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I wouldn't normally react to negative postings, but here we have a group of people working really hard to keep our club in business - and the response we get from a significant minority of posters, who still purport to call themselves speedway enthusiasts, is to just to sneeringly pour scorn on their efforts.

Andy is a good guy with some great ideas for a fully inclusive motor park so everything from stocks and speedway to lawnmower and Motability scooter racing; training track facilities for kids and adults an external BMX track the works and nothing is off the table at the moment he is really making a go of it.. and hopefully it will be fully self financing Regards THJ

its completely ludicrous to even attempt to run speedway at an arc venue, they are mercenary in every way and if the masons did their cobblers in htf can anyone else make it pay with double the rent. Just be realistic, arc dont want speedway at birmingham, kent, anywhere.

To be honest, I think people trying to brush the use of said P word as no different to saying "Aussie" are just being deliberately obtuse. It's pretty clear to anyone with a modicum of sense that it's not just about a shortened version of the country where someone is from. It is also about context, and I think we all know that the context in which people are called such a thing is, in general, racist. That is why the term is seen as a racist term. Does that really need explaining? I'm not so sure it does to be honest. Saying it isn't is the same as saying it's not racist for people to throw bananas at black footballers because you wouldn't be offended if someone threw an apple at you.

One of 3 Regards THJ

Wow haven't looked on a Poole thread for a couple of years,,,,, I see the poor genuine Poole fans are still suffering from attracting loads of fruit cakes.

Doyle has never let British speedway down, Covid, Swindon not in the league last season and injuries are the only exceptions. I welcome him back to our shores and can't wait to see him round the NSS again, albeit as an away rider.

Had a walk down to Northside today, plenty of activity from around a dozen volunteer's, the base is in and looks well packed down, plenty of camber on both bends and also on straights, inside curb being laid, about 2/3 done, shale ex Derwent park being sorted to be laid in the next few weeks, changing rooms and pits to be marked out and built, so still lots to do and winter weather on its way !! Good luck to the people behind the venture,

Exactly... Surely at least some of them can see how winning any Speedway title with so few competitors (and the ridiculous way it can be won with every rider in the league possibly playing his part regardless of team), is pretty much as shallow a victory as any could be.. (Apart from maybe the boat race).. In a sport that brings great financial reward I get "throwing money at it" as there will be competition which, whilst not as rich, can still provide decent opposition, and you can speculate to accumulate.. The Football Premier League and Polish Speedway are two examples where spending big can give rewards but those who spend less can still compete.. And the Poles launching the U24 League shows how they want this conveyor belt of talent (not just Polish), to continue so as to ensure their Leagues stay full of fans, sponsors and coverage.. In Speedway there is far too disparate a distance between the haves and the have nots, with, you could argue, several clubs plying their trade in the "wrong" league for their size and backing.. How few teams need to be left before someone starts to properly equalise team strengths through salary spend? A salary spend that never goes over a certain amount that all sign up to, and will keep clubs in the black.. Eg. Could you run six man teams for £4k per team per night in the top league? And say £3k a night in the 2nd Division? Run twice a week in both leagues and that's £8k being shared between six lads in the top tier and £6k being shared in the 2nd.. We know that DU'ing is necessary as it is clear Promoters are quite happy for riders to be full time pro's, so heat leaders doing both leagues would pick up a decent return every week, taking a decent share each of the £14k their two teams will be paying out.. Or maybe run with the same £'s per night but five man teams thus increasing the return for the rider? Averages certainly dont equalise teams as is obvious every year, as they are delivered by too many variables, with fans every pre season pointing out the clear wooden spoon contenders, and not often being wrong.. Not many take any win of either match or even league too seriously, so surely success should be measured in the growth of the leagues, and ultimately through that, the sport itself?

It might be necessary to retitle this thread "Rye House 2023", or even 2022. A detailed proposal has today ben submitted to landlords Carter & Bailey that, if accepted, will see the Rye House track restored along with all facilities necessary to stage the sport. A Saturday night race day is proposed, with Sunday afternoons as the alternative. We have offered a realistic rent proposal. There has been a fundamental change in attitude by C&B, at least by part of it. IF the agreement is accepted......................the fight will be over. We could be on the brink of saving the Rye House Rockets. We have the requirements for track licencing from the SCB. We have the money to pay for the track reinstatement and air fence. All we need is for C&B to unite and accept the deal. No, I don't believe it either.

