Mr Snackette

Despite all the trials and tribulations at the City you still get over 9,000 people turning up for each home game. If the Bees got a third of that each week, there really wouldn't be a problem!

Current climate? In the current climate, Wasps turned up 18 months ago, and from nil, now get an average crowd of over 17,000. This has been achieved by supplying the right product, in the right environment, with the right promotion. Even Coventry City who are not dissimilar from speedway (in general), and can be regarded as a complete "basket case" still manage to get people through the door. Yet despite this over 9,000 fans, turn up each home game, be it out of a sense of loyalty / love of their team. It is clear that the good people of Coventry do not feel (certainly in terms of numbers) the same towards the Bees.

Blaming it on the cost of admission is far too simplistic. The costs of watching speedway at £17, compares very favourably with Wasps (cost £44 - £16) and the Sky Blues (£26 - £16). Yet on average over 17,000 rock up for each Wasps game, and even City with all their problems still attract on average 9,000 per game. So it is clearly something more than price.

That may well be true, but Wasps have demonstrated that if you supply the right product, in the right environment, with the right promotion, kids can be dragged away from their electronic devices.

So why can someone drop in a franchise rugby team and make it such a success? When I first started watching speedway the thought that an English club rugby fixture would attract more people than a speedway meeting would be considered laughable. Now the rugby attracts more people in two home games than would probably go to Brandon over the whole season. It just shows the depth of the sport's decline.

Whether you like them or not, is your choice. However what is indisputable is that for their seven home Aviva Premiership matches they have attracted 123,423 fans at an average of around 17,600 per game. Oh for a speedway franchise that could deliver similar results.

More alarmist nonsense by the usual EU bashers. The European Commission has already announced that it intends to fix this issue, by changing the wording of the European Motor Insurance Directive, to make it clear that it is only intended to cover vehicles being used for transport purposes on public roads or on areas accessible to the public.

Here's a few for the teenagers: "Bronco" Bobby Dugard "Slim" Jim Tebby "The Hedgehopper" Trevor Hedge "Happy" Reg Luckhurst

When I started watching speedway back in 1964, I also used to also attend some Rugby Union matches. At that time it was totally inconceivable that more people would watch a Harlequins home match (be at the Stoop or HQ) than a Wimbledon Dons meeting. Indeed it would have been a major surprise if any club rugby fixture would attract any sort of attendance, and certainly nowhere near the crowd levels that would flock to speedway meetings up and down the land. Today as I sit here in Spain, sipping a glass of Sancerre, I see that 80,000 people have gathered at HQ to watch the Quins take on Gloucester in a Premiership fixture. I would suggest that most SGB Premiership promotions won't have 80,000 people through their turnstiles in four or five seasons. It doesn't answer the question, as to when the decline started.....but it does help illustrate just how marked it is.

Costa Mesa and Fast Fridays are tiny tracks. On the few occasions I have visited these venues, I have never had cause to complain about the quality of entertainment on offer. Mind you the Yanks know how to put on a show!!

Corrected for errors: P.S. Was my grammar OK? Verdict: Must try harder!!!!!!!!!!

Still enjoying the Spanish sunshine. I keep an eye on what's happening without posting....but mention in an earlier post of the 1970s Daily Mirror International Tournament just got the nostalgia juices flowing.

In the spirit that nostalgia ain't what it used to be, I fondly remember the 1973 Daily Mirror International Tournament, with 7 teams contesting 24 matches over a period of 19 days at 18 tracks, it was ( and still is) the largest international tournament ever staged. I have two abiding memories of the tournament. Firstly going to the old Shay Stadium, Halifax to see Poland take on the Soviet Union. Riders of both sides reveled in the conditions, and I watched some of the most spectacular speedway I had ever seen. The likes of Zenon Plech, Edward Jancarz and Vladimir Gordeev were nothing short of sensational. Then there was the final, at Wembley Stadium no less. After 24 matches the final (over the old BL 13 Heat formula) finished dead level England and Sweden finishing 39 - 39, JL scoring 2 points from 3 rides. The tournament was to be decided by a run-off between Peter Collins (England,) and Anders Michanek (Sweden). To this day it remains one of the sport's greatest controversies. So did Peter Collins fall? Or was he pushed? All that mattered was the referee thought the later, Michanek was excluded and England won the tournament. And if that wasn't enough we had a rather tasty "2nd Half", when England took on the Rest of the World, again over 13 heats. 50,000 or so were there to witness the "going-ons"......and if my memory serves correctly I think admission was less than a fiver. Will we see the like again? .......what do you think?

