Scunthorpe 2026

[Neila]

1 hour ago, Supersteady84 said:

Can't understand why Harrison hasn't been announced already 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Announced where scunny or worky 🙃

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

On 12/10/2025 at 10:46 PM, allthegearbutnaeidea said:

You have one problem with your one big league for 2026, and that’s the fact that none of the 9 championship clubs will bow down to the Ipswich way.

Food for thought

The attendances for just the 2 play meetings at Ipswich in 2025 were greater than a number of Championship clubs achieved for their whole season combined

Perhaps if a few more were able  to "bow down to the Ipswich way" the sport would be in a much healthier position....

[Hamster00]

4 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Food for thought

The attendances for just the 2 play meetings at Ipswich in 2025 were greater than a number of Championship clubs achieved for their whole season combined

Perhaps if a few more were able  to "bow down to the Ipswich way" the sport would be in a much healthier position....

You are clutching at straws aren’t you, the way you and other Ipswich fans are so desperate for the Championship clubs to fail is absolutely staggering.

Now we are just making stuff up to try and prove a point.

No championship club so far as I can see post “Official Attendances” so unless you were at every meeting and counting them, which I doubt saying as most Ipswich fans think the standard of racing is so embarrassingly poor they can’t bear to think of it, then I highly doubt that this “Fact” as you’ve presented it can be proven.

I also can’t find any “Official Attendance” figures for the grand final either so if you could just point me in the direction of all of the above information please?

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

11 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Food for thought

The attendances for just the 2 play meetings at Ipswich in 2025 were greater than a number of Championship clubs achieved for their whole season combined

Perhaps if a few more were able  to "bow down to the Ipswich way" the sport would be in a much healthier position....

You just don’t get it do you?

Yes we should all bow down to the Ipswich way, and have gone bust by April because we’re paying the town’s average salary on one rider every week.

You have a great sponsor in Guy Nicholls, and get a good crowd from I’m sure successful promoting, but that doesn’t mean everyone can follow you. 

Team speedway has levels, the nine teams in the Championship are in that league because the promotors feel that is where they are most sustainable, for the FUTURE OF BRITISH SPEEDWAY. But the Premiership clubs, oh no, Championship clubs must follow them, as they’re saving British speedway, look how healthy and sustainable they are. Birmingham only lost a reported 500K in 2 or 3 years, Oxford couldn’t afford to pay underperforming ‘international superstars’ come the end of the season. Belle Vue lost an absolute fortune as usual, but presumably have someone to bail them out, possibly Council grants? Sheffield put up for sale, Ipswich put up for sale.

Lets all  down to the Ipswich way, if we did, there wouldn’t be a team sport in this country. Half would fold trying to pay £20K a meeting to a foreign superstar, and the other half would follow the Ipswich promotor and put the club up for sale when they didn’t get their way at a meeting. Who’s buying those clubs? No one with any sense, that’s for sure. 

[Youhave2minutes]

9 hours ago, Hamster00 said:

You are clutching at straws aren’t you, the way you and other Ipswich fans are so desperate for the Championship clubs to fail is absolutely staggering.

Now we are just making stuff up to try and prove a point.

No championship club so far as I can see post “Official Attendances” so unless you were at every meeting and counting them, which I doubt saying as most Ipswich fans think the standard of racing is so embarrassingly poor they can’t bear to think of it, then I highly doubt that this “Fact” as you’ve presented it can be proven.

I also can’t find any “Official Attendance” figures for the grand final either so if you could just point me in the direction of all of the above information please?

It’s in cloud cuckoo land

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

15 hours ago, Hamster00 said:

You are clutching at straws aren’t you, the way you and other Ipswich fans are so desperate for the Championship clubs to fail is absolutely staggering.

Now we are just making stuff up to try and prove a point.

No championship club so far as I can see post “Official Attendances” so unless you were at every meeting and counting them, which I doubt saying as most Ipswich fans think the standard of racing is so embarrassingly poor they can’t bear to think of it, then I highly doubt that this “Fact” as you’ve presented it can be proven.

