Ipswich Witches 2026

[noaksey]

52 minutes ago, Iamnotanumber said:

He has done so much for speedway, especially in Ipswich. He owes nothing to you or anyone else!

He certainly owes me nothing as I don't support Ipswich

A sports club is not a normal business, if you think it can be closed down without explanation then fair enough

Imagine if that were Ipswich Town for example 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

4 hours ago, ouch said:

That gives me a greater understanding of there you’re coming from as up to now I’ve thought a repetitive small league with a lack of variety was off putting for you and yours. The fact that a top rider or riders could entice you to attend is more alined with my thinking. You like the gold medalist and I like the silver & bronze. I think potentially losing these top guys and being unable to persuade others to come over will have a negative effect on UK speedway as as you put so well seeing the top man more often than not is a big pull. 

Not just a top a rider though, just zmarzlik, he is the exception the others are no more enticing than riders like Vinny foord, speedway for me is about the team not the individual, my team, my club my affiliation and I want to see different teams come to my club not the same team every few weeks, sadly I don’t have a team anymore so I struggle to get motivated to follow the league structure but seeing different teams at least gives me interest but a 5 team league is just not appealing 

Edited December 20, 2025 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Roger Jacobs]

19 hours ago, noaksey said:

He certainly owes me nothing as I don't support Ipswich

A sports club is not a normal business, if you think it can be closed down without explanation then fair enough

Imagine if that were Ipswich Town for example 

Premier League and most Championship footy teams are established businesses - not sports clubs in your old-fashioned sense.

Even League 2 Colchester United is up for sale as a business, with actual assets.

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Roger Jacobs said:

Premier League and most Championship footy teams are established businesses - not sports clubs in your old-fashioned sense.

Even League 2 Colchester United is up for sale as a business, with actual assets.

Have there been any football clubs that have voluntarily closed? (Recently, as league champions and that have been well supported and well run... with good sponsors)

[TB1]

21 hours ago, noaksey said:

He certainly owes me nothing as I don't support Ipswich

A sports club is not a normal business, if you think it can be closed down without explanation then fair enough

Imagine if that were Ipswich Town for example 

From memory the current American owners bought Ipswich Town for around 40 million. I think the only asset that wasn't purchased was the land that the stadium sits on. I believe the freehold is owned by the local authority.

[TB1]

48 minutes ago, IainB said:

Have there been any football clubs that have voluntarily closed? (Recently, as league champions and that have been well supported and well run... with good sponsors)

The only one that springs to mind is Colne Dynamos in Lancashire. They won the Northern Premier League in 1990. Following their denial of entry into The Conference the owner wound them up.

[IainB]

16 minutes ago, TB1 said:

The only one that springs to mind is Colne Dynamos in Lancashire. They won the Northern Premier League in 1990. Following their denial of entry into The Conference the owner wound them up.

Were all of their fans really chuffed about it and praising the owner for having the right to do it? Or were they posting 🐕💩's through his letterbox? 😂

Edited December 20, 2025 by IainB

[TB1]

23 minutes ago, IainB said:

Were all of their fans really chuffed about it and praising the owner for having the right to do it? Or were they posting 🐕💩's through his letterbox? 😂

Fans of the former English non-league team Colne Dynamoes were extremely angry when the club's owner pulled the plug on the team in 1990 after being denied entry into the Football Conference due to ground issues. The owner, Graham White, reportedly "shat on every one of them" and "wouldn't have been safe walking around the town for some time" due to the intense fan anger. 

 

The Demise of Colne Dynamoes

Colne Dynamoes rapidly rose through the non-league ranks in the late 1980s, winning the FA Vase in 1988 and attracting large crowds, sometimes over 1,000 people. Their rapid ascent, however, was their downfall. 

• Ground Issues: As the team achieved success and looked set for promotion to the Vauxhall Conference (the highest tier of non-league football at the time), it became clear their Holt House ground did not meet the required standards.
• Failed Ground Share: White attempted to secure a ground-sharing agreement with nearby Burnley FC, a club he had previously tried to buy, but the Burnley board refused the offer.
• Club Closure: After plans for a new stadium failed to materialise and facing the prospect of not being promoted despite their on-field success, Graham White abruptly dissolved the club, much to the fury of its dedicated fanbase. 

