Aceslider

The prospect of Sunday evenings at Brough is getting better by the minute !!

DOB 1984, so it must be Rob Grant (son). Owns all the shares in the newly formed company. Intriguing but must be good news for the Diamonds

Are we still going on about when Sean Wilson knocked 3 seconds off the track record?

Your post makes very depressing reading from a Newcastle perspective, but I think you are spot on Financial "investment" from individuals does not make sense as you will never get a financial return on your investment and your capital will be dissipated over a period of time again with little or no return. Business sponsorship coupled with a source of media income is really the only way this sport can make its way at Premiership/Championship level coupled with THJ's witty quote about someone starting with a large fortune prepared to end up with a small fortune. I suspect Newcastle have been on borrowed time for a couple of seasons and I for one really just pray for a miracle as the prospect of Sunday night without speedway at Brough is unthinkable. Just so sad if we close that the English family in particular along with the whole team (Steve Brock, Andrew Dalby, Roy Clarke, Graham Smith, Dr Jenny Hogg, Lawrence Heppell, Graeme Patterson, track staff, Martin Phillips, Phil Day, Barry Wallace and apologies to anyone I have missed ....) behind the scenes who have put so much into keeping the Diamonds going will have ended their involvement without the fans having an opportunity to show their recognition for all they have done!!

How about Steve Hayton or did I just make that up?

I recall a bloke who did the job for a long time who was very knowledgeable about speedway. He was very good and maybe performed this role at other events, not necessarily speedway. Again just a recollection but his Christian name may have been Steve

I get the very distinct impression from the posts on this thread that there is an anti Roy Clarke sentiment amongst certain Newcastle supporters. Maybe they know something I'm not privy to, but as a regular at Brough Park over many years, I have to say that in my view he does an admirable job. He certainly stepped up at short notice when Andrew Dalby took time out and had the guts to go out there and do the job. He might not be everyone's cup of tea, but so far as I'm concerned he is doing an excellent job as part of the promotion team even if you dislike his nicknames and banter etc'. I don't for one moment think that there is a dearth of would be centre green speedway promoters, but if there are supporters with aspirations to do the job, maybe they should step forward and offer their services?

Well done Redcar! Really pleased I decided to attend last night for what turned out to be an enthralling night of speedway. It was a throwback to the close encounters we have had with Redcar/Middlesbrough years ago when large crowds turned out to watch the likes of Eric Boothroyd, Dave Younghusband etc racing against our lads for the bragging rights. it was always going to be a tall order to recover the deficit with Redcars top 3 strength but by heat 12 it did look as if we were in with a shout. Full marks to Riss and Wright who held their nerve and there was no way they were going to let the cup come to Newcastle. Credit also to Woolley for his battling point in Heat 2 and also to Jordan Stewart who bounced back from a dire performance on his last visit. Last night was a reminder of the potential which speedway still has in pulling in decent size crowds. In some ways the 2 postponements may have helped because their several mentions from Jeff Brown on local BBC news and also the anticipation building up. Plus also there must have been a number of neutrals there last night from Berwick/Workington etc. Have to say I don’t understand the negative comments on here about Roy Clarke. He took over the role I recall when Andrew Daley took some time out. He gives 120% and is Newcastle through and through but always gives total respect to the opposition and their fans. I hope both he and the Diamonds are back next year with George still on board!

That thought actually went through my mind ruffdiamond. Maybe its a bit of an incentive to him to get stuck in tomorrow with a view to getting a place in the team next season. If Steve, Matty, Ulrich and Max turn up tomorrow and perform to their true abilities, it just takes our reserves to outscore theirs and we're in with a chance despite the 12 point deficit. I remember Jamie Habbin scoring 1 point a few years ago when we beat Peterborough in the Gold Cup final, and as he pointed out, if he hadn't scored that point we would not have won the cup. Barker has had off days at Brough as has Eric Riss, so you never know! I was expecting England to get thumped this morning by the All Blacks and we know how that turned out. I've just talked myself into coming tomorrow night.

Sarjeant 1 from 4 rides in his recent visit to Brough! Was really looking forward to this final but somehow my enthusiasm has just spiked in the wrong direction!!

