Al Stewart

Is the Swindon Mike Bowden a different guy to the Plymouth one?

That sounds by far the most likely reason, with the track excuse being used to pass the buck.

This link seems to produce an error.

Agree 100% with stewmac's post

Yes indeed I have been getting this wrong for years, they are from 1989 and I've got them! What an idiot. Just one missing now.

This is a massive long shot and I'd be very surprised if anyone could help. Having transferred all my Edinburgh home matches from Video to DVD, there were a few missing. With assistance from Jan Staechmann and Jim Brykajlo, plus my own original film, I managed to re-create most of the missing ones but three matches remain stubbornly lost. Is there any chance that anyone still has a copy of any of these: 09/10/1990 v Poole 15/10/1990 v Glasgow 14/07/2002 v Somerset The Somerset one is incredible as I have managed to lose both the original film and the edited version. The earlier ones were filmed straight onto the tape so that's just one loss, in fact they will both be on the same tape, Other than these, we have every meeting since 1985 and many from 1980-84. Some were filmed in 1979 but sadly not kept.

It's a typical speedway chain of events, especially when the chain starts with the clueless and pointless UK Border Agency (whose word cannot be challenged). Rules are made, people work out ways round them, chaos results. If the UK Border Agency had any sense their rule should be: If a Commonwealth speedway rider wants to come, and a UK promoter in the Elite or Premier League wants to sign him, then all necessary permissions should be given without delay. Anyone not good enough will be quickly found out. I know it's a pipedream and probably not even worth saying.

Your remarks are usually fair and accurate but you have completely the wrong end of the stick here. Absolutely totally wrong. Everyone in speedway knows that, effectively, all other teams wait till Glasgow purchase their team, and then select from what's left. Riders who have not been selected by Glasgow, or were selected then dumped, have to go back to more modest rates. The Fans Trust exist primarily to protect Edinburgh Speedway against the tough times which arise from time to time for all clubs. In no way do they allow the club to increase pay rates and they would be horrified at the suggestion.

A long shot, but does anyone know where I would get a copy of the Mayors Cup meeting in Krakow on DVD? This was the one in October won by Dudek from Craig Cook. I tried sending a message via their website but haven't had a response. I know the final has been on the internet but would like to get a copy of the whole meeting.

This is such utter dross. No doubt it is comforting for a Glasgow fan to put Edinburgh's success down to 'buying trophies' but anyone trying to sign riders at the moment knows very well where the really big money is being offered. Edinburgh's difficult times have been when weather has been bad (as it often is in central Scotland) or crowds have fallen for other reasons. Certainly riders who improve year on year have to be offered better deals, and Edinburgh have had more than a few like that. This year Edinburgh's finances are the best they have been for many years (sorry to disappoint anyone hoping otherwise). Brian Gray and Ronnie Anderson have been part of a great organisation but only part. Brian is missed mainly for his personality, not his finance, and while Ronnie has been talking about retirement for many years, he never does it. Your last sentence that I quote ironically describes fairly well what Edinburgh have done over the years!

If I was in the Belle Vue camp (and I would have preferred them to win) I would be embarrassed mumping about the goggles. It's not as if it gave him an advantage. They had the advantage of a TR at home but the truth is if they had all performed at their best, Belle Vue would have won. Poole's top five this year is not a vintage quintet.

Belle Vue should definitely have won over the two legs, they blew a huge number of chances to score more. Biggest surprise to me is how long it has taken Craig Cook to show what he is capable of. Some of us have known for a long time.

Can't disagree with that especially when you think that Matthew Wethers was injured also.

Yes he does but the tone of the article often depends on the line of questioning. If the reporter has decided he is writing a 'doom and gloom' article then that's how it will come out. I'm certainly not suggesting Edinburgh's finances are good but they have been worse, and we have had a substantial amount of additional income this season. I don't think any club in the league can say they have had a good season financially.

This is a valid question. The problem this season has definitely been crowd levels down. We pay a fairly high rent. We are very well sponsored in several different ways. A major problem is the make-up of visiting teams with numerous patched-up selects. But I think the article in the Evening News today was well over the top, and actually this will not prove to be one of the Monarchs' worst seasons financially, taking everything into account.

I sincerely hope this is not it, my first port of call whenever I come down.

Can I ask if this is a sale by a former rider? (I'm not doubting that it's genuine).

If you think one small error decided the entire tie, and so Edinburgh's undoubtedly Herculean efforts to turn the tie round are not to be acknowledged, would you like to bestow the Tsunami accolade of approval on anything at all which Edinburgh have done in the past 67 years?

It absolutely was against all odds. What you haven't mentioned is that Jozsef Tabaka was injured in his last ride in the first leg and we had a weak rider replacement at Newcastle. We thought we had no chance. You might have been justified if you'd said Newcastle deserved to win by more than one in the first leg.

Nice one. Good luck. Hope to see lots of black and gold.

The updates say it's the interval after heat 6! No explanation.

As an Edinburgh fan at the match I never thought for a second that Bates did anything wrong. I didnt hear anyone else say he did either. Rob was just too slow on his second bike and didn't fight hard enough for position.

This Page is an absolute disgrace. The same oppressive people are on so many threads, it's time the Premier section of the BSF was closed down.

I wouldn't need to because the Sheffield and Berwick fans would be discussing it themselves. Why exactly should it be an unreasonable question?

I wonder when David Howe is coming back? Seems to be no discussion at all about this.