Parsloes 1928 nearly

But there's nothing intrinsically second rate about the 'second sides'... And surely you can see the commercial merit in concentrating the stand-alones where a potentially newer NL audience may be more attracted to see them..? BTW not seen it mentioned elsewhere on here but just saw it on the Stoke site that it's the Potters who are first of the stand-alones to take on the Hawks - at Lakeside (sorry, Ben!) on Good Friday afternoon!

I agree 100%. And of course it ISN'T called the National Development League: this is just a strange line hidden away in the Rule book which certain individuals on here latch onto to make their 'point'. In all branding and other official documentation (like the fixtures!) it's called the National League!!

Many thanx. Have to say that Tom Brown came up on the rails there... Didn't have him on my radar!! And Luke more appearances than David Mason...? That would surprise me too.... Mark Thompson was high on the appearance list too but I suppose the past two years have seen Thommo overhauled...

This way of dividing the fixtures though makes a lot of sense.. For the Lakeside fans this is all new stuff and it'll be far more attractive to potential punters IMHO, to be seeing the 'stand-alones' coming than what might be (if a tad unfairly) be seen as the 'second' sides of PL teams... Which brings me back to the point I've made many times, why don't more (all...?) of those second sides use a 'stand-alone' type name...? (Bournemouth riding at Poole is the recent example of where this did happen...) Might just in one extent be semantics, but it sure as heck would make the third tier look more interesting and more a separate entity...

Times have moved on since this helpful posting back in '09.. Deano's had two full seasons so am guessing he heads the appearance list still.. But surely Barrie Evans must be right up there too.. And points-wise, am guessing maybe 'Good' Evans (congrats on Bazza's wedding this weekend btw ) must also be near the top... Any update oh great 'PP' pplease!!?

I can't agree with you that this was 'off-topic' in the slightest. I can assure you that the Hackney project is very much to do with boosting the prospect of a track in the Olympics area...: which in case you've forgotten is not some random place, but exactly where, er, Hackney's home track was...

I do agree with you Deano - going to the Dudley matches at Wolves last year (even seeing YOU on the terraces!! ) was the most positive of experiences and it is extraordinary indeed how the flame in the Black Country for the Heathens has kept burning. As an East Londoner I can confirm that though West Ham Speedway is often mentioned fondly (less so Hackney - but depends who you know/meet, I guess...) you're right, that in no way is there the zeal that there is for long lost Cradley... I still believe though, that there IS a chance of a London club emerging out of the chances present on the Olympics site. But I'm sure of one thing (as a London 'neutral' who was involved at Wimbledon 2002-'05) for that to work, EVERY Speedway fan in and around the capital needs to get behind this project and that campaign... Every indications on here are NOT therefore too encouraging...

I doubt that there is any site in the UK with more current potential for new sporting endeavours to be launched than the lower Lea Valley: ie effectively the Olympic Park and immediately surrounding area. There's even the actual prospect of sports arenas being avaiable for reuse in less than two years' time. The former Hackney track occupied this very same section of land. So though clearly the revived Hawks of 2011 are going to be riding a 'nomadic' existence at Rye House and Lakeside (both with close links BTW, to the 'Hackney heritage'), there is IMHO just as much chance of this initiative leading to a new track as there is for Dudley to find a new home for the Heathens. And by that I mean I'm optimistic about both... So I do NOT see this as merely a marketing exercise with no ambitions to see a track actually return to east London. I see it - and I know Jon Cook does too and I'd assume 'Uncle' Len - as a definite first step in making that a reality...

It's not about time it's about geography.. The comparison made - specifically - was it will be cheaper for a pensioner to watch EL racing at Belle Vue than a pensioner to watch NL racing at Rye House. This is clearly a VERY obscure point... It's actually extremely difficult to check prices for top football clubs as ticket sales are so often restricted. Got two tickets (as I'm a member) for Arsenal against Man United on May 1st the other day...: over £90 EACH... That's the daft reality of big time football among the biggest clubs.. Makes it look small change watching the Hawks.. On which subject (which this is...), this is IMHO an enterprise well worth backing. If people DON'T want to (and Shadders spent the whole of this time last year telling us how he also wouldn't be watching the Cobras! ), then don't. But trying to undermine the project by making an undue fuss about a fractionally higher than others admission price isn't on IMHO...

Come off it - you are clearly having a laugh!! Though - even though it's going back a long way - in the 1980s I can tell you that a ticket a Crystal Palace in the third division WAS more expensive than one at Old Trafford in the First. There has ALWAYS been a difference between prices for sport up north and in London & the south east. Face it, the comparison with Hyde Rd. prices is spurious at best..!

Hmm, in that case perhaps you'd like to reflect on this. Ticket prices at Leyton Orient FC (in League One: ie the 'third division') are the same as they are for the majority of Premiership games at Wigan Athletic... And this disparity has long been the case in football.. Orient don't 'compete' for customers with Wigan so the comparison has no real basis. And unless you have the particular working and extra-marital circumstances of a JCookie ( ) nor does the implied comparison between a pensioner's lot when attending Hyde Rd. or watching the Hawks at Rye House!!

Er, it's not a strange answer... It was reacting to a point, spurious in the extreme, about it beimg cheaper for a pensioner to get in at Belle Vue than at a Hawks meeting at RH. They're at opposite ends of the country so price comparisons aren't and never could be relevant...

Hmm, only if you happen to a pensioner who spends the early part of each week living in Manchester and the end of the week at your second home in the northern half of the M25 area!!

Hmm, expect to wait another three weeks then!!!!

No need is there....

Freudian slip there with the use of the words, "paid off"......

Hmm, it's what I'd call a shocking inability to make up ones mind!!!

£34 for FOUR doesn't sound that bad to me.... Realistically how much LESS would you expect to be charged...?

Surprised no-one's mentioned Scunthorpe... Saints, Stags and Scorpions - though at three different tracks so maybe that doesn't count..?

Oh okay - thanks! Just like his big brother Lee!

Who's Jay riding for in the NL in '11..? BTW, the fixtures page on BSPA site lists the 9 April match as Rye House vs. Team USA... Disappointing that they can't get it right and mention this'll be Hackney's opening meeting!!

The fixtures page on BSPA site lists the 9 April match as Rye House vs. Team USA... Disappointing that they can't get it right and mention this'll be Hackney's opening meeting!!

???? Sorry what do you mean..? Am I being very dim..? Is there some huge hidden irony in your earlier posting..?

Hmm. "Ye gods" as you say.. In case you've not noticed the whole POINT of this Forum is that people who are, in 99.9% of cases NOT the people who run the sport or run a team, come on (in most cases using an 'screen name') and express their opinion..! Surely unless one accepts this as a concept (ie the expressing of differing views for the sake of debate and discussion) we truly may as well pack up having the BSF. . You're a very intelligent person Bryn and I love you madly, but it baffles me how you have such a blind spot to this most obvious of points!!!!

Do crows manage to fly around there...: thought the travellers might shoot 'em down for their dinner!!??