult; Redcar and the motor park set up would fit at Northside however Redcar have not been without their own financial problems; and not looking for an argument from any of the clubs mentioned but the woes of speedway in general have been well debated on here with some very pragmatic and sensible arguments (by the likes of mikebv; halifaxtiger; bruv and others) and have been well put and debated to the "nth degree" but will they ever influence the "Powers that be"? I very much doubt it

I hope I am wrong but I think it will be difficult for the sport to return to West Cumbria not withstanding the following

1. A Promoter willing to invest and run it as a business (a hobby or a charity)
2. A Promoter with the financial clout to front up all the costs required to join the BSPA
3. Support from the Council (land; infrastructure and financially)
4. A venue to run the sport from! as the DP option now I feel is dead 
5. Other revenue streams (Scunny Model at a Motor Park type venue)
6. A fan base that at least exceeds 750 people paying on average £15:00
7. A viable business plan
8. BSPA support (or 9. A mug like me to win the Euro Lottery)

I have just scratched the surface here and look forward to being picked apart by all and sundry but I think you had your response from the council with regard to the stadium some time back pre local elections; however what they have said and what they have done have been a total contradiction.

As Private James Frazer said on many an occasion "we're doomed! SS "we're doomed!

Apologies in advance

Regards
THJ

  • Like 4
  • Sad 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

its taken a while to have some firm response from someone who has more say and is closer to the management . THJ has backed up all those comments/thoughts  and wants from the die hard fans .i personally now feel that we have had a response that everyone was wanting . (in the wrong kind of way ) . but i feel this chapter is now over for all . we will all have memories from years gone by , some good and as i have mentioned before ,some bad . if workington speedway was a bottle of fine wine . now would be the year to uncork it and have a few glasses in front of the fire . remembering all the great times and enjoy the craic with fellow supporters when they meet . 

its going to be darker and deeper for laura and co in the coming months/years . all we can do is wish them well for the future ..  i was happy to have this form of entertainment on fri/sat nights for a long time .even put money into it big time ! 

made loads of friends through it . riders and fellow fans from other tracks .  but memories and photos are still there to gaze at . 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by jenga
  • Like 3
  • Thanks 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, TotallyHonestJohn said:

SS you're not wrong and everyone who is/was passionate about the Comets is hurting, however I am not sure any of the former promotion who quite rightly should be applauded for their success in 2018 will want to disclose their role in the demise of the club and its ultimate failure to come to the tapes in 2019 or to give any details on what has actually gone on with the track or stadium. I would also add to that (non-disclosure) list any discussions that went on with third parties; the council; or the other sporting clubs involved. What I can add is; that there was a genuine intention to run this year however finances dictated otherwise before the track/ground issues were even considered.

For me and as close as I was to the promotion they did try their best but the path they ultimately chose (or were led down) was not sustainable and unless you have a vibrant club (support wise) and in the Comets case that would have been around 750 adults paying around an average of £15:00 each per meeting the whole thing financially was not viable; then of course you could always look to a benefactor who has cash to spare and loves Speedway however KD a very competent businessman sank thousands into the spot before seeing the light and bailing out and of course we all know what has happened to LM and the position she now finds herself in with regards to losing her businesses and the club she loved dearly.

Also this isn't a new phenomena to the Comets as previous owners of the club Eddie Thornborrow and Ron Bagley went through similar pain in the early 80's though not dissimilar it was finances that were the main influence in folding the club. However this is all water under the bridge and everyone (including Jenga) has a view on what the real reason was then as to why the spot folded.

So you may only have some of the truth as to what has gone on and some sensible suggestions on here that are very near to the truth (and some a mile off) but I doubt you will get all of the real reasons, however it is hurting everyone who is/was passionate about their speedway in West Cumbria and those loyal fans who followed the team through thick and thin up and down the country let alone home meetings. The Supporters Trust and the Friends of Workington Speedway who in two seasons sank over £20k into the club setting up direct debits and paying in additional cash all to no avail; these people need answers for sure and no doubt if it ever came back these supporters again would be at the forefront of supporting the club. However I doubt it will ever come back now and I am normally a "pot half full" type of guy but in this case the pot is definitely half empty.

