MattJ81

I'm not sure that Max was planning to ride NL this year as he had a slot in both the PL and CL. Once he was dropped from Lakeside the opportunity to go to Stoke was probably a good one for him, as was the chance to keep busy with Buxton last year after being dropped by Wolves as he didn't start last season in the NL either. I'm sure his preferred option is PL and CL doubling up. Yes he should really have left the NL behind by now but I wouldn't blame him for taking the chance to stay busy, I'm sure Buxton and Stoke don't pay over the odds so it wouldn't be a money making exercise

Technically as Connor isn't riding for anyone else (yet) he wouldn't be a guest . Surprised he has turned down a place with another team full time in the Northern Section so he can ride for us, but I'm glad to see someone from last year come back. Not sure if any of the others can fit, or are available but would be nice to retain a flavour of last year if possible

Glad Luke Harris has been snapped up, he's a rider I enjoy watching. A fast starter and you could see his confidence grow through the season last year both at home and away. Hope he has a good year

I don't think the Bank Holiday double meetings are happening this year, which is part of the reason for Cradley not being in the NL full time I believe. Shame as I thought they worked pretty well last season

Surely he's been forced into retirement because he can't find two clubs that want him? He said the only way he could make speedway viable was to ride in both the Premiership and Championship. He could have had an offer from one or the other league but not both I guess

Jacobs says in his press release that he needed to find a club in the Premiership and Championship to make speedway financially viable which obviously makes it more complicated. Interesting that he sees that he can only make speedway pay if he doubles up, he does mention that he has a job outside of the sport too - although after his omission in 2017 that would be a necessity.

Thanks - fingers crossed he gets a team place

I wouldn't have thought Tom could ride for Cradley if he is in the Birmingham team, with them also being in the Trophy? Would be a shame if he decides to call it a day as he is great to watch, but I guess with a good job and family to support at some point everyone has to make a decision

Additional details in a statement by Nigel today: "Only 6 available dates at Monmore Bank Holiday Double Headers no longer allowed Only 1 meeting per week at Monmore due to Greyhound schedule Perry Barr not viable due to heavy losses previously Personal & Business Interests for directors make it more difficult to run the club At least Trophy & Golden Hammer keeps us on track Happy to listen to suggestions to run in 2019 with perhaps a consortium of fans & businesses to underpin a return to Perry Barr for some meetings" I guess this is where we need to supporters trust to come to the party with a view to 2019, assuming they can stop ripping each other apart on social media I'd resigned myself to no Cradley at all this season so at least there's something to support, it won't be our team as such but better than nothing with the hope that something can be sorted for 2019 in the absence of any joy on a new site

Ben rode for Buxton against Cradley on Sunday and after taking a couple of races to get used to the track looked good, considering he was riding at number 2 especially. Certainly looks like having a bright future, fingers crossed

Blimey, the Brummies seem to be having no luck at all with the weather so far. Fingers crossed for next week!

There were plenty of Cradley fans in for both matches, although as this is the only Wolves match I've been to in about 15 years I couldn't say how the crowd compared to usual. There were a decent amount of Wolves fans at the start of the Cradley match and although a few drifted off after a few heats still a good amount left at the end It flowed quite nicely really, I think each meeting finished in around 1hr 40mins with a 30 min break between the two. Luckily there weren't too many stoppages I was impressed with the amount of time Freddie Lindgren spent talking to, having pictures with and signing things for the fans afterwards. It must have taken him 15 minutes to get from the start line back to the pits as he stopped for everyone who waited for him at the front. Again I am not sure if this is usual, or if the earlier start time meant more kids could stay after the meeting but I'm sure it made a difference to the fans. All of the other Wolves riders did the same, but weren't as in demand! I was quite looking forward to having fun cheering the Wolves opposition, but sadly other than Lambert there wasn't much to cheer.

Greaves was good to be fair, he came down while battling with Ayres for the lead - I would say Zach would have scored similar points An enjoyable meeting, luckily with few restarts it was completed within an hour and a half after the Wolves meeting (which itself moved at a nice pace). I'm sure David Mason will be feeling second hand this morning after a bit of a pearler. Nice to get back to winning ways with a few away trips coming up

WOLVERHAMPTON admission prices to include both events: Adults - £18 Concessions* - £13 * Students/senior citizens (over 60)/ Registered Disabled Junior (Age 13 to 18 incl) - £7 Child (age 6 to 12 incl) - £1 Children 5 and under admitted – FREE CRADLEY HEATH admission prices from 7.15 approx: Adults - £12 Concessions/Students - £10* Juniors 13-18 - £5 Children - £2 *Start aged 60 and also include the disabled. So if you want to see both as an adult you are only paying £18

Luke Harris has started the season really well with 16 points from 2 league matches (albeit both at home) - his win over Jenkins in Heat 14 vs Mildenhall was a beauty and he looks high on confidence at present, so I'm hoping he will surprise you especially with his experience of the track. Gating could become our achilles heel this season with our heat leaders not being renowned for getting out of the traps particularly well. I think it should be a close meeting, with a little luck Cradley could come away with the win - fingers crossed anyway!

