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...enough to keep them running

I have bouts of mental health problems, and its only over the past few months that I've "Come Out" to coin a phrase. Some people told me to buck myself up, which is the worst thing to be told. Some people don't understand the situation, and I get that, because they won't if they've gone through it. Some people are very understanding. I'm currently having a great many demons, but have confidence, and obviously hope, that the people helping me with it, will get me out of the other end of the tunnel. I like Craig Cook. I feel for Craig Cook, and I pray he gets the help he needs from this invisible but deadly problem. Please people, whether you like the man or not, show him the respect and love that both he and his family needs at this present time. With the right guidance and love, he'll come out the other end with a smile on his face. Thank You.

Compare that response to Barry Bishop at the IOW who took on board a fan’s suggestion. Implemented it at a meeting. Asked for feedback on the success which was positive and promptly rewarded the fan to entry to the next meeting as a guest of the club. that’s how to treat a customer properly

Spot on. We never know what's going on in someone's head and we shouldn't interfere with his feelings. If he needs help and support I'm sure that he has people around him to give it. The rest of us should just accept it and wish him well. This is too dangerous a sport to do without full commitment and concentration. Get well soon Cookie - and take your time.

They should never have run two teams for a start. Double headers are not popular with a lot of fans and for some, it was an excuse not to go.

Credit where credit is due Plymouth and Mark in particular have proved everyone wrong this year. They joined in late, set up the team so that they could get decent crowds in all season and cemented the club for next year. people gave them no hope and they go into the last 3/4 meetings with a slim chance to get there. Bringing in Lawson gives that slim chance a bit stronger and may also look towards next season with possibly signing Lawson next season. I believe this team would have happened earlier but crumps injury didn’t allow it. it would have been a lot earlier this change happened and Plymouth would have been even stronger all season. there’s a chance they get in to the play offs and if they do they could win it.

What an absolutely ridiculous comment "Lawson has already closed 1 club down with his wage demands " do you have knowledge of what his wage demands are? No you don't so why are acting as though you do? I will be at Leicester tomorrow and I hope Plymouth and particularly Lawson smash Leicester and you miss out on the playoffs as a result .

If your argument against the change is that Lawson "already has a job at King's Lynn, I'd reply that Edwards "already has a job" at Mildenhall!

Some kind of mystery shop feed back would be fine I guess. But there are thousands of pages right on this very forum that if the promotors were really interested in feedback they could look at. However they don't seem that bothered & Seem to regard this forum as something of minority view from people who are negative about the sport.

You are measuring the experience on the size of the crowd- but where are you wanting to compare it to? I would say the IOW are getting crowds which would be comparable with or better than other NDL teams (and that is the level they have chosen to operate at), but perhaps more importantly they are at a level which makes it sustainable. However, my main point is that any promoter at any level could learn from them and increase their own attendance.

Probably the same as you, deteriorate.

Trees, you seem to have a downer on the IOW offer and I don't know why that is. I can understand that you don't like the racing on offer - but you must take into account the restrictions that the Warriors have had to operate within this year. However, any one who goes to watch an event with an open mind could not fail to be impressed by the the whole show - from the minute you are welcomed by the parking team right up to the moment you leave ( and if you are travelling back to the mainland on the late ferry the customer care continues right up to the point you have to go back to your car ). Any promoter would come away from a visit with at least a couple of ideas that would improve their own show, and therefore their customers night out.

As it happens, I disagree with you fundametally. I am not a fan of 5 minutes. I have been a staunch supporter since just after the War. At one time I was privileged to have as my personal friend, the manager/promoter of West Ham. The result of that friendship, has been my sympathy with managements and the problems they face that the fans on the terraces have no idea about. Not that I think all of them are perfect, with only the sport at heart. In fact, over the years, many of them have proved to be selfish snd short sighted. However, it is a FACT that the racing I witness week after week is out of the top drawer and that is what I pay to see. Of course there are from time to time things easy to criticise, but we still see riders genuinely risking their lives in race after race to entertain us. So for me, facts like poor signposting, or duff programmes, gardening at the gate and poor refereeing are insignificant. And seeing what has just happened at Eastbourne ( sad day), I will continue to pay my money quite happily to help keep Kent Speedway in a prosperous state.

Well said.. Physical illness/disability is often visible.. Mental illness/disability often isn't.. Best wishes to Craig... And to you..