Regards
THJ

Oh!!! got called away from me desk and see you have been at it again so I will stick this one on here as well to respond to. (have you retired; are you on holiday or do you just have time on your hands?)

It would be nice to hear the "Clarion Call" and have something positive to look forward to but where will that come from? who will put up the cash or take the risk to run a business that has seen off Keith Denham and Laura Morgan in recent times and has (as pointed out above) a history of being a major financial risk and a gamble business wise over the years.

As you state "Something along the lines of this would be nice and something we could all get behind":

'Due to the fact that the Workington Comets have had to be displaced from their home at Derwent Park in order to facilitate construction of the new Community Stadium the Council is giving the club its full backing in developing a new home on the site of the training track at Northside. (They weren't displaced? the club run out of money and folded before the ground issues started? if they came back they would now not have a viable home granted; so I would suggest this request is made to the council as you have directed it toward them and see what they say as it is not in any promotions gift to give to the fans) Such a move would reduce the costs of running the sport whilst allowing the club to directly benefit from income generated through food and drink sales. (Why should/would the council be concerned with this (making a private individual money?) and I would suggest it would be a hard sell as the speedway in general does not generate a vast amount of jobs in the community or support any cause that the council can get behind for them (the council) to garner any kudos from the process) There will be great opportunity for local businesses to get involved in the creation of this exciting new facility which see the continuation of what is a great family sport that has been embedded in local sporting heritage and culture over the last 50 years'. (what benefit is there at present to any local business, we (my company) have supported Speedway for the last 10 years and not one job has been earned from this advertising, not one new client has banged on our door saying here is a contract mate as you support the Speedway; and we are not alone in this as speaking to Alan Hedley of Sapphire Engineering a few years back with regards to business opportunity and speedway advertising he said that even as a main sponsor of a club he had not reaped one benefit business wise in all the years he sponsored the Diamonds; not one return for all that investment; again another sensible businessman with no axe to grind being honest)

What the Comets needs first is a Promoter before there is any shouting about where a track can go, then the promoter will need to know what support the council will give him/her. Then a rational business decision will be made as to whether it is viable for the club to run, but again the big issue is support as 450 fans paying on average £15;00 per meeting does not pay for a championship team without secondary income, so where is all this money coming from? sponsorship? because again and what seems only prevalent in speedway is businesses would rather give money to the riders than the club! its crazy as surely no club; no riders! or am I missing something here? maybe the sponsors should pay the riders and save the clubs money that way!

Look at what is successful in the Championship; Glasgow Model: Joking apart we know how they survive; they are losing money hand over fist however they have the support of a very successful company (and family) who back (financially) the Tigers along with some very generous sponsorship, it isn't a problem and it is working for them at present and long may it last, however if this support was racked back then things could be different. Scunthorpe Model: Rob Godfrey has a great set up at Scunny but he will be the first to tell you Speedway costs him money but it is what he loves, Rob owns and runs his venue and has other revenue streams which subsidise the Speedway and Rob runs a tight ship financially and I believe this is the way to go but it is difficult; Redcar and the motor park set up would fit at Northside however Redcar have not been without their own financial problems; and not looking for an argument from any of the clubs mentioned but the woes of speedway in general have been well debated on here with some very pragmatic and sensible arguments (by the likes of mikebv; halifaxtiger; bruv and others) and have been well put and debated to the "nth degree" but will they ever influence the "Powers that be"? I very much doubt it

I hope I am wrong but I think it will be difficult for the sport to return to West Cumbria not withstanding the following

1. A Promoter willing to invest and run it as a business (a hobby or a charity)
2. A Promoter with the financial clout to front up all the costs required to join the BSPA
3. Support from the Council (land; infrastructure and financially)
4. A venue to run the sport from! as the DP option now I feel is dead 
5. Other revenue streams (Scunny Model at a Motor Park type venue)
6. A fan base that at least exceeds 750 people paying on average £15:00
7. A viable business plan
8. BSPA support (or 9. A mug like me to win the Euro Lottery)

I have just scratched the surface here and look forward to being picked apart by all and sundry but I think you had your response from the council with regard to the stadium some time back pre local elections; however what they have said and what they have done have been a total contradiction.

As Private James Frazer said on many an occasion "we're doomed! SS "we're doomed!