Two of 3 Regards THJ

Because Aussie isn't a racist term, whilst P**i clearly is and always has been used in derogatory and insulting manner in the UK (even if it didn't have these connations in Australia historically). I'm not sure why anyone is really trying to argue otherwise, whether it's said directly or otherwise. The Rafiq case is obviously complicated because he's angry about his failed career, there are possibly lifestyle factors involved there, and sports teams are full of immature laddish behaviour. I think he's being a bit unfair to Root for example, as he's not been accused of racism but probably made the wrong choice of words when trying to smooth things over. He'd also have been a young man in that environment, so it's actually to Root's credit if he wasn't part of it all. However, no-one should have to put up with idiotic comments in the workplace, especially of the sort attributed to Ballance, whether a first, second or third rate player. It's pathetic even if was intended to be banter. Of course Rafiq is not likely to complain whilst he's playing, and especially not in team with a culture like that, because he probably feared for his job. Not hard to understand.

The top and bottom PS is there just ain't enough folk through the gates

Good post, what happens when you have 3 rain-offs on the trot? running on a break even figure - $hite Happens! I could clearly see last season that UK Speedway needed to reinvent itself for 2022, so what has the BSP ltd. done? sweet F.A.

Or once Poole are in the NDL?

1987 was the season and it ended when Glasgow got kicked out for how should I say it ?? POOr track preparation

Hats off to the man. Hope the Workington fans back him in numbers.

Crayford https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=51.44935&lon=0.17927&layers=193&b=1

Absolutely correct but until you get the glory hunters running clubs realise first a foremost the objective is to entertain the punters who part with hard earned cash to watch no more that 18 minutes of racing, then nothing will change. Those in charge do not listen, acknowledge or take the slightest bit of notice from supporters who they generally think are a pain in the arse. The sport in this country with a current modus operandi that would make most sensible business people run a mile offers no incentive for sensible investment, the lack of a major sponsor is surely an issue that no one seems to have really cracked, intermittent t v coverage focusing on six teams (that in itself gives the wrong impression to joe public who probably think ‘what just six teams race in the U.K.. why bother’) added to which riders who have over inflated value of their worth, race nights to suit most apart from the punters, teams that cannot survive solely on turnstile income, rules that make no sense for a simple sport and no independent body to deal with issues and you wonder why outsiders cannot take speedway seriously. It is a fast and furious sport that fails to excite joe public because of the dinosaurs who are using a formula that is long overdue for a radicle change and have continually failed to properly market and promote what can be a good evenings entertainment if packaged correctly. As much as many on here offer constructive criticism, innovative ideas and continue to have a passion for speedway the only response from those in charge (who probably dare not read many comments on here) is to stick one or two fingers up at the punters and will as custodians carrying on presiding over the demise of speedway u k. I hope they are proud of the status the sport finds itself in.

Whilst Redcars crowd average was up this year , as it has been year on year since 2017, it doesn’t get the four figure crowd that Birmingham appear to need but, due to good leadership, this is offset by very good club sponsors. Personally I think that’s not an achievable figure under the circumstances they find them selves in. Demanding Landlord, bad previous history in 2021 and will be putting a team together after every other club ? Recipe for another disastrous season?

The difference between football and speedway is that there's usually plenty of other mugs willing to do a wedge once the previous owners have tired of losing so much money, or have simply run out of it. And as clubs fall down the divisions, there's plenty of others behind them in the pyramid to replace them. Just because Ipswich and most other football clubs are perpetually run at a loss, that's hardly a recipe for speedway or indeed any other sport to follow. Indeed, speedway simply hasn't got that luxury as there aren't queues of wealthy backers lining up to take over tracks, and there's also really nowhere for them to fall except out of the sport completely. The sport needs to be run in a sustainable way, not as an expensive hobby for the local businessmen who's made a few bob...