I also can’t find any “Official Attendance” figures for the grand final either so if you could just point me in the direction of all of the above information please?

Think you have misread my sentiment - the last thing I want is for any club at any level to fail

The success at Ipswich isn't just down to finances although accepted it doesn't hurt

As for the "official attendance figures" indeed  there are none from anyone but we have all been around long enough and see enough posted on here to have a good idea - I stand by my estimates, just as I do in my thread about why the Championship needs a Premiership

I have no doubt we will see the one big league next year and it will be at a level way below the current Championship standard

Be careful what you wish for or you may be looking at only 300 turning up instead of the busting at the seams 400.....

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

1 hour ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Think you have misread my sentiment - the last thing I want is for any club at any level to fail

The success at Ipswich isn't just down to finances although accepted it doesn't hurt

As for the "official attendance figures" indeed  there are none from anyone but we have all been around long enough and see enough posted on here to have a good idea - I stand by my estimates, just as I do in my thread about why the Championship needs a Premiership

I have no doubt we will see the one big league next year and it will be at a level way below the current Championship standard

Be careful what you wish for or you may be looking at only 300 turning up instead of the busting at the seams 400.....

You’re coming across as an entitled pillock whether you mean to or not.

Virtually all Championship clubs are getting 600 as a poor figure, and upwards of 3k as a higher figure for league meetings, which of course is the reason why none of them are for sale or pulling out the league, coupled with not paying £1K per point for their superstars.

Wages should not be 100% of turnover, it’s basic business.

[Preston Comet]

13 minutes ago, allthegearbutnaeidea said:

You’re coming across as an entitled pillock whether you mean to or not.

Virtually all Championship clubs are getting 600 as a poor figure, and upwards of 3k as a higher figure for league meetings, which of course is the reason why none of them are for sale or pulling out the league, coupled with not paying £1K per point for their superstars.

Wages should not be 100% of turnover, it’s basic business.

Workington would be happy with 600 as a poor figure!

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

11 minutes ago, allthegearbutnaeidea said:

You’re coming across as an entitled pillock whether you mean to or not.

Virtually all Championship clubs are getting 600 as a poor figure, and upwards of 3k as a higher figure for league meetings, which of course is the reason why none of them are for sale or pulling out the league, coupled with not paying £1K per point for their superstars.

Wages should not be 100% of turnover, it’s basic business.

I call BS on any standard Championship league meeting attracting 3k - if they were finances would be no issue

You say virtually all get 600 - which in itself implies that some are not which backs up my point!

I promise you I am far from entitled  - there is still a possibility of Ipswich not running and even if they did I would have the same basic principle to my view

I will say that perhaps I am being a little abrasive and provocative in pushing an opinion to the limit in order to invite some to examine their views which lack basic reality (eg one big league at Current Championship standard)

[Hamster00]

8 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

I call BS on any standard Championship league meeting attracting 3k - if they were finances would be no issue

You say virtually all get 600 - which in itself implies that some are not which backs up my point!

I promise you I am far from entitled  - there is still a possibility of Ipswich not running and even if they did I would have the same basic principle to my view

I will say that perhaps I am being a little abrasive and provocative in pushing an opinion to the limit in order to invite some to examine their views which lack basic reality (eg one big league at Current Championship standard)

So what is your solution to the big problem then? Because Ipswich’s model isn’t it, virtually every other club doesn’t have a Guy Nicholls and can’t afford to run at that level, see Birmingham and Oxford.

The sport needs to be sustainable for all clubs not just a chosen few, the 9 Championship clubs are making it sustainable at that level, some better than others no doubt, Poole are proof of that.

If it becomes one league of a certain standard that is sustainable for all clubs that are currently running then I personally would much rather that than see clubs go to the wall each year trying to prop up the current model which quite clearly is broken.

Speedway isn’t a mainstream sport in this country anymore, it doesn’t have big backing or a big tv deal, it barely makes a dent on national TV these days and sponsors are often just fans with business.