Apologies in advance

Regards
THJ

Good read as usual THJ full of brutal reality.  Can you not have a word with Sheik Khaleed see if he also wants to invest in a sport just as exciting as Premier League Footy but currently just lacking a big enough audience ?.

 In my opinion there has never been a more persuasive time to get Council support (land , infrastructure and financial ) than right now.  Keith Denham definitely has the resources to create a facility at Northside. The Thomas Armstrong Speedway Stadium sounds good to me.  Maybe I will have won the Lottery by then anyway !!!

 For those whose pot is half empty ( THJ)  'Hope is being able to see despite all of the darkness' !

Now where did I put those anti depressants .

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
21 hours ago, SteelShoe said:

Good read as usual THJ full of brutal reality.  Can you not have a word with Sheik Khaleed see if he also wants to invest in a sport just as exciting as Premier League Footy but currently just lacking a big enough audience ?.

 In my opinion there has never been a more persuasive time to get Council support (land , infrastructure and financial ) than right now.  Keith Denham definitely has the resources to create a facility at Northside. The Thomas Armstrong Speedway Stadium sounds good to me.  Maybe I will have won the Lottery by then anyway !!!

 For those whose pot is half empty ( THJ)  'Hope is being able to see despite all of the darkness' !

Now where did I put those anti depressants .

More chance with Sheikh Ya-leg than Sheikh Khaled.

Unless the Comets can get a Promoter with the available funds and the vision; who can stir up a bit of passion and engage with the council then unfortunately it will never happen. Or the other option is you get someone to run an operation on a shoe string but then you do not attract the fans and it is a total "Catch 22" situation because the standards drop so low and the product is just something that no one wants to watch thus not attracting fans to fund your operation.

Money talks; But it don't sing and dance; And it don't walk " (that song will be in ya head all day now) but you need people in Jeans for that (blue ones apparently) and fans through the doors are a critical factor and I agree Keith Denham is the entrepreneurial type who could make a success of something like this but again its a big ask of someone who has been there and done it; but struggled with it; then ultimately walked away from it at the end of the day and for what thanks? Oh for Mr Denham now eh! all those Grumbletonians who slagged him off remorselessly!!! bitched about him at every opportunity even down to having a go at his family!!! Oh for KD back now eh!!! come home to roost that one like eh?

Again the Thomas Armstrong Motor Park and Xtreme Entertainment Speedway Stadium definitely has a ring to it, although may be not when you look at the acronym. The TAMPAXESS Arena doesn't sound a very nice place to be!!! Sorry!!! So we will go back to your suggestion eh? The Thomas Armstrong Speedway Stadium sounds good to me now!!! Doh!!! Going down the TASS to watch some Speedway!!! yep we will stick with that...

Joking apart what is there in it for a business like Thomas Armstrong, the first thing they will look at is "what's the return for our shareholders", also it isn't really one of their core business footprints either, they would be happy to build it but I think running it would be alien to them. Now the Malhotra Group PLC or a company of that ilk taking over the Northside Site and sticking on a Motor Park with a Hotel and putting on car showrooms and may be a care home utilising a multi occupancy and multi use site could do something like this however it has to get out there and the vision has to be sold to companies like this...

So Mr SS a small 4000 all seat covered in stadium costs about £6 million; regeneration of site; Hotel (Casino maybe) Several Car Show Rooms to Rent out Older Persons Village with Care Homes and Support another £4 Million; so you win somewhere round that on the Lottery and I will come in Develop; Build and Manage the whole set up for you and the combined returns will be colossal... and more importantly fund your hobby of having a Speedway team...

However there is an Aerosmith song that fits the bill here; bit depressing but the lyrics ring true

Every time when I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It went by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got the dues in life to pay

I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody sin
You got to lose to know how to win

Half my life
Is books, written pages
Live and learn from fools and
From sages
You know it's true, oh
All these feelings come back to you

Sing with me, sing for the years
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away

Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Sing with me, just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away

Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on until your dream come true

DREAM ON big boy because if we didn't have dreams then what would we have. (now I must get some work done; tea break is over and I must get back on my head)

Regards
THJ

 

Edited by TotallyHonestJohn
Spelling,
  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now

×

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy