Beirao

Scottish football teams whose grounds were once Speedway tracks are having a tough time. Clyde, who at one time played at Shawfield are currently bottom of Scottish League Div2 (tier4) and are in danger of ending up,in the Lowland League next year, where they will join Albion Rovers of Coatbridge, Berwick and Cowdenbeath , all now in reduced circumstances. Edinburgh City now back playing at Meadowbank are being relegated to Div2, while Queens Park (Hampden) look like avoiding the drop to Div1. Blantyre Celtic are now an amateur team while Ashfield Juniors no longer play at Ashfield, having moved to a council facility a few miles away Any English equivalents? Barrow seem to have bucked the trend by getting promotion back into English Div2.

Interesting that there are no similar restrictions around the third and fourth bend, where flying stones are surely more likely than the home straight. Nor the narrow passageway that used to exist immediately in front of the now demolished Tote Board.

Glasgow do much the same in front of the grandstand. Don't know why.

Yes you've caught me out! Was basing it on the wwos website.

This month's edition will featureApril Obituary -John Louis and Eric Hockaday tributesGuest who's riding for us - a look at a guest facility from times gone by.Going Back in Time to 1964 - a look at Sunderland's short lifeThe return of the Tigers - now 60 years since Trevor Redmond revived the TigersThe Border Trophy Reprised - a look at the first Berwick v Workington clashesAlphabetically Speaking "Y" not - the few riders with a Y surnameBig Birthdays - who is celebrating this month?Anyone Remember Number 17 - our monthly test of your recall skillsclassicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/

All of Richie Worrall's rides were covered in similar circumstances last year at Plymouth. Berwick were the opposition that night too.

And the promotion should get an accredited sample tonight for an independent test.

May 31 is the first time both teams have a blank Friday on the same night. Glasgow currently show that as reserved for KO CUP semi while May 17 is shown as reserved for BSN semi. Anyone know the opposite of a rain dance?!

And if he continues to progress this year, as can be expected, it will be Redcar who will reap the benefit. Similarly Poole with Tom. Why don't these guys want to come back?

Another young rider we've let go at the wrong time. Bewley and Bailey being two others that we didn't get any benefit from after their development years with us

Workington and Plymouth look weaker than all the other teams, so it seems likely that the best second placed team will come from either the Northern or Southern section. Away wins might be scarce in the Scottish group so the bonus points will be vital. Are you expecting Berwick to win by more at Shielfield than they'll lose by at Ashfield? I'm not. UPDATE : I've may be jumped the gun in writing off Workington, who, after a poor start, are making a fist of it against Berwick this afternoon.

There will be a bonus point...but it's bound for Poole! Any home win against Poole and home and away wins against Plymouth would surely get them through as the best second placed team.

A look at riders who returned home to finish their careers. Did your favourites do this? https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/march-2024/the-prodigal-returns

Wasn't the PL Select to ride on NL tracks to fill out their fixture list?

If the NL/PL split had been averted would West Ham, Glasgow, Sunderland and Newport have been opened https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/march-2024/going-back-in-time-march-1964

This edition will featureMarch Obituary - John PilbladGoing Back in Time March 1964 - a look at the NL/PL situationBlack Nights - your teams worst home defeatsThe Prodigal Returns - when a rider returns to his rootsAlphabetically Speaking - the extra SBig Birthdays - who is celebrating this month?Anyone Remember Number 16 - our monthly test of your recall skillsclassicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/

This edition will featureMarch Obituary - John PilbladGoing Back in Time March 1964 - a look at the NL/PL situationBlack Nights - your teams worst home defeatsThe Prodigal Returns - when a rider returns to his rootsAlphabetically Speaking - the extra SBig Birthdays - who is celebrating this month?Anyone Remember Number 16 - our monthly test of your recall skillsclassicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/

The top four in the BL were all former NL tracks which suggests the top heavy approach followed by picking up better second strings by mid summer paid dividends. Coventry got Les Owen back, West Ham added Tony Clarke, Oxford Stan Stevens and Wimbledon dropped Geoff Hughes though not sure who replaced him.

I'm pretty sure he's still with us.

Anyone remember Alf's time at Bradford. Seemed to start quite well in 1970 but his scoring tailed off the following year. Did he get on ok with promoter Whaley with whom he had a rough time at Hampden in 1969?

Did your team ever have Scottish riders, or have I missed them. https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/february-2024/scot-free

I missed that too, until this morning!

I think this was Britains consolation prize for losing the World Final to Sweden. Each of the ten NL tracks staged a qualifying round with 40 riders taking part, each getting four rounds, with the final being staged at neutral Harringay. This wasn't repeated with just a one off meeting at Wimbledon with invited riders. Anyone remember things from this time? Perhaps the qualifying meetings weren't a good deal for the staging tracks with increased costs not being absorbed by bigger crowds? Was Harringay a cheaper neutral track than Wembley?

https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/february-2024/willie-templeton-the-25-year-man

A few more from the early 70s, mainly northern based. https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/february-2024/retired-too-soon-part-2