Very sad news. Not just an excellent TV presenter......but also one of the best meeting presenters / announcers ever. R.I.P.

So 14 weekly Elite Fixtures equals a two month season!!!!! Mathematics was never this Forum's strongest suite......is it any wonder Mrs May wants to bring back Grammar Schools?

Clearly the Radio Times thinks she is: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-03-09/former-bbc-f1-presenter-suzi-perry-joins-bt-sport. "The presenter will join the broadcaster to FRONT BT Sport's motorsport coverage, including MotoGP, speedway and the World Rally Championship." Does the RT know more than the Forum's esteemed insider, or is this just another example of lazy journalism?

I know the geography very well, but as I pointed out to Arthur notwithstanding the boundary issues, one of the key recommendations in the report of the planning inspector was that the London Borough of Merton would have full control over the whole of the planning process. Nuff said!!!

Ah what a shame, it's a pity that yours powers of meaningful debate go no further than spitting your dummy out and putting your fingers in your ears. Bless!!!! Thank you, Arthur, for you kind words of support. Was not one of the key recommendations in the report of the planning inspector, that the London Borough of Merton would have full control over the whole of the planning process?

Since reading your post, I am but a shadow of my former self. My self-esteem has been shot to pieces, I feel unable to talk to people, or leave the house. Clearly I need councilling......perhaps your good friend KEITHM could recommend a psychoanalyst?

No, I haven't taken any time to read the planning application, I leave that to the professionals. Clearly the professionals employed by the London Borough of Merton have satisfied themselves that the area can sustain a development of that size, which is why the planning committee voted UNANIMOUSLY to approve the plan. Now the Stadium is in the London Borough of Merton, not Wandsworth.....so their views are interesting, but not relevant. A cynic may, of course, say that it’s the case of a neighboring Tory council trying to undermine a Labour authority, particularly as the plan will make a significant contribution towards Merton’s achieving its 10-year target for new homes. Personally, I would have thought any sports fan would prefer even a "nondescript football stadium" to a car auction site!!! I'm sure that a lot of effort went into negotiating with the GRA over the planned rent increase, and the extensive search for a new suitable venue. But that was but a few people. Where were the fans on the streets with their buckets....outside supermarkets, shopping centres and even football grounds! Sadly they were nowhere to be seen.....and that's Wimbledon's problem. You can dress it up all you like, the reason they closed in 1991 mid-season, was too few people were bothered to come through the turnstiles. AND THAT IS APATHY!!!! Anyway, enjoy your little dream that the decision will get overturned, but given his track record what are the chances of Boris falling out with Galliard......but hey sweet dreams!!! It's been a great weekend thus far: My adoptive team Ipswich Town has just beaten the Franchise Team The Town are now in the Play-Off positions The Norwich Scum failed to win at home again AND THE DONS ARE BACK AT THE LANE I feel a rendition of the famous AFC Wimbledon "Champagne Song" coming on. Now all together now: We drink champagne, we snort cocaine. we've got ladies over here, You've got poor jobs, you mess with your dogs and your wife is on the game. We drive Ferraris, we drink Camparis, we've got wombles in our lives, You've got bus-stops, second hand shops and your mum's in readers wives. We've got Gucci and Armani, we've got Prada over here, You've got Buyright, your clothes are too tight, and your haircut's rather weird. We are wombles super wombles, super wombles from the Lane, we are wombles super wombles, we are wombles we drink champagne..

What a very odd post. The demolition of the old stadium had been agreed years ago. The question for the planners was to decide what was to be put up in its place. In the end, the planners decided, quite rightly in my view, that the AFC Wimbledon plans were the most suitable. Having visited the Stadium recently, it's demolition can't come a moment too soon. It was like visiting an elderly relative in hospital, who once was fit and healthy, and is now waiting for the inevitable. . The once proud and vibrant building is now nothing more than a shell. Three-quarters of the stadium are closed, and what remains is a shadow of it's former glory. As sports people, greyhound, speedway and stock car fans should celebrate that the site of the stadium will still continue as a sports venue, rather than a car auction site which was, of course, the fate that befell Hyde Road......and that was a real track!!!!