Edinburgh have a very good top 3, backed up by an improving Thomson. Their issue is they have very poor reserves and number 2. So they are stuck. If a reserve replaces the number 2, it makes them no stronger. They are forever relying on their heat leaders winning to keep them in it, then try to win the meeting in the last 3 heats. This has worked until they meet another team with strong top 3. And who have much better second strings and reserves. Hume tonight showed superb aggression and a fighting spirit which the Edinburgh riders could not get close to. On his first visit. And to think he has been desperate for a team berth for a couple of years with no one prepared to give him a chance until this year. The Jack Smiths, Cleggs, Lawsons always getting the nod in front of him. He is still learning and has loads of improvement in him. Well spotted Matt Ford.

Beaten fair and square tonight. Don’t think Richie or Nick would have made any difference. No excuses. Will take a very good team to beat Poole in the play offs. Their reserves were excellent. Great interview with the Roo Boy and nice to see him come round at end to acknowledge the home support.

Paramedics / ambulance/insurance/referee fees must be around £1200, stadium rent , electricity probably another £1200, let’s hope 250 pay to watch so the club can make £100 to pay the tractor drivers travel expenses

More like a light breeze

Jesus

I'm only going by what the man said when interviewed. I was not alone in hearing it.

Whoop whoop whoop whoop 4 big fat juicy points for the mighty Pirates!

He said he was a director, when interviewed at the last Arlington meeting.

First issues been with it all season. Better be fixed or I'll need to spend time with the family

I would estimate the crowd size of being an average of 5 feet 7.

Both Bowtell and .Edwards were listed as rising stars in the original list issued by the Men in Black but Edwards now has a 2 point average according to the last gsa's. I applaud Plymouth's astute use of the averages.

I think Anders Thomsen would be a good choice if his average fits. Popular with the fans and the Peterborough set up.

Ian has said he wants to settle all debts in the next 4-6 weeks. It would be fair to give him that timescale before we hang him...

Link to Ian Jordan interview, if Link it doesnt work try googling Sussex Radio Ian Jordan interview, thats how I found it. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09t96s5

Mind you, this move brings Plymouth right in line with the best teams in the league. Who knows that they might spring a surprise in these last away matches?

only if he brings his drill, otherwise, no thanks.

Plymouth it is then!!

At that time Doris there was a cheap and expensive side , we used to go on bend two on the bank was never keen watching at the starting gate.I think that gate that separated the two sides was opened after heat 10 great days really and those second halves were terrific.They help mould the career’s of the likes of Holloway ( RIP), Hewlett, (RIP), the Chessell’s, the Smar’ts, Rosco, (ect) .Those second halves were hard initially for those lads usually win the scurry or junior race and then bang in with the big boys a real learning curve for them.

That's another thing, the difference between the 60s70s and 21st.century, you could go into the pits and get autographs, and chat to riders, half of them were local lads. You had to be on that green Bristol Omnibus sharpish, as sometimes it left for Cavi Square before end of second half final, normally consisting of Briggo, Broady, Ashby, Kilby. If you were on top deck of bus you could pick out their helmet colours. A 5 year old mascot called Alun Rossiter doing some laps! Those legendary back straight bogs with Izal bog rollSwindon Town in the afternoon, Robins at night. About 30 home meetings a year.

Ride a bike? We should stick with Rory imo. I thought Lawson was going to Plymouth?

A rider must be in a 1-7 to guest elsewhere, the league is irrelevant

Given the huge success of Isle of Wight Speedway (even allowing for exceptional circumstances) you might not be the only one with that view. From what I am hearing, the circumstances of the closure of Eastbourne are very different to that of Workington. I think there are grounds for optimism where Eastbourne is concerned and that this closure may well only be temporary. The stadium, I am assured, is going nowhere (unlike about half of the above) with stock cars and bangers still pulling in nigh on capacity attendances. In addition, the joint owners of Arlington are Eric and Margaret Dugard (the late Bob's brother and wife) and the family have a strong history of supporting, running and even competing in speedway.

Aye enjoy them they should be good meetings but who would you fancy as a guest at home? R/R for the last two away meetings so would you use R/R again for Plymouth and Brum the last two away meetings? Well that will be down to Rob Grant and after the last two years no one would blame him if he walked... problem is there is no one in the wings waiting to jump into the breach so that would be it if he walks... but what I will say is he has done all the hard work this year and would be mad not to give it one more year and it would be impossible for next year to be anything like the one he has just been through... just need the fans to vote with their feet and get along to Brough and cheer on their team... You may in the first one but just in case I will be waving from the royal box upstairs on the last one as we have decided rather than standing outside for the last meeting we are going to do the corporate hospitality package upstairs and try out the prawn sarnies... So keep an eye out from the centre green Ruff and I will raise a glass... to you and the other volunteers who without whose help and support there wouldn't be a meeting... Cheers Buddy Regards THJ

I think given the fact that Boro were the only team to go with a 1* RS there should be an in the best interests of speedway ruling allowing them up to an additional point to replace Ully

And all to try and win competitions rendered pretty much meaningless by their very own operational model and their actions... The saying often used for this kind of ludicrous situation is... "You really couldn't make this s**t up could you?'... Well, unfortunately for British Speedway, someone actually must have... And, incredibly, others then agreed with them....

