The White Knight

Thank you very much for your efforts Doug. They are/were very much appreciated.

We must agree to differ. 🙂

I edited my Post. I have enjoyed our discussion. It is good that we can discuss these things amicably. 👍 I really hope that you enjoy your Speedway too. That, in the end, is what it is all about. 🙂

Whilst I am quite happy to disagree with you, I would like to gently point out that if one, two, three or four Clubs refused to sign, what would happen then? They would probably be coerced. Not much integrity/morality about coercion. In addition, they complain every year about Fixture congestion. If the 'Play Offs' were dropped there would probably be no congestion, and may make room for another Cup Competition to compensate for the 'Play Off's'. Perhaps the Cup Competition could be played out by the top four Clubs in the Premier League, as a reward for finishing in the top four in the League itself. That system would ensure the integrity of the League, as the top team would win the League Championship, as is right and proper, and may even do the 'double' by winning the Cup too. As regards the 'Play Off's' being "brilliant" - Speedway is fading away, years ago it was thriving and we had no 'Play Off's then. I am not saying that the 'Play Off's' are the cause of this but, I bet it is a part of the problem. Some Supporters may well say that there is no reason to attend the bog standard League Matches as they mean nothing, we will just go along to the 'Play Off's'. So, in effect the 'Play Off's' may have an effect on attendance after all - and not a good one.

You might say the opposite. I read your definition of integrity with interest. Honest and strong moral principles. Those seven Clubs signed up because they had no choice, where is the morality in that? I'm afraid you do not convince me, Sheffield are the Champions of the League - one of the the other four finalists is the 'Play Off' Champions. I don't see the Premier League in Football having 'Play Offs' for the Championship. The other Leagues yes. My Team, Sunderland, just got promoted through the 'Play Off's' but 'Play Offs', in my opinion are basically wrong. You work very hard all Season you win the League. Oh dear, now we have to win it again. What a travesty.

Integrity - mmmm - that is a good word. Do you mean integrity in the way that Sheffield finished top of the League last night and are not Champions. After a very hard Season, they (Sheffield) are robbed of the Championship by the 'Play Off' System. INTEGRITY - don't make me laugh.

No, it is definitely not a joke. As I posted earlier, I lost my Track in 1964 and 1974. I am still very bitter about the way it happened, both in 1964 and 1974. You get to love a Sport and it is taken from you - it is no joke and certainly not funny. I sympathise with the Supporters with every Club that has gone, or will go to the wall. Even if Sunderland returned net Season, it is too late for me, I could not attend. It upsets me very much the way Speedway, our Sport, is shrinking. When one can see what has happened at Cradley Heath, Coventry, Peterborough, Wolverhampton, Wimbledon, Hull, Newcastle, Swindon et al - to me it is tragic. These were all great Teams years ago. I know I am getting on in years and some will say (not all I hope) that I am a silly old duffer living in the past. There is an old saying: "The past is another Country; they do thing differently there". Quote attributed to L. P. Hartley.

EH?????

Sad to hear this. Let's all hope that a credible new owner will pick up the reins. Lost my track 51 years ago now - Sunderland 'Stars' so I know how you Sheffield Fans are feeling at the moment.

You will never have integrity as long as you have the 'Play Off' system. No team should have to win the League twice - it makes it a joke. Getting rid of the 'Play Offs' would also mean less fixtures at the end of the Season, meaning that the Leagues would finish earlier and fixture congestion would not be so much of a problem. Remember, when Speedway started there were no 'Play Offs' and it survived, some may say thrived. Not thriving now though - is it?

CLASS!!!!!! So very, very true. Well done Bojangles - properly nailed on, I would say - and by his OWN WORDS too. Great Post.

Or maybe the 'Play Off' System has had it's day. Perhaps people are realising that when you win the League, and your reward is sod all - it's not worth the candle. Back in the 60's, 70's etc. The League Champions won the League, and didn't have to win it twice. While I am on, why not get rid of the Grand Prix Series too. How exactly does that benefit British Speedway As far as I can see, it is a hindrance, For example, last night both Dan Bewley and Brady Kurtz had a potential World Championship to win or to get a medal. Why would they put themselves at risk of serious injury just TWO days before an Event like this, I for one, do not blame them at all, especially on a Track in the dreadful state that Foxhall was in last night? Go back to the World Final - one Meeting. It was good enough for Mauger, Peter Collins Olsen, Petersen etc. It would reduce the costs for riders. It would also bring back the thrill of everything depending on one race.