The demise remains one of non-league football's great mysteries, often cited as a classic case of "too much too quickly". 

[TB1]

We often hear from football club owners that they are the 'custodians' of the club and are passing through. Do you ever hear a speedway promoter say that?

[TB1]

21 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Not just a top a rider though, just zmarzlik, he is the exception the others are no more enticing than riders like Vinny foord, speedway for me is about the team not the individual, my team, my club my affiliation and I want to see different teams come to my club not the same team every few weeks, sadly I don’t have a team anymore so I struggle to get motivated to follow the league structure but seeing different teams at least gives me interest but a 5 team league is just not appealing 

Any news on the Wolves front Dean?

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 hour ago, TB1 said:

Any news on the Wolves front Dean?

Nothing to report at the moment 

[cowboy cookie returns?]

11 hours ago, TB1 said:

We often hear from football club owners that they are the 'custodians' of the club and are passing through. Do you ever hear a speedway promoter say that?

No because not only are the business models are completely different but so is the relationship to the community.

You also have to factor in that whenever a football club is put up for sale it will always sell as it’s a investment.

Sheffield have proven that no one will make an offer for a speedway club, Louis has had no offers. What is he supposed to do run it until his dying day?

[IainB]

14 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

What is he supposed to do run it until his dying day?

Yes! I'm afraid, whether you like it or not, that is the responsibility you have when you take on a sporting club, especially a historic, well supported and successful one like Ipswich.

Edited December 21, 2025 by IainB

[Aries]

5 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

No because not only are the business models are completely different but so is the relationship to the community.

You also have to factor in that whenever a football club is put up for sale it will always sell as it’s a investment.

Sheffield have proven that no one will make an offer for a speedway club, Louis has had no offers. What is he supposed to do run it until his dying day?

He’s hardly retirement age is he? 
 

Look, he gave an interview on local radio post play off success, stating that the hard work was already underway in building “another title winning side”. 
 

He was in a jovial mood after winning the league. 
 

There wasn’t a sniff of this happening and we’re talking only a few weeks ago. Let’s have it right here, he’s gotten the hump over something recent, probably the meetings running up to the original date of the AGM where things haven’t gone the way he wanted. 
 

Have they gone the way the other clubs/promoters wanted? Of course not! I’d bet NONE of them particularly want to run a five team league!! But they’re all prepared to battle through what is, to keep a Premiership going. All except the owner of arguably the most well supported, stable club in the Country. 

[Aries]

5 minutes ago, IainB said:

Yes! I'm afraid, whether you like it or not, that is the responsibility you have when you take on a sporting club, especially a historic, well supported and successful one like Ipswich.

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt early doors, but my patience with him is wearing thin. 
 

I’m incredibly disappointed in Chris Louis.

[Racin Jason 72]

3 minutes ago, Aries said:

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt early doors, but my patience with him is wearing thin. 
 

I’m incredibly disappointed in Chris Louis.

Until we know the full facts it’s very difficult to apportion blame. 
chris is keeping a dignified silence atm rather than mud slinging as you would expect but something substantial has obviously happened to get to this point. 
 

[IainB]

2 minutes ago, Aries said:

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt early doors, but my patience with him is wearing thin. 
 

I’m incredibly disappointed in Chris Louis.

As an out and out Ipswich legend it'd be unthinkable stain for him to be the one to close the club down. Goodness knows what's actually going on and as has proven with the rest of the Premiership he must be losing a lot of goodwill with his radio silence and lack of explanation to the fans. 

Whether there's genuinely a sale going on or this is all a game of brinksmanship, who knows, but if Ipswich are to run next year, they're leaving themselves in a pickle if/when trying to assemble a competitive team, as Jason Doyle has already shown, with any uncertainty riders will ultimately look after their own interests and sign on elsewhere.