But the premiership heat leaders aren't really premiership heat leaders. Guys like Lawson, masters, Ellis would be 5/6 point riders maybe if was to standard of 20 years ago. James Grieves a consistent 9 point average second division rider barely got above 4 in his Wolverhampton days. The premiership is just a slightly harder championship as apposed to the old days when it was a huge jump.

Stupidest post of the day award. Well done, even tops the loonie's Buzz post

Ok, I’m probably biased as my son is 25, but what is considered young ? I think the UK should accept they’re not going to produce an U21 world champ for a while and encourage our young riders to start hitting their peak a bit later. It’s far too much pressure on a 17/18/19 year old. The team GB set up is working, let’s get the basics right before putting too much pressure on young shoulders. Before someone comes back and points out that the Poles have a conveyer belt of young talent …. Yes, but they also have the facilities and budget that we can only dream of.

Pretty proud of this feedback.... have lots more to share too if you would like it... I guess most of us use FB which is where we post it all I would just like to say a big thank you to Rob Snow for organising the vintage Jap racing last night and to Barry Bishop and Martin Widman for welcoming us to Smallbrook. I have been to many tracks in my fifty year association with the sport as both a supporter and rider and I can honestly say that last night was the most welcoming experience I have had at any UK track. What a pleasure to find a clean tidy stadium, riders toilets that are safe to go in and good refreshments at a reasonable price. Barry has certainly looked up the definition of a “promoter” in the dictionary and I cannot fault him for his effort and enthusiasm. Last night was certainly a list of firsts for me. First time on the island. First time at Smallbrook and most importantly the first time I have ever been pushed off for a race by a promoter! So once again thank you for last night, keep up the good work that you are doing and I wish you every success.

That's why I'd never contribute to a begging bowl. Eastbourne's demise has been brought about by poor management. I've paid out more than enough over the years.

They can do owt ya want... they even do a veggie option... special dietary requirement and cranky old farts like ya good self Geoff can be easily catered for xxx Regards THJ

Rather confused with this decision - not disputing that Lawson is a better more experienced rider then Edwards but Plymouth have no chance of making the plays off considering they are racing away to 3 of the top clubs where even with Lawson they have no chance of winning. Home win to Newcastle was nailed on whatever the team. yet this decision is going to cost (assuming Lawson is on £1.5k a meeting) around about £6k more than having Edwards for these meetings yet will put very little in terms of numbers on the gate for a single home match? After Eastbourne this seems poor financial management which is ironic given the main team sponsor! Maybe this is linked to next year being that the novelty of Crump will have warn off and Pederson retiring?

He could still guest!!

If the league stays as just 6 then some teams seasons are going to be very short indeed ,can reintroduce cup matches but thats the same teams visiting again , inter lge matches wont work with the D/U of riders , if theres less teams overall in 2022 it has to go to one league which also has its issues to overcome if the retention of supporters attending is to be retained they need to find a solution and quick

In fact the more I think about it, I would have several questions of the Eastbourne management team if they were prepared to answer; - Why was the break even figure set at such a high attendance coming out of lockdown, what outgoings were so high, overpaying riders, staff or unaffordable rent? - Why were fans not informed sooner that there were problems, speedway fans are a big community and don’t like to see any track close. It could have led to donations, offers of support and larger attendances? - Why did they enter and then continue with a National league side, as sad as it would have been to see them pull out, it may have been a sacrifice worth making to save one of the teams. - Why were the 2 owners/directors not licensed promoters and therefore having to employ 2 promoters. I could be wrong but does this somehow imply that the BSPL already had concerns and didn’t want to give them a promoters license? - They state that the company will continue to trade for 5-6 weeks and pay off everything they owe, does that include all outstanding rent and riders pay? - Why did they start a crowdfunding page for an air fence for next season knowing that they had financial problems and therefore were unlikely to even get to next season? Surely would have been more valuable to ask for funding to get through the problems first?

Confirmed September 6th Belle Vue v Sheffield September 13th Wolves v Peterborough September 20th Peterborough v Sheffield