How do they get away with increasing prices for a semi final anyway. No the wonder people are slowly drifting away from Speedway, fleecing the punters is certainly not encouraging the public to attend. These days, when money is tight, to say the least, it just makes the Promoters look like money grabbing sharks. They should be rewarding their loyal Supporters with discounts, not making them pay through the nose. I don't agree with the 'play offs' anyway, but this takes the biscuit.

Not much though. Sorry for misquoting you. 🙂

About twenty years ago we investigated the possibility of a Speedway return to Sunderland on behalf of Tony Mole. At the time, if I remember correctly, Newcastle was a National League Track. Tony was proposing to open up as a Conference League Track. Whilst we had about two meetings at the Stadium, they would not entertain a Team at Sunderland racing in a lower League than Newcastle. They were however receptive to, and listened to us and heard us out. We informed Tony Mole of their position and left it with him. No further action was taken. I suppose that being as we got our Meetings that it was NOT a definite NO from the Stadium, they never said that. Perhaps now that Newcastle has gone, it may be worth another try. Some Promoter can only ask. We would definitely need the support of Newcastle Supporters too, in order to make it a viable concern. Given the response to Sunderland in the 1970's, I would like to think things have changed, and that we could all get together to support a Sunderland Team in the North East for the benefit of BOTH Cities. Many things will have changed in the ensuing twenty years. Maybe Steve is right and that there is NO chance - but - if you don't ask, you don't get.

Typical of Speedway. With the publicity of a Northampton Track already in the public domain - perhaps the people of Northampton might think differently. Nothing like raising people's expectations. Just saying.........................

Eric Broadbelt too.

Those were the days - I can remember at Sunderland, back in the 70's - a Clerk of the Course named Nel Revlis - was named in the Programme. I wonder who that could be? 🤣 Things like that happened years ago - and it was entertaining. Appropos the 'Lay Downs' - they were the ruination of Speedway for me. Those and the GP's !!!!! 🤬

Excellent norbold - superb post. You paint a great picture - wish I could have been there. 👍

It still doesn't make it right. blue witch - I edited my original Post as you were composing your Post, you may wish to check it out. Sorry about that.

Sorry, I don't agree. It is a gimmick cooked up by someone to falsify the result, if over two Meetings the score is tied, it is a draw and that's it. How fair is it that one team get the chance to run off for an extra point, on their home track but there is very little chance of the away team getting a win. The scoring system is wrong too. It again contrives a result. The other night the Belle Vue rider won the race giving the Match win to the inferior team by the points value given to second and third. Speedway is all about winning the race NOT finishing second or third. The trouble with Speedway is that it has far too many gimmicks. I reckon that half the reason the crowds are dropping is because of gimmicks. Regarding the 'Play Offs', another gimmick. The team that wins the League then have to win it again through the 'play offs'. How fair is that? It is a nonsense. I have been a Speedway Supporter for 61 years and I believe that most of the changes made over the years made Speedway, on balance, less credible, rather than more credible in the long run. I count myself lucky to have watched Speedway in the 1960's and 1970's. Those were great days for me.

Don't tempt them at the A.G,M. You might get more than you bargain for.

Silly idea in my opinion. a Draw is a Draw - and that should be it. Typical Speedway. Why make it straightforward when you can complicate it. 🙄

The Riders have to ride tthe Bikes on the Tracks provided. The only Track that I can see that is fit for purpose is the NSS. The bikes are far too fast to race on Tracks more fitted to upright engines than these 'lay downs' that they ride these days. Yes, even JAPs were in my opinion safer. The top speeds on these bikes were fast enough for the Sport. To be honest, I thought the racing was better too. I know people will talk about progress - but - only when it benefits Speedway, but to my mind these four-valve never did. I know that I am getting on in years, and unable to attend, but to me Speedway has regressed, not progressed over the years since the 60's, and 70's. If there is a case to be made for too much progress - then this is it. Oh!!! I preferred the 'one off' World Final to the current day GP's too, though I doubt that will surprise anyone on here. To me, the 60's and early 70's were the Golden Age of Speedway.

It is a great shame that Speedway hasn't. The Sport seems to be stuck in a time warp - except for the bikes, which are far too powerful these days.