Mickthemuppet is partially correct, a phrase that is rarely used!!! The low emissions zone has clearly had an impact on Spedeworth's business at Wimbledon. That said they have been working around it since the revised rules were introduced in 2012. Now I am told that the Eatons had a meeting with Taggart's people. My stockcar contacts tell me that the Eatons didn't believe that their planning application would be successful, and even if it was, there were big question marks on their ability to deliver. I must stress that this is hearsay but would help explain Spedeworth's investment in Foxhall. Plus of course they could pick up a job lot of tip-up seats surplus to requirements once the London Olympics had ended!!!

Regardless of whoever won the planning application, the chances of Wimbledon Speedway taking to the track again was minuscule. I think this was a position that most people would accept. Ironically the real threat to speedway is probably going to impact 70 miles up the road. Spedeworth accepted that, regardless of the planning issues, their time at Wimbledon was coming to an end. It has been suggested that the reason for their investment in refurbishing Foxhall is to make it their all year round base for car racing. My son who drives a stock-rod under the auspices of Spedeworth has been told that this is the last year that cars will be at Wimbledon. The rumour amongst the stockcar fraternity is that Spedeworth is planning to run at least 40 meetings at Foxhall from 2017 onwards. Given that the current Suffolk Coastal Council regulations limit Foxhall to running 56 events per year, if these rumours prove to be correct, it would place a serious doubt upon the Witches continuing at the stadium

It is nothing to do with the recent planning process.....by then it was far too late. The apathy was there from 1991 onwards. Whilst there were individuals who showed some gumption in wanting to preserve the Dons, they were far too few in number. More importantly, they didn't have the ability to galvanise local support and get the local community behind the project. To be blunt, too few people cared. And that's the difference. The football fans were not prepared to allow their club to be hijacked by The Syndicate, and actually did something to preserve THEIR CLUB, with the ultimate aim of returning the club to their "spiritual home"...which is why today is so wonderful. Even when they were playing in the United Counties League (THE NINTH TIER of English football) they still attracted crowds in excess of 2,000. Those founding fathers, and the people / fans all shared a dream that eventually they would return to the borough. It shows what can be achieved if people really want something to happen. I can speak with some authority on the subject as I had the privilege of leading the Ipswich "Save our Speedway Campaign" in the 1990s. Owing to a massive rent rise (sound familiar Dons' fans?), the Ipswich Promotion were upping sticks and moving to Oxford. Fortunately, Ipswich speedway fans were not so apathetic as those in the capital and were determined not to lose speedway in their town. With the support of the local MP, local businesses and the fans themselves the whole town was behind the campaign. And it worked!!! As AFC Wimbledon and the Ipswich "SOS Campaign" proved you will only be successful if you have the support of your local community. The reality is, and what some people on here need to grasp, is that too few people give (or gave) a "rats" whether Wimbledon Speedway survived.

Oh, dear Rob McCaffery......have I struck a raw nerve?!! Ir's a pity that you are unable to formulate your argument, without resulting to personal attacks.....anyway, let's try and deal with your points in a logical non-confrontational manner. I must confess I am surprised that you are so easily shocked. I think it's worth celebrating that the stadium is still going to be used for sporting purposes. Far better than Custom House which is now a housing estate, far better than Rayleigh Wier which is now a supermarket, far better than Hyde Road Stadium which is now a car auction site......and so I could go on!! To correct you, I'm not a "speedway person"....and I really don't understand what that means. You can label me a "Sports Fan" if you like. Over the years, I have derived as much pleasure from watching Eddie Reynolds score four goals (all with his head!!) in Wimbledon's 1963 FA Amateur Cup Final victory against Sutton United, as I did when Olle Nygren and Trevor Hedge raced to a 5-1 for a 40-38 victory over West Ham. It's a pity that you hadn't read a little more, as it would have prevented you from making the comment "I thought they were settled in Stadium MK", which is, of course, the Franchise and not the "DONS". Mind you the pièce de résistance is ".....like the bawling spoilt child holding its breath, football gets what it wants....." That would be the spoilt child who had their team taken away from them, and only through the sheer hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm of the fans themselves got their club back. It just emphasises the difference between those sports fans, who get off their backsides and make things happen, rather than those who do nothing but sit and pontificate!!!!!! Pip Pip!!!!!!!!