That too! I hadn't realised, thanks for the confirmation

I'm sure that Max will become a very good speedway rider, he's still only 20 (I think) so time is on his side. He has started slowly and as CVS mentioned hasn't had the confidence boost of the NL to keep things ticking over this year. As mentioned on here several times it was a big jump to be senior reserve and it does strike me as a harsh decision, although I'd admit to being a little biased. ​Max is too good for the NL, he made the right move this season in concentrating on the top two leagues - it was an absolute pleasure to see him tear through the NL for the last few years and some of his performances last season were as commanding as you will see anywhere but there was no useful purpose in him remaining there this season, the only rider to average more last year was Adam Ellis. I don't believe that anyone could fit him in as it stands so he will have to concentrate on Edinburgh and get things back on track.

Agree with that. Nobody laid a glove on him all night and he came within a quarter of a second of Max Clegg's NL track record. Jon Armstrong rolled back the years, in particular a second bend cut back on Tom Perry that worked a treat and when Jenkins got dialled in for the second half of the meeting it was always going to be an uphill battle for Cradley. Greenwood didn't have the best start to the meeting with a big crash and having his machine carried back into the pits didn't bode well, special mention to Luke Harris who was nice and steady all night until Heat 14 when he kept it screwed on around a strong challenge from Jenkins to take the win in a great race - great to see him start the season so well. Not the best start to our Monmore campaign but not many riders (home or away) will produce a performance like Bewley to lead a team to victory this season

Kevin Jolly reportedly threw a punch at him and has been reported to BSPA/SCB - although that was after heat 13 where Bowen had been excluded

I'm looking forward to the Bank Holiday double headers, I believe usual entry to the EL meeting gets you both (I can't see how it can be any other way!) and it has been a while since I've been at Monmore to support whoever is against Wolves. If they could get the EL and NL Kings Lynn/Belle Vue/Cov teams there together it may bring in more away fans too. The gates will re-open at 6.30 for any fans who only want to see the NL meeting and any Cradley Season Ticket Holders (what would be the case if they wanted to see both meetings?) Anyway I think it's a good idea

Would broadly agree with all of this Dean, although obviously from a Cradley perspective, hence the avatar! I made a comment when Max and Nathan signed for Wolves that we have effectively become the feeder club which is a shame for those who remember what we were, but as we stand it is as good as we can have until/unless land is found (I would agree that Dudley Council isn't in the least bit interested, perhaps Sandwell could be persuaded I don't know). Having said all of that I attended more meetings last season than I have for years. We have been to Cardiff for the last 2 years after 10 years of being away. I can only think the reason for this is that my kids are now of an age where they appreciate the sport (well 2 of the 3 appreciate the sport, the other mainly attends for the social side and the ice creams!), and none are old enough to decide that they don't fancy it! This is based around the club though rather than anything else, they have something similar to what Dean mentions above with an affinity to Cradley. National League is perhaps closest to how things used to be rider wise, being accessible and in most cases not riding for other clubs and some forming a strong bond by riding for a club for a few years. I have a few relatives who attend now who had been lost before, certainly since Dudley Wood closed anyway and I have no doubt that Cradley could thrive In our own stadium, should the miracle come to fruition! I too long for the Dudley Wolves Trophy days, there is a video online that I think was posted by Steve Evans of a couple of races from a meeting at Monmore - fantastic to see the placed packed (when you could stand further round too!) and loud. I think I'm always looking for something close to that, the meetings we had at home against Eastbourne and Birmingham at the end of the season I kind of enjoyed, as much as you can when you lose but there were loud away fans in and around us which at least gave me something to moan at and argue with! Not that you could recreate anything like those meetings as we stand, but we can live in hope eh?

Greaves does have plenty of laps of Monmore under his belt from his Cradley days (sadly/predictably we are becoming something of a feeder club - though I suppose the current alternative is far worse!) Injuries have slowed his progress compared to Clegg for example, they both started in the Cradley team at much the same time at a similar level, but Greaves has the talent to push on. I hope he has an injury free season. At home he should collect points from similar level reserves, which I guess is his job, and if he still has Ermolenko as a mentor that will probably help too!

Jordan Jenkins? He's back at Mildenhall this season, was very impressed with him at Monmore last year - I would imagine The Brummies were very interested in him this winter (along with most other clubs!)

Great start to the team building!

I had the same thought this morning, sadly. The perils of our current situation I guess. I believe the promotion has more pride than to leave fixtures unfulfilled unless absolutely unavoidable (especially if we are in or around the playoff picture at the business end!) There's only so many times everyone (promotion, sponsors, riders, fans) can go through this in the off season without it becoming terminal. There needs to be a sliver of good news somewhere to strive towards, something to hang on to while we remain nomadic *edited to add it's easier said than done of course