Firstly I have one more picture to load for those who don't have Facebook access and yes Craig Branney did run the old Northside training track for a period when he hung up his steel shoe and Craig encountered similar problems to those that Andy is experiencing now with theft and vandalism at the site which I think ultimately sickened Craig. Andy Bain is developing the site and he is currently negotiating a lease with the local authority who along with the local MP have been fairly supportive in his endeavours. It would have to be a CH-47 Chinook to get this old lump off the floor these days and I couldn't afford the train fare to get you from Chichester to Workington to power a hot air balloon for me gazzac if we could get one big enough that is to get me off the ground and to fit your head in; so one of those little drones with a camera on was used I believe and the quality of the pictures is quite good to be fair Regards THJ

Howarth would be first on my team sheet every time. What he lacks in finesse he makes up for with sheer will-to-win-come-what-may. 120% committed and a great team man. He epitomizes everything that the Tiger spirit stands for.

Taken from THJ's private helicopter? Or maybe a hot air balloon, not sure where the hot air would come from though, although.....

Looks good,hope they can get back into League racing in the future.Who owns the property now.We’re the Branneys no involved at one time?

Cracking wee track and set up down northside well not so wee now mind you. Great to see it develop to what is over the years.

I wonder if Glasgow have tempted former Leicester manager Norrie Allen up to Scotland with a years supply of cigarettes and as much coffee as he can drink

Oh no it isn't!

Who was it that used to say that,,, Dick Emery?

When possible....I think the Masons did as much as they could to get the younger generation involved....they really tried hard to put on some Centre Green entertainment during the interval. However, I'm not sure the old die hard's just wanting to see the match and then shoot straight off after Heat 15, appreciated all those efforts. Especially when it's a boring meeting in the freezing cold etc etc etc..... It's a really difficult balancing act by the looks of it......

to be honest OBatHB seems a bit of a stirrer, I wouldn't waste time or energy replying just devote your energies to bringing back an historic track for which we would all be grateful

Blupanther is a complete loon, you should see the amount of crap he posts daily on the 'Covid-19 Are we Being Told the Truth' thread

Great news about time speedway had some good news .A very well done to all involved. I hope that all Comets fans get behind them with their support and make this track a great success they very much deserve it.

That's true and why riders may agree, but it means nothing till they sign That's why you see riders moving just before season starts sometimes

...crossed my mind also.

Why isn’t calling an Australian and Aussie racist? Why is that deemed ok yet calling a person from Pakistan the P word is racist try explaining that one to a young child ? And I agree with what you say why wait until now to say anything in the cricketers case on a different not Conservative mp who’s accused Boirs dad of slapping her backside in 2003 why wait till now to say something? I’m not condoning any racist or sexual abuse in the slightest but why wait to speak out .

So is a 7 foot waiter!

Agreed I do wonder though if the returning clubs had any talks with the breakaway club about the potential of a small mini league to form the basis of a league

Why oh why do promoters always look at achieving the break even figure when they should always aim higher. This is why clubs lose money coz they reach a 'break even' figure but then don't look beyond that so the crowd then only goes one way. Cud u imagine goin into Dragons Den without declaring what profit you aim to make!

If the BSPL were to do a survey to find out the average age of spectators that go to watch live Speedway they may find out the true state of British Speedway, for sure it IS broke but they year on year make no attempt to fix it, I will guarantee now that at least 1 other Team will fall by the wayside in 2022, last team standing turn the lights out please. One other fact some fail to realise is that any NEW Promoter cannot even vote or propose any new measures for 3 years, so he/she can see obvious problems within the Sport but cant even propose/vote for any changes, but he/she can continue to throw money at Speedway but cant do anything about it for 3 years, except walk away how stupid is that ?. Fixed racenights, Doubling up are not in the best interests of British Speedway, they are in fact detrimental to British Speedway but the powers that be cant see any further than the end of there noses.

Controversial but when speedway goes electric. You could squeeze a track back in there lol.

SET YOUR ALARMS The contract has been signed, the deal is in place. We will be confirming our 2022 Oxford Cheetahs captain tomorrow morning at 7am Any early predictions #OxfordSpeedway Scott Nicholls?

someone, somewhere has to stop paying out more that what's coming in. we don't need to see rocket ships going around, cheaper bikes please

It maybe that you can see something I can't but only balance sheets are on company house, not profit/loss. The only thing I can work out is that Belle Vue liabilities are increasing by pushing £100k per season. Speedway is no different to other sports in that although clubs are run as businesses there is very often no expectation of making money and they are, as such, a personal hobby for a wealthy individual (or individuals). As an example, in 2018/19 Ipswich Town made a loss of £3m pre tax (4 championship clubs were in the black, 16 in the red, with only 1 lower than Ipswich). Their average gate was just short of 18,000. If Belle Vue get 1,200, then their loss by the same ratio should be £200k when it is probably half that. The problem comes, then, not when a loss is made but when that loss is unsustainable either because the owner can't afford the amount concerned or because he can but is unwilling to do so. What I think is true is that clubs have closed not because they are losing money, but because they are losing too much(which, to be fair, isn't much different to what you have suggested). I agree about Birmingham; it has a very chequered past and will take a real optimist with deep pockets to get involved. However, perhaps to prove my point that speedway will carry on there is also a new track being built at Workington with the possibility of NDL racing next season.

suggestions would be good as to the way forward? I like the thought of allowing the kids (accompanied by an adult) to go in the pits/walk the track before the meeting etc.... Definitely have a raffle and allow the winner/s to watch the last 3 heats (after the interval)from the Centre Green (however many is safely allowed) Speedway from the middle is an incredible experience. I know Health and safety wouldn't allow it now....but when I was a kid, you used to get the odd lucky fan, go round on the front/back of the bike with their favourite rider... It's a shame that this wouldn't be possible nowadays. May be run some competitions/raffles which would allow a supporter to spend a whole meeting in the pits....or allow a junior to lead the teams out on parade etc... Just throwing ideas about....

Yes, despite my personal ill-health I 'plough on' helping Steve Ribbons with what people like you described as a hopeless cause. We now are at the point of detailed negotiations with the new landlords. It does get irritating when those with no knowledge or genuine understanding of what is going on declare our efforts pointless "since speedway in the south east is dead". I think few would disagree with your actions being described as those of a fool. You consider my comments to be abusive. Let me tell you quite clearly they were extremely watered-down. When you are working well outside your comfort zone to save a team you have followed for 50 years, no you don't take kindly to foolish comments like yours. I'm trying to save the track I love. What are you up to apart from trying to pass yourself off as an all-knowing authority? Now drop the patronising "good old" and leave me and my colleagues to get on with a very comp[ex job. I'll ask again, do you really care for speedway or your own sad ego? A for Len, how can anyone know why Silver got out of Rye House? Neglected stadium needing repair beyond his resources, need to ease off the pressure and work with someone else's capital at Kent? Old age? The failing Silverski business? It's not the first time he's sold a track that others have managed to run, usually after finding the mess they'd bought. He is someone with an impeccable speedway record but his judgment is not infallible, especially in old age. It's still far greater than mine of course. All I am is a long-term supporter who was lucky enough to work with microphones not only for the Rockets but also on video and for a short while, cable and satellite TV. What an appalling thing I am doing to save the Rockets? Of course I deserve your fatuous critique. Now can I get on please? Some of us have work to do rather than sit on the sidelines trying to wreck what others are doing. Of course IF we fail you'll be able to boast how clever you were........... Sad, deeply sad. I do pity you.

You would like to think so but how many tracks in Championship average 1000.would be interesting to here.If Birmingham was 600 last season, 1000 is a big ask IMO.

1,000 break even figure? That's a tall order.

excuse my ignorance, but who is Basso??