Until you come up with a solution for all of that then unfortunately you can’t sustain a top tier league that pays the likes of Emil or Doyley whether Ipswich fans/promoters like it or not.

The whole thing needs taken back to the drawing board and started again, the current model is just sleepwalking us to the end of the sport in this country.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

18 minutes ago, Hamster00 said:

So what is your solution to the big problem then? Because Ipswich’s model isn’t it, virtually every other club doesn’t have a Guy Nicholls and can’t afford to run at that level, see Birmingham and Oxford.

The sport needs to be sustainable for all clubs not just a chosen few, the 9 Championship clubs are making it sustainable at that level, some better than others no doubt, Poole are proof of that.

If it becomes one league of a certain standard that is sustainable for all clubs that are currently running then I personally would much rather that than see clubs go to the wall each year trying to prop up the current model which quite clearly is broken.

Speedway isn’t a mainstream sport in this country anymore, it doesn’t have big backing or a big tv deal, it barely makes a dent on national TV these days and sponsors are often just fans with business.

Until you come up with a solution for all of that then unfortunately you can’t sustain a top tier league that pays the likes of Emil or Doyley whether Ipswich fans/promoters like it or not.

The whole thing needs taken back to the drawing board and started again, the current model is just sleepwalking us to the end of the sport in this country.

The only scenario that stops 2027 being one big league is a miracle in securing sponsorship/TV deal that enables a top division to be viable attracting the tier of riders just outside those aiming for GP qualification

I agree that it is not feasible to compete financially with Poland for the top stars even if a superb deal is found

But one big league won't be the panacea many think and hope it would be due to the excessive doubling up - hence why the retention of a Premiership is vital to the Championship in its current form

There will always be the haves and have not even in that scenario and the overall product (certainly initially) will possibly be less palatable to more than just the existing Premiership teams

If the one league structure doesn't come in then doubling up must be restricted and reduced year on year with the aim of eradication in a short period

That would likely mean a significant weakening of the 2nd tier which again may meet resistance in certain quarters but would be just as entitled and selfish as those being called so now

Tough and saddening times

[YeOldPitGate]

23 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Food for thought

The attendances for just the 2 play meetings at Ipswich in 2025 were greater than a number of Championship clubs achieved for their whole season combined

Perhaps if a few more were able  to "bow down to the Ipswich way" the sport would be in a much healthier position....

I would imagine a lot of Lynn, and Peterborough fans made the trip over for the final.

[Albert]

14 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

The only scenario that stops 2027 being one big league is a miracle in securing sponsorship/TV deal that enables a top division to be viable attracting the tier of riders just outside those aiming for GP qualification

I agree that it is not feasible to compete financially with Poland for the top stars even if a superb deal is found

But one big league won't be the panacea many think and hope it would be due to the excessive doubling up - hence why the retention of a Premiership is vital to the Championship in its current form

There will always be the haves and have not even in that scenario and the overall product (certainly initially) will possibly be less palatable to more than just the existing Premiership teams

If the one league structure doesn't come in then doubling up must be restricted and reduced year on year with the aim of eradication in a short period

That would likely mean a significant weakening of the 2nd tier which again may meet resistance in certain quarters but would be just as entitled and selfish as those being called so now

Tough and saddening times

There is another scenario for 2027...  Maybe the BSPA can discuss with their counterparts in Denmark and Sweden about forming a European League... Leave Poland to their own devices.  The top 5 teams from each nation could form a league?  Just a thought...  

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

7 minutes ago, Albert said:

There is another scenario for 2027...  Maybe the BSPA can discuss with their counterparts in Denmark and Sweden about forming a European League... Leave Poland to their own devices.  The top 5 teams from each nation could form a league?  Just a thought...  

It would be an interesting option and one that at very least isn't a regurgitation of previous set ups 

Absolutely worth exploring

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

16 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said:

I would imagine a lot of Lynn, and Peterborough fans made the trip over for the final.

