HGould

1000 for a run of the mill home meeting v Scunthorpe - that's excellent crowd!

Been to Leicester twice and Eastbourne twice and Somerset once + Wolves twice and Cradley twice, biggest crowds were at Leicester (CL) I'd say 1200 and Eastbourne (KOC) was reported around 1400 and also over 1000 for (CS) but all early in season, I read Leicester and Eastbourne still averaging around 900-1000 with a few blips/peaks. Doubt Brummies have had more than 600 so far and Wolves/Cradley around 650 mark. Somerset looked about 500 cold night though

Cradley are down on last few seasons, regularly go there, set up of track also makes it look bigger in numbers than some tracks where supporters can stand all round - I would say about 600 - 650 excellent for NL but down 200-300 from a few years ago.

I can see 2 Leagues "Big League" for want of a better name-: (key would be moving away from 2 fixed nights and telling Sweden and Poland to "do one". Does not benefit UK. Belle Vue; Ipswich; Kings Lynn; Peterborough; Poole; Swindon; Wolverhampton; Glasgow; Leicester; Scunthorpe; Sheffield (if sold); Somerset. (12) possibly Kent ? National (Development) League Berwick; Birmingham; Eastbourne; Edinburgh; Newcastle; Redcar ; IOW; Mildenhall; Plymouth ; Stoke (10 ) 11 with Kent. Can't see Cradley Heath running next year based on programme notes re new track and not sure BV / Leicester running 2 teams...

Fair to say I think that any Promotion needs "luck" and for a variety of reasons Mason's not getting any at moment on or off the track. Wish them well as tonight will be a tough sell at the Turnstiles for floating fans.

Great initiative from a Club who lost its "heart and soul in Bob Dugard" to Cancer last year; and I understand from recent film that Tom Brennan's mom is bravely fighting it as well. If more people do turn up and Club and charity both make a few quid, then that's a win/win surely?

agreed Len was outstanding at Hackney as were a number of Promoters of that era, hard to think of any/many of that quality left who know how to put on a Show.

Kent's biggest problem is their track and the curfew. If they could get an extention to 3 hours (or at least 2 1/2 hours) and spend a few quid of Len's petty cash on the track, they would find the 5-10 points their ability shows they are missing as everything would be a little less rushed. Not Kent's fault as it's a shame they cannot fulfil undoubted potential or consider moving up.

It's hard to fathom but since a lot of the media has been farmed out to Mr Pearson's Company (correct me if I'm wrong but that's the way it looks) I guess that we have to wait politely in the queue and end up with something too little and too late. It's a shame that when you have outstanding servants like Brian Buck around and great support from local Radio and Press that we can't bring it "in house" and sharpen it up. The Clubs that are doing that are tending to be the ones that lead the way media and PR wise.

From my recollection Bristol wasn't proper shale, wasn't it sand based as they had used sand old dog track. Steve Gresham liked it I recall. I'm sure i went to a track at Weymouth (not Radipole Lane) that was round a footy pitch. Halifax was horrible, everything about the place was horrible, granite dust, steel fence, dangerous banking, Charlie Monk liked it i remember and the Pusey's. Paisley that was round a footy pitch early 70's? Canterbury used to love going there in days when Brummies had Georgie Major and Arthur Browning and Phil Herne.

Don't rule out Birmingham Brummies. Can't yet decide if some Teams already have too many matches to cram in (Redcar) or have ridden too many too soon (Eastbourne) and may suffer as a result. I think current top 4 Leicester / Sheffield / Somerset / Glasgow may well stay there followed by Redcar - Birmingham - Eastbourne in that order.

Doesn't read well at all, can only hope and pray that the young man pulls through and makes a full recovery.

i agree about their social media and website and TV - I watched this the other night a documentary over 30 minutes https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/eagles-tv-trackside/ click the link under the picture to Eagles TV then go half way down page where it says Trackside - it's outstanding by speedway standards

looks like Cook's fellow Eastbourne Director and Eastbourne Management agrees with you, found this on one of many Facebook threads about the comments and was posted by Ian Jordan Eastbourne Director-: As my name actually appears on that picture as a Director of Eastbourne Speedway I feel obliged, after a lot of soul searching to comment. The comments made are the personal opinion of the person who has made them and Jon is perfectly entitled to make them as is anyone in a democracy. They are not and should not be taken as anything other than that. As a passionate advocate; supporter, watcher and sponsor of 6 current National League Riders all of whom can slide a speedway bike exceptionally well, I do not personally agree with the comments, in fact having put significant sums of my own money where my mouth is to support NL Riders and an NL now CL Team I think it is patently obvious that I do not agree with them. That does not diminish my respect and support for Jon, as we are all entitled to our opinions, and we all express them in different ways. On the vexed and un-linked situation of National League and Professional and Amateur or "not professional" as the case may be, my interpretation of the situation is this. The word "Development" is as a direct result of the Speedway Authorities desire to keep the current 3rd tier as a League predominantly for riders who are born and brought up in the UK or who have valid UK Passports or parental rights. By using very clearly the word "development" they circumnavigate very complex EU laws which without the word "development" would possibly mean the League being flooded by EU and other nationalities. I look forwards to continuing to support, sponsor and ultimately promote the CL and PL riders of the future in the National League.