MIDLAND & SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 2021 Compiled by Mike Moseley TEAM MAT WON DRAWN LOST FOR AGAINST TOTAL Birmingham 7 5 1 1 139 95 11 Wolverhampton 5 1 1 3 71 96 3 Eastbourne 4 1 0 3 60 79 2 BIRMINGHAM 9th June 2021 BIRMINGHAM 12: Luke Muff 8 Tim Colley 4 Stephen Whitehouse 0 WOLVERHAMPTON 12: Sam Woolley 6 Ryan Ashcroft 5 Ben Phillips 1 4th August 2021 BIRMINGHAM 29: Ben Trigger 12 Jacob Fellows 9 Bailey Fellows 8 WOLVERHAMPTON 7: Sam Woolley 3 Kyran Lyden 3 Tim Colley 1 William Richardson 0 25th August 2021 BIRMINGHAM 27: Ben Trigger 9 Sam Woolley 8 Jacob Fellows 6 Bailey Fellows 4 EASTBOURNE 9: Josh Warren 6 Stephen Whitehouse 2 Eli Meadows 1 Francesca Kirtley-Paine 0 22nd September 2021 BIRMINGHAM 18: Ben Trigger 9 Jacob Fellows 6 Kai Ward 3 EASTBOURNE 13: Sam Woolley 8 Tim Colley 5 EASTBOURNE 4th July 2021 EASTBOURNE 21: Josh Warren 9 Nick Laurence 9 Eli Meadows 3 BIRMINGHAM 15: Jacob Fellows 9 Bailey Fellows 5 Jamie Sealey 1 Stephen Whitehouse 0 WOLVERHAMPTON 19th July 2021 WOLVERHAMPTON 19: Sam Woolley 8 Bailey Fellows 6 Ben Phillips 3 Tim Colley 2 EASTBOURNE 17: Ben Trigger 8 Josh Warren 5 Eli Meadows 4 Cesca Wright 0 2nd August 2021 WOLVERHAMPTON 17: Sam Woolley 11 Tim Colley 3 Stephen Whitehouse 3 BIRMINGHAM 18: Ben Trigger 8 Jacob Fellows 5 Bailey Fellows 3 Jamie Sealey 2 6th September 2021 WOLVERHAMPTON 16: James Chattin 8 Sam Woolley 6 Tim Colley 2 BIRMINGHAM 20: Ben Trigger 9 Kai Ward 5 Jacob Fellows 3 Bailey Fellows 3 MIDLAND & SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE AVERAGES 2021 League matches only. Averages don't include bonus points. (Compiled by Mike Moseley) BIRMINGHAM RIDER MAT RIDES POINTS BP TOTAL AVERAGE Ben Trigger 5 16 47 0 47 11.75 Luke Muff 1 3 8 0 8 10.67 Sam Woolley 1 3 8 1 9 10.67 Jacob Fellows 6 18 38 6 44 8.44 Bailey Fellows 5 15 23 4 27 6.13 Tim Colley 1 3 4 2 6 5.33 Kai Ward 2 6 8 3 11 5.33 Jamie Sealey 3 6 3 1 4 2.00 Stephen Whitehouse 2 5 0 0 0 0.00 EASTBOURNE Ben Trigger 1 3 8 1 9 10.67 Nick Laurence 1 4 9 0 9 9.00 Josh Warren 3 10 20 1 21 8.00 Sam Woolley 1 4 8 0 8 8.00 Tim Colley 1 4 5 1 6 5.00 Stephen Whitehouse 1 2 2 0 2 4.00 Eli Meadows 3 9 8 2 10 3.56 James Jessop 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 Francesca Kirtley-Paine 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 Cesca Wright 1 3 0 0 0 0.00 WOLVERHAMPTON Sam Woolley 5 15 34 0 34 9.07 James Chattin 1 4 8 0 8 8.00 Bailey Fellows 1 3 6 0 6 8.00 Ryan Ashcroft 1 3 5 1 6 6.67 Kyran Lyden 1 3 3 0 3 4.00 Stephen Whitehouse 1 4 3 1 4 3.00 Ben Phillips 2 6 4 3 7 2.67 Tim Colley 4 14 8 1 9 2.29 William Richardson 1 3 0 0 0 0.00 MIDLAND & SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 2021 (League Matches excluding only, bonus points) Compiled by Mike Moseley. RIDER MEETINGS RIDES POINTS BP TOTAL AVERAGE Ben Trigger 6 19 55 1 56 11.58 Luke Muff 1 3 8 0 8 10.67 Sam Woolley 7 22 50 1 51 9.09 Nick Laurence 1 4 9 0 9 9.00 Jacob Fellows 6 18 38 6 44 8.44 James Chattin 1 4 8 0 8 8.00 Josh Warren 3 10 20 1 21 8.00 Ryan Ashcroft 1 3 5 1 6 6.67 Bailey Fellows 6 18 29 4 33 6.44 Kai Ward 2 6 8 3 11 5.33 Kyran Lyden 1 3 3 0 3 4.00 Tim Colley 6 21 17 4 21 3.24 Eli Meadows 3 10 8 2 10 3.20 Ben Phillips 2 6 4 3 7 2.67 Jamie Sealey 2 6 3 1 4 2.00 Stephen Whitehouse 4 11 5 1 6 1.82 James Jessop 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 Francesca Kirtley-Paine 1 3 0 0 0 0.00 William Richardson 1 3 0 0 0 0.00 Cesca Wright 1 3 0 0 0 0.00