steve roberts

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!

...and you have to ask the question why has football avoided going down that route? Would football fans except that scenario? Of course promotion playoffs have been the norm for many years now but I think I am right in saying that those who finish top in the various leagues (Championship, One & Two) are still crowned champions? Only those immediately below that are involved in playoffs to decide on who gets promoted?

I would agree that comparisons aren't a true reflection on the state of either sport but I was referring to the fact that football still "rewards" the team that finishes top as champions irrespective of prize money. but as I have stated in my earlier post those teams further down the listings are fighting for their very survival whilst the richer clubs continual to get richer. As regards Speedway we were sold the story that live league speedway would pull in major sponsors which unfortunately, for whatever reason, never did. Which beggars the question who got the SKY money?

Champions are still champions however and that's what the record books show. Football at that level has become too money orientated with the richest getting richer and, dare I suggest, buying success whereas further down the leagues teams are struggling to fight off survival and bankruptcy. Not a healthy situation in anybody's language.

Speedway Star used to publish figures many years ago now...not sure why it was dropped although being of cynical mind I'm sure the promoters at the time had something to do with it for whatever reason!!

I have no direct link to Alan I'm afraid but I see that he is still posting on the forum only today (Moxey)

Back in the early sixties when two of "Cloughie's" colleagues were throwing games and were found guilty and imprisoned never to play professional football again...and people talk about the Sunday People allegations and how it corrupted speedway!

...remember reading Jack "The Villian" Millen once drop kicking the phone over the tapes! Couldn't agree more as regards placement of phone. I once asked Bernard Crapper what he used to say to the the ref whilst waving his arms about in mock protest? He told me that he was often just passing the time of day but was playing up to the crowd to get them excited!

I'd recommend anyone to read "Cloughie's" autobiogarphy. Although written nearly 20 years ago his views on the modern game and TV in particular make fascinating reading and there is much that is still relevant today especially regarding "big" money/salaries, club owners and over the top commentary analysis amongst many other observations.

...not Premier League Football however where the team that finishes top become champions. Not sure if the lower divisions apply the same criteria? You can imagine the outcry if the team that finished top in the Football Premier League weren't crowned champions?

I'll believe it when I see it...the future of Swindon's Stadium has been banded about for so long now it's easy to think cynically.

My comment was not directed at Kelvin Tatum or podcasts but just a response to Dean's observation about riders constantly referring to "set ups".

I have to say I, too, used to find it tiring when riders constantly talked about getting "the right set up" or other such technical issue. Personally I think fans don't generally want to hear about the mechanical part of the sport but more of the human touch. One reason I gave up watching sport on TV because of the over emphasis on tactics and constant replays of the same bit of action taken from different angles and "experts" babbling for all they are worth!

Martin made a mistake moving back to Eastbourne in my opinion and as Gordon Kennett once said should have spent a winter racing in Australia which would have improved his all round technique as it did Gordon many years previously.

I recall that Ivan Mauger was critical of Andrew Silver's style and was rebuked by both Andrew and Uncle Len I remember regarding his comments. Personally I felt his style went against him as he took the bends not in one clean move but I guess that's what made him spectacular to watch although his career did peter out despite a short comeback some years back and he could have achieved a lot more with the right guidance.

Sad indeed!

...or indeed Cowley back in the middle seventies when we very nearly lost the stadium!

I have a collection of 50 cards in a frame featuring the likes of jack Parker, Eric Langton etc.

Worth it just so one could visit Alf's fish and chips! Spent many a hppy time at Weymouth Speedway when on holiday in the area.

Peter Collins certainly found him difficult over certain policies?

I believe it is but on a much smaller site?