Minimal numbers from those I would think

[Fromafar]

3 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

The only scenario that stops 2027 being one big league is a miracle in securing sponsorship/TV deal that enables a top division to be viable attracting the tier of riders just outside those aiming for GP qualification

I agree that it is not feasible to compete financially with Poland for the top stars even if a superb deal is found

But one big league won't be the panacea many think and hope it would be due to the excessive doubling up - hence why the retention of a Premiership is vital to the Championship in its current form

There will always be the haves and have not even in that scenario and the overall product (certainly initially) will possibly be less palatable to more than just the existing Premiership teams

If the one league structure doesn't come in then doubling up must be restricted and reduced year on year with the aim of eradication in a short period

That would likely mean a significant weakening of the 2nd tier which again may meet resistance in certain quarters but would be just as entitled and selfish as those being called so now

Tough and saddening times

I’m afraid I just don’t see how the Premiership can survive beyond 2026. Can’t see where the magical Teams are going to appear from.Dont see a Championship Team that can pay the riders demands without bankrupting themselves.The sport has to go back to basics in UK.

[StevePark]

On 12/12/2025 at 8:50 PM, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Food for thought

The attendances for just the 2 play meetings at Ipswich in 2025 were greater than a number of Championship clubs achieved for their whole season combined

Perhaps if a few more were able  to "bow down to the Ipswich way" the sport would be in a much healthier position....

That'll be the same Ipswich that, after the Promotion/Relegation Play-off with Newcastle in 2010, decided to drop down to the second-tier? Same promoter who has now decided to sell as he is disillusioned with the Premiership in 2025/6?

[Fromafar]

15 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

I call BS on any standard Championship league meeting attracting 3k - if they were finances would be no issue

You say virtually all get 600 - which in itself implies that some are not which backs up my point!

I promise you I am far from entitled  - there is still a possibility of Ipswich not running and even if they did I would have the same basic principle to my view

I will say that perhaps I am being a little abrasive and provocative in pushing an opinion to the limit in order to invite some to examine their views which lack basic reality (eg one big league at Current Championship standard)

Basic reality is one big League at Championship Level .IMO

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

29 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

Basic reality is one big League at Championship Level .IMO

But it won't be one big league at Championship level - not the 2026 standard anyway

It would need to be significantly watered down if it was to include 14 teams

That would mean the vast majority of teams (both current Prem and Champ) operating at a lower level than they would want

To maintain the standard at the 2026 level you would need to find 25-30 riders at or close to the standard of Harris,Lawson,King,Nicholls,Wright etc

The alternative is to only allow 9/10 teams in - how is that fairly decided?

If you are saying that this solution has to be the "best for British Speedway" then that choice can't automatically be the current 9 incumbents 

It has to be the clubs that give the sport the best chance to thrive and improve, the ones most likely to be able to increase fanbase and take the next steps in the rebuild process

If you don't follow that process then you are not doing what is "best for British Speedway" 

Tough choices

[Fromafar]

10 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

But it won't be one big league at Championship level - not the 2026 standard anyway

It would need to be significantly watered down if it was to include 14 teams

That would mean the vast majority of teams (both current Prem and Champ) operating at a lower level than they would want

To maintain the standard at the 2026 level you would need to find 25-30 riders at or close to the standard of Harris,Lawson,King,Nicholls,Wright etc

The alternative is to only allow 9/10 teams in - how is that fairly decided?

If you are saying that this solution has to be the "best for British Speedway" then that choice can't automatically be the current 9 incumbents 

It has to be the clubs that give the sport the best chance to thrive and improve, the ones most likely to be able to increase fanbase and take the next steps in the rebuild process

If you don't follow that process then you are not doing what is "best for British Speedway" 

Tough choices

I accept that it won’t be at present Championship level,but we need to go back to basics .Present crowd levels at majority of Clubs tell me that.We are a minority sport in UK these days mainly run by enthusiasts with money.