steve roberts

...there's that name again!

We had great attendances at Cowley during the middle/late eighties but that was down mainly to Hans Nielsen who brought much needed professionalism to Oxford something that had been sadly lacking. Infact one of our most highly attended domestic meetings was the Cup Final against John Berry's "mob" which had everything...a tremedous night of high drama and the right result if you were a "Cheetah's" fan!

Wasn't there some sort of rule set that the Second tier couldn't have more teams than the upper hence why Swindon hung onto their Division One status although they did succumb the next season?

...I would tend to agree but continually tinkering with the rules as the speedway authorities tend to do with the mad-cap idea it will boost crowd figures are living in cloud cuckoo. Speedway's lack of apparent success goes far deeper as Humph has indicated in an earlier post.

I'm sure that's the case but it's sad that those same fans aren't attracted to attend meetings throughout the season and thereby improving the sports standing.

I was discussing the wider picture wherby some rules are interpreted differently making it difficult for fans, never mind some referees/promoters, grasping the reality.

Despite being the "enemy down the road" I have many happy memories watching speedway at Swindon.

...trouble is tinkering with the rules doesn't translate into attracting bigger crowds. If anything it has proved opposite in that it tends to alienate the converted who drift away from the sport and are not replaced by a new fan base.

...not sure why you are implying on 15 years however we can all quote wrongly declared reserve replacement rides as well as confused R/R facilities (especially when the stipulation was altered based upon eligibilty of replacement riders based on average) whereby points have been deducted often months after a match has taken place. Guest riders declared with the full knowledge of the referee despite their average being too high or within the 14 day rule despite being printed in the programme requiring the intervention of the promoter. There was a high profile example of King's Lynn declaring "guest" Danny Bird as a replacement for Lee Redmond at Eastbourne and after an objection was placed by the "Eagles" management King's Lynn declined to ride gifting the "Eagles" a whitewash win (75-0) all with the full knowledge of the referee who obviously couldn't make a decision or indeed interpreted the rules incorrectly. The "Top Scorers" declared race often caused confusion and riders were declared incorrectly. Oxford once declared Alistair Stevens as a replacement ride and was about to start a race in full view of the referee until John Berry had to remind him that he had already had his full quota of rides...just a few examples off the top of my head!

I remember Oxford carrying out a survey (Steve Purchase days?) asking relevant questions although I can't remember what they were now! When Chris Shears ran a full blown Second Half it proved popular with the fans but he had his wrist slapped by the authorities as thet didn't wish it to set a precedence...never mind what the fans thought!

Funny when us "old farts" talk about the old days when thousands attended the sport and yet with all the constant rule changing that happens year after year speedway sees attendance figures in their hundreds?

I've attended meetings whereby even referees don't know that certain rules have been contravened/manipulated and frantic phone calls have had to be made to clear up any "misunderstanding" and/or "gamesmanship" by opposite Team Managers so what chance do fans have in some of the more extreme instances?

Agree 100% and a chance to catch up with mates on the terraces and have a banter!

Personally I don't think that speedway comes over very well televised "live". Edited highlights is my personal choice but I'm sure that I am in the minority?

...problem is that those in "control" feel the need to constantly change the rules/race format/points scored/points limits etc etc on an all too regular basis.

Personally I preferred the old aggregate bonus point system...far easier and simpler to understand!

Interesting but I would argue that the coverage of American Football expecially in this country has influenced people's perception regarding "play-off" scenarios.

The future of Swindon Stadium has been an on-going unacceptable public relations disaster for many years now. I feel sorry for any "Budgies" fans who have been promised this and that without any substance and continual cover ups.

Must have been great being a speedway fan in London during those days!

Yes Oxford was most definately Thursday...it changed to Friday when Hackney's license was acquired back in 1984. It reverted back to a Thursday for a couple of seasons (can't remember the reason why now?) and then back to Fridays during the late eighties.

No that's not what was implied in my last comment or indeed previous posts...my defining question/answer was that football decides its champions by whoever finishes top whereas speedway decides otherwise for better or worse. The detail of the rights and wrongs has long been debated on the forum going back many years regarding the pros and cons of "playoff" systems.

Because the system works perfectly well as it is whereas other sports are continually tinkering with their formats in the hope of attracting mass media/sponsorship attention...football gets that automatically and always will until the money runs out as it already has done for many clubs.

I don't actually follow football much now so I bow to your input. Personally I think generally "playoffs" are an advent of American sports whereby your average american requires a sudden death situation and can't comprehend/appreciate a league structured format and all that entails!

...think I've managed to desipher your response but I'm not entirely sure your average Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City & Utd et al fans would neccessarily accept that scenario to be honest but I would be happy to be proved wrong but I guess that will never be answered?

...and we at Oxford had some right "humdingers" in the cup competitions!