No need to apologise but thanks anyway. As a NUFC supporter, I am well conditioned to disappointments

Well I got that totally wrong! Assumed because Bloom89 is (according to profile) a Diamonds supporter that he/she was reporting signings for Newcastle. It sounded too good to be true, and it was!

Is this a wind up? Would so much like to believe this is 100% true.

I seem to recall Ricky Wells putting paid to our play off chances not so long ago when Sheffield selected him as a guest.

So in some circumstances its okay to run a Double Header? Not necessarily quite the emphatic loss making scenario that some would have us believe then.

Not too late I hope to pass on the benefit of your wisdom to Glasgow who race against Sheffield and Berwick today at Ashfield. Adult ticket price £30 instead of £34 (2 x £17). Certainly don't want them to fold before next season!

Thanks Tsunami for your wise input. Based on that kind of model, and estimating a crowd of say 800, then you could afford to give a discount of £2 per head on twice the normal admission price, i.e. £32 instead of £34. In your theoretical example a discount of £9 would be excessive and would need to be offset by other forms (if any) of additional income if the Double Header was to be a feasible proposition. The numbers in taking a proper view would need to be informed and a prudent estimate of the crowd size which could increase or decrease the affordable discount.

Having been a qualified accountant for over 40 years I find your offensive comment actually quite amusing as well as your elementary explanation of a profit and loss account. But hey ho, don't let your ignorance stand in the way of your rudeness or inability to provide any factual evidence other than speculative numbers!!

Very bold statement of opinion but not backed up with any real form of financial evidence apart from a general statement about the financial demise of Workington. Any actual figures available?

So the second lot of points money is more than the saved rent? What about increased revenues from Track Shop and Bar? What about the increased attendance from other fans who might be attracted by a Double Header (Workington/Berwick etc). Just wondering as it does seem to make sense to run this as a Double Header

If its anything to go by, the short term forecast for Teesside on BBC Weather shows the rain clouds missing Cargo Fleet altogether until circa 7.00am tomorrow morning. The slider adjustment which moves the timeframe forward illustrating the direction of the rain clouds is really clever and it was spot on for the forecast relevant to Newcastle's match last Sunday against Somerset. Famous last words

What a fabulous evening's entertainment. All the ingredients were there with sunshine, large crowd, decent looking track and semi final second leg to play for. And then there was Josh Pickering!! I have not enjoyed a sporting event as much as this for years. The Diamonds were definitely up for it and set about the Monarchs from the very first heat with an excellent win from Steve. Even Danny nearly came to the party with 1 point and an unlucky retirement through puncture. Every rider for the Diamonds played their part and contributed to a fine victory. Marvellous to see Matty in such tremendous form and Ulrich had a very satisfying debut and looks like he could be a first class signing. Edinburgh certainly played their part by bringing a large contingent of supporters and a team looking to consolidate their first leg victory. Unfortunately for them Palovaara looked decidedly off the pace and Joel Andersson was a disappointment. Ricky Wells seemed a shadow of the rider who is used to excelling against us and it was left to Josh Pickering, Cameron Heeps and to a lesser extent Willie Lawson to provide the main opposition. Josh was absolutely superb!!!!! I think also a big thanks to Paul Starke who's 7 point tally was everything we wanted from TJ's replacement. Never spectacular but his 3 second places one of which was ahead of Josh were excellent If there were more meetings like this, the sport might start to recover!. It would be great if the media company which covers our home meetings released some footage to Youtube to show how entertaining this sport can be at Championship level.

You could say that or it could just be that some people don't like having the p** taken

Anyone think we're going to get slaughtered on the reserve front tonight? Its likely that we'll get 4 points from 8 rides at very best. Not sure if I can be bothered to turn out tonight to watch the spectacle of Danny tootling round in 3rd (in front of Wallinger) or last!

Absolute sporting legend!! I will never ever forget his time up at Newcastle racing in a Diamonds race jacket. His battles against Ivor Brown and Charlie Monk were momentous and always full of drama putting it mildly. He really was a true star in every sense of the word. The only time we ever got faintly worried about him would be the pre race announcement (.....and Mauger's coming out on the track spare) which did happen from time to time even though he was absolutely meticulous about his bikes!