You can have Drew Kemp at No 1, he's a local lad... consider it a Christmas present from Leicester 😁

[mikebv]

5 minutes ago, IainB said:

As an out and out Ipswich legend it'd be unthinkable stain for him to be the one to close the club down. Goodness knows what's actually going on and as has proven with the rest of the Premiership he must be losing a lot of goodwill with his radio silence and lack of explanation to the fans. 

Whether there's genuinely a sale going on or this is all a game of brinksmanship, who knows, but if Ipswich are to run next year, they're leaving themselves in a pickle if/when trying to assemble a competitive team, as Jason Doyle has already shown, with any uncertainty riders will ultimately look after their own interests and sign on elsewhere.

You can have Drew Kemp at No 1, he's a local lad... consider it a Christmas present from Leicester 😁

Jem Doncaster at No2,......

The Lanhams at six and seven....

Only three more riders needed....

Maybe Chris himself at four?

[Aries]

1 hour ago, Racin Jason 72 said:

Until we know the full facts it’s very difficult to apportion blame. 
chris is keeping a dignified silence atm rather than mud slinging as you would expect but something substantial has obviously happened to get to this point. 
 

Disagree I’m afraid Jason. Why couldn’t he reassure the supporters that there will be Speedway next year? The fact is, his latest interview a week or two ago, he couldn’t guarantee that when pushed. 
 

Why couldn’t he say that he wanted to sell the club (no problem, his choice), but if no buyer came forward in time, he’d continue to run it whilst a buyer could be found for the longer term? Just like the Bates’ have done at Sheffield??

Instead, he’s gone on local radio and caused unnecessary stress to a lot of loyal supporters, by not confirming there would be speedway next year, all whilst jetting off to sunny Australia for a nice sunny Holiday with family. 
 

Just before Christmas too, nice!

Anyone who has been a regular at Foxhall over the years, will know Margaret and her Daughter, Heather Lay. Two huge servants to Ipswich Speedway over decades. Working tirelessly selling draw tickets and helping running the supporters club over many many years.  
 

I caught up with Heather towards the end of the season and we had a chat. She was quite openly telling us that Margaret wasn’t in the best health these days and was struggling to get about. But she STILL makes a huge effort to attend Foxhall every meeting. She said if it wasn’t for her beloved Witches, she’s not sure she’d “still be here”.

I wonder how they’re feeling right now and looking forward to Christmas?

They won’t be alone either. For a lot of people, it’s not just something to do on a Thursday evening, it’s become a massive part of their lives going back decades. They’ll all be feeling worried sick that their Speedway is about to be taken away, just as Christmas is approaching. 
 

Look at the reception they got at the Town hall a few weeks ago. It’s was pi$$ing down, it was a lunch time, and was announced at short notice. And the people of Ipswich turned out in great numbers to celebrate, along with the Mayor. 
 

There’s great people who work at the club, most voluntarily, loyal sponsors who have backed him to the hilt financially, and of course, a core of loyal supporters. All been left totally in the dark and wondering what on earth is going on. 
 

I can only imagine how annoyed fans of Wolves, Arena/Lakeside , Peterborough, Swindon, amongst many others must feel, who have seen their speedway taken away from them due to track unavailability, see another club potentially not running despite a viable club and available track just sitting there. 
 

Ok, it may well break in the next days/weeks that he’s successfully sold the club on, OR, he’s staying and will continue to run it, but that won’t change the fact that he’s handled this very poorly. 
 

In my opinion! Obviously. 

Edited December 21, 2025 by Aries

[Ben91]

Don't often agree with you @Aries but this is spot on. 

This isn't Ipswich specific, just my opinion in general. For me, a sports club/organisation exists for the fans first and foremost. There may be an owner/figurehead but everything always has to circle back to those who support the club. Without them there would be nothing. They turn up week in, week out. If they didn't then the club could fold. Seems a bit off that the person who they've been supporting and entrusted with the custodianship of their team can then just decide to pull the rug on them.