Shadders

It's a crying shame that the successes of the mid to late 2000's weren't built on and the club and stadium has been left to rot. Kent supporters are getting fed up too. After a promising debut season the wheels have come off somewhat. Two heavy home defeats and a draw in the last three home meetings and some spankings away from home have left them languishing in mid table. With initial crowds the envy of most Premier League sides it looks like he's well on the way to ruining a speedway revival in Kent

Antonio Lindback

Edinburgh, Newcastle & Somerset are comparable to us in some ways with a similar size crowd base, but one thing they have that we don't is an ambitious promotion. They've managed to put together trophy challenging sides for a good few years now, whereas we've been on the slide since the heady days of the mid 2000's. All three of those clubs are professionally run, whereas you get the feeling that Rye House is run as a hobby. I'll use Somerset as an example as I've paid a couple of visits there in recent weeks. The race programme is full of adverts which must bring in decent revenue. The impressive club house has a proper bar and the food outlets are decent and always busy. All this in what was just a farmers field less than 15 years ago. Any delays in proceedings are filled with rider interviews. Rye House has the feel of a club that's winding down and the promoter seems not to be bothered, not even listening to his own riders as to how they'd like the track to be prepared. Utter shambles

Next to impossible to compare sides from year to year, let alone different eras. These topics usually appear during the winter when people are bored.

When it's deserved. Will you be there Mr Bolly?

Ben, you're beginning to make sense. That holiday has done you the world of good!!

Forget Brazil and the good chance we'll get thumped, I'll still be there

Easy to research if you put in some effort

They wouldn't even beat the Rockets 2005 PL winning side

Hazel gave me a free programme a few weeks ago when mine slipped through the boards on the start line terrace. Yesterday I saw her hand a young child a free programme.

Now I've had time to read this tripe properly I'd like to ask:Where have I ever criticised John? He has a next to impossible job, given a team of riders he more than likely didn't choose himself. I've no interest in discussing anything with you, unless you know the probable line up of next years side. Then I can decide whether or not to make other arrangements on Saturday evenings Never complained about the drinks, we don't buy any apart from a coffee now and again when it's cold. We don't eat there either as we only live 3 or 4 minutes from the track. We can eat at home thanks. I'm guessing you're related to one of the team, promotion or are a mechanic. Do you honestly believe that everything is hunky dory when you have supporters deserting in droves and people walking out long before the end of meetings? Get real!!

Thanks for clearing that up Alan. Definitely attending that

He's a great loss to us. Always first on track when there was a problem, and a good captain. Ok, his team riding wasn't up to much, but hey ho!!I'll never forget him kicking Kings Lynn's Tom P Madsen squarely in thre nuts after an on track incident. Magic!!! The fact he hasn't received a much deserved benefit meeting is a disgrace

Yep, we said the same too. It's not much to ask is it?And to think some used to moan about Chris Neath & Brent Werner being gating tarts!!

I remember the good old days of 2005 & 2007 when we used to take over 40 fans on our Northern tours and wallop some teams like you did yesterday. The group of Worky fans in front of us by thre start gate were having a great time. Word of advice, enjoy it while it lasts, cos you could end up like us!!

Ok, I'll be travelling to Peterborough, Scunthorpe, Berwick, Newcastle & Redcar. I'll be at all of those. I don't get paid travel expenses either (unleaded at around £1.30 a litre). See you there. *edit* and Plymouth. Can I just add that for most of these I'll be driving back to Hoddesdon and up for work at 5am

Tres qualified for the next round of grasstrack, so that's another weekend fixture he'll be missing from the side Anders confirmed to be riding at Luke Bowens testimonial next weekend.

You've never read a topic on this forum that doesn't concern your team?

Before tonight Stefan had completed just 40 yards as a Rocket around Hoddesdon. I presume he'd been down in the week, or even on the morning of the meeting doing a few laps?It looks to me like they've all just about given up. One or two may even have their eyes on a move away. A couple more already know they're pencilled in for next year whether they perform or not. Most of the Rockets side don't race elsewhere and it shows. Lack of race time has led to them losing their sharpness. I'll take a guess that most of the Workington side race for other sides during the week. Sharper, better prepared, better than us At least Edward showed some bottle in heat 15, but by then it was way to late

Why start a topic and fail to give us any meat on those bones?

Been said before, but worth repeating, this line up was doomed from the start. The huge gamble has failed big time. I thought Mellgren and Aspgren were nailed on for this year, but Silver decided to go with what we see before us. Hate to single out individuals, but a couple of them have been a huge disappointment. The rest have more or less done exactly as I expected. Don't blame the manager, he doesn't choose the riders. The latest fiasco regarding the team captain shows what we're dealing with. A stubborn old man who'll not listen and does things "his way". He's been a promoter for the better part of five decades. He must know what he's doing, right? For the first time since I first went to Rye in 1985 I'm seriously considering jacking it all in. I've had enough, fed up with it. By the looks on the faces of those who were walking out and the empty spaces where regulars used to stand & sit, I'm not the only one.

My disappointment was aimed at the performance in general, not at Silver. The evening was topped off when I discovered that the 4 horse Yankee I was gonna put on, but didn't have time due to updating, returned over £50. My misery is complete!!

It was when we had Jason Doyle as a temporary signing for a while while Steve Boxall was injured a couple of years ago. When Steve was fit to return Doyles services were dispensed with, despite him top scoring just about everywhere. Most of us expected him to be retained and a few voiced their disaproval during the pre meeting coin toss. This is when Silver had his rant. Silver went on to explain that rules stated that Doyle had to go, but I later learned that Doyle had been assured a couple of weeks earlier that he was in for the season

You've gotta be drugged up to follow Rye House these days

If I was a Bandits fan I'd be disappointed not to go home with a win. I'm off to buy some rope