looks like his fellow Director Ian Jordan agrees with you as he posted this on one of many Facebook threads about the Cook article - typically diplomatic of Jordan in fairness to him and rest of Eastbourne Management-: As my name actually appears on that picture as a Director of Eastbourne Speedway I feel obliged, after a lot of soul searching to comment. The comments made are the personal opinion of the person who has made them and Jon is perfectly entitled to make them as is anyone in a democracy. They are not and should not be taken as anything other than that. As a passionate advocate; supporter, watcher and sponsor of 6 current National League Riders all of whom can slide a speedway bike exceptionally well, I do not personally agree with the comments, in fact having put significant sums of my own money where my mouth is to support NL Riders and an NL now CL Team I think it is patently obvious that I do not agree with them. That does not diminish my respect and support for Jon, as we are all entitled to our opinions, and we all express them in different ways. On the vexed and un-linked situation of National League and Professional and Amateur or "not professional" as the case may be, my interpretation of the situation is this. The word "Development" is as a direct result of the Speedway Authorities desire to keep the current 3rd tier as a League predominantly for riders who are born and brought up in the UK or who have valid UK Passports or parental rights. By using very clearly the word "development" they circumnavigate very complex EU laws which without the word "development" would possibly mean the League being flooded by EU and other nationalities. I look forwards to continuing to support, sponsor and ultimately promote the CL and PL riders of the future in the National League.

if anyone knew Morleys ability and limitations it should be Cook, had him for years after all at Lakeside. Not sure what his gripe with National League is either he did manage Lakeside in National League didn't he?, must think its beneath him.

It's a shame Cook has spoilt the very impressive reputation the new Promotion were building with a silly and unnecessary throw away line but that's his style. The project seems to be driven more by the new bloke Jordan, who as someone has pointed out seems very un-speedway like e.g transparent and good in print and on the mike.

This is the article...quickly typed so sorry for any typos...personally I think take out the bits in italics (my italics not programmes) and it's "too the point" but not OTT...the bits in italics are OTT imho....for the record both had excellent nights!!!! "Going forward we are very concerned about the form,particularly away of Ben and George and this needs to improve if either of them are to establish themselves at this level. Whilst the same is also true of Alfie, he has the fire in his belly that all can see and has made the step up without the comfort of NL racing" "Ben also needs to realise that he has the potential to be a professional speedway rider and that's a very different animal to being a star in a League where half your opponents struggle to stay on, get their bikes to do four laps and in some cases can barely skid a bike. I've seen him have some terrific rides at this and Elite level so the talent is there. I don't think the NL comfort zone is doing him any good" "As for George this is his third attempt to crack professional racing and with the comfort of doing it at "his" track he should be cracking on now and it's a concern we are only having brief glimpses of his full potential" "He has incredible financial support from many fans and businesses and that needs to manifest itself in less engine failures and better preparation. This is his best chance; he must not blow it and he needs to give those backers and you fans value for money; too many excuses can become a default position and he's better than that". "Speedway riders do their talking on the track with points, not off it with reasons to explain a bad day. Suffice to say we are as a management team in a review position of those two spots so let's hope for an immediate positive reaction tonight"

just checked my programme and that was part of a bigger quote Cook made. Seems to be totally against the grain of what everyone and everything else at the Club is trying to do.

Been there 3 times this season and not seen or heard a word of negativity about National League, lets be honest, they have an all British Team with 5 at least starting in what is now known as National League. Great to see an all British Team. I think what you are referring to is a single and admittedly OTT comment by one of the Promotion (Jon Cook) in the programme on Saturday about 2 riders and "comfort factor" of NL.

Picture on SGB website speaks louder than words. Track flooded, further heavy rain until Thursday, no way of preparing track when so wet even if rain stopped. No complaints and prospects elsewhere must be grim until Friday (possibly) and Saturday.

Only a supreme optimist would hold out much hope for almost any meeting over the next 3-4 days if forecasts are to be believed. Some seem to think that if it's not raining at "tapes up time" all we be OK and you can just ignore 24-48-72 hours of rain and that track staff can just prepare a track at the click of a finger. I'd rather when weather is as bad as it seems in a lot of places, commonsense prevail and decisions be made the day before if the track is clearly not usable and no later than 10am on the morning as that stops all unnecessary travel and expectation. One thing you an't control is extreme unseasonal weather.

I wish UO all the best at Redcar, smashing guy and not his fault he was asked to be no 1 in a Team poorly assembled initially, like Kyle Newman I suspect he will do better at his new Club in a more suitable role/position in Team. Hope Zak is not away too long, too good a talent to be missing for long.

I don't know what it's like round Sussex on a Friday night; but Leicester do tend to have a decent away following; and surely travel is a lot easier on a Sunday afternoon (home and away) than Friday night or late on a Sunday night home if night match with school and work to come. I'm used to be pretty knackered by Friday night after a week at work too. No dust at all down there at weekend track was very good. Some dirt and no dust.

Two Saturday tracks with no free fixtures before the Cut Off Date so Eastbourne go to default back up day and Leicester who have added problem of running 2 sides go to a very strange Friday night?