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I except your post as a genuine and will answer in the same way. From a die hard speedway fan for more years I care to remember, we have always been brought up knowing the team has been announced before Christmas. Many times we have specially arranged 'Supporter's Meeting' purely to hear these announced teams. Usually we were among the first to know, but that was when son Jonathon was on board and the connection with the fans was important. Now the fans are forgotten and appear the last to know. Them days when were kept informed, we could take part in discussions, we could make predictions, we could have some banter with other fans, we could make plans for the coming season, in fact we could do all the things that other teams and fans from their privilege position. AS you so rightly say, most of us believe we know the team, but that only makes the situation regarding the club even worse. Every way you look at it, projects a club that don't give a toss for its fans and are more concerned that media exposure benefits the club rather than be informative to their supporters.. The team, we all imagine we know, is not good enough to drip feed to the media on an individual basis, the optimum would be to announce the riders as a proven squad, more a result of the total sum is far more effective than each individuals. In my book, the connection with the fans is more important than the fitness program the riders are going through. WE saw last year, when the riders showed their alertness making brilliant starts the Refs were constantly putting the light on believing it be an unsatisfactory start, making the program less beneficial. The fan base is the bread and butter of any club, but at Kings Lynn Speedway we are an inconvenience. At a time when the sport needs all the help it can get, you cant blame the fans for staying away when we are treated with so much contempt...

I dont know how many season tickets Kings Lynn sell? but how could you entice someone to buy one if you dont know the team.

I didn't realise how unfortunate Wolverhampton were at the time. I just wanted my team, Belle Vue, to win the match - and in doing so, the title. I'm talking about the 1993 season. Remember, that final showdown between Wolves and Belle Vue that decided the league winners, long before the hyped-up and often manipulated Play-offs. Although I was a keen Aces' fan at the time and got caught up in winning the title, I still felt sorry for the Wolves. But, just going through some mags from the season, I didn't quite realise the extent of Wolves' misfortune. They had been odds on favourites to win the title, all season, having a double-figure points lead much of the time. However, at the same time Belle Vue began registering their first league points on their travels - it was as late as August - Wolves had a terrible dousing of misfortunate sprinkled over them. Within two weeks of late August-early September, they suffered three injuries that would have finished most other teams. Middle-order rider Graham Jones was injured on August 21. That was six points a match gone. Then, 10 days later Charlie Ermolenko picked up arm injuries at Poole that also wrote off his season. Another six points were gone. But worse was to come. Twenty-four hours after the younger Ermolenko was crocked, Ronnie Correy, the number two, broke his back while riding in Sweden for Bysarna. His year was over - indeed, the injury meant he didn't race in 1994 either. That was almost another 10 points a match gone. Wolves should have been on the canvas and counted out. But they battled on. Obviously, the loss of over 20 points from three riders took its toll. Wolves lost five in a row and their title chase hit quicksand. Young Mikael Karlsson, for his first taste of British racing, and veteran Gordon Kennett, out in the cold after starting the year at Exeter, were introduced. Wolves battled on as the Aces clawed back the gap on the Midland side in an interesting end to the season that, in all reality, would have been all but over had the Monmore side remained untouched. Personally, I feel history would have been different and Wolves would have managed to hold on - but in their penultimate fixture, the final, cruellest blow came when Sam Ermolenko was injured and his year was through. It was the first race of Wolves home match with Bradford. Ermolenko, of course, was the best rider in the world and in domestic racing. It was his finest season. They had lost their kingpin, the World Champion, and did well just to hang on for a 56-52 win over the Dukes. Wolves went into the decider with Belle Vue four riders missing from the side that had brought them to within touching distance of their second title in three years. They borrowed Gustafsson from King's Lynn, and his paid 16 from six starts just wasn't enough to claim the draw (they lost by just a point, 53-54 ) which would have won the title for Wolves and denied Aces the dramatic last heat clincher. History would have been changed. Ermolenko, I'd have bet, would have roared to a maximum. He had scored the full 21 at Bradford before his injury. His presence in the team alone would have encouraged lesser men to cajole an extra point or two, maybe. But he was out with a broken thigh. Not only had Wolves lost three integral members of their side - numbers two, for and five, which otherwise they'd have coasted to the league, I believe they would have dragged out a win versus the Aces - and therefore been league kings - with Sam against the Aces. As it was, they won just thrice from their final 10 matches without their full side, and for the first time since 1979, the title had gone down to the wire. As a fan of Belle Vue, I recall the jubilation on the terraces that night. But, at the same time, I also felt like we'd won through an own goal. The annals of history should have been written differently. Luck swings two ways - good and bad. Indeed, it reminds me of the previous Belle Vue title win of '82, again fortuitous after Cradley lost Penhall. Wolves 1993 have to be the most unfortunate team... least in my memory.

This drip feeding rider's isn't about media exposure for me. King's Lynn could be back page headline news in the Lynn News or EDP but if you're not interested in those sports do you read it? Of course you don't. In the same way I wouldn't read about local Basketball, hockey, rugby or motor racing driver's etc if they're back page. To take notice you have to have a smidgen of interest. Let's be honest, if it's about keeping the club in the news in the hope it may entice the lost fans, well, these fans know that only Robert Lambert is of any real quality to watch, plus, they don't forget the reasons they knocked going to Speedway on the head in the first place. This drip feeding nonsense does nothing to sell the sport in the area, all it does is allow those that don't have a clue about Speedway or the signed rider to skip past the article. To get the locals interested you need to sell the sport first, some random in a cheap polo shirt with the club emblem isn't selling anything to the public.

The other point about the drip feed method ( which I detest in UK speedway ) is that the recently announced name of Ty Proctor ( for example ) means absolutely nothing to a non speedway fan wherever he or she reads it ( or stumbles across it ) because Proctor is unknown in the wider world within 50 miles of KL. As it will be for the rest of the team, who are known only to existing ( or past fans ). It is very, very unlikely to attract the longed-for new generation of supporters.

You're kidding right

Who said Somerset were strapped for cash in the Championship, Premiership possibly, "cut your coat according to the cloth" comes to mind They had the sense not to throw money away so that they could operate at a lower level , not like some other clubs who have gone to the wall (unfortunately)

Just as well Gospeed didnt need to be asked......

I think the biggest positive is its another season of speedway at Foxhall for those that want to go and watch it.

If this is set in 1954, how come Geordie is driving a 1965 Singer Gazelle Mark V, complete with inertia reel front and rear seat belts?

Hopefully my Club Birmingham will be a breath of fresh air too and if we could see likes of Kent; Plymouth and Mildenhall try to venture up too in next few years and no one else lave it could be a cracking League. Mighty impressed by what's happening at Eastbourne though.

Or Berge Pole....

I havent visited rough park for several years. There are two reasons...1. The track can be downright dangerous at times (just look at how many riders get injured there). 2. A section of the so called home "fans" are a disgrace to their club..they are compared to animals, due to their antagonistic attitude to visiting supporters, with them LAUGHING as a visiting rider is taken away by ambulance, swearing and making threats to away supporters etc etc. I am sorry if this offends genuine Diamonds fans, but it is a fact and I and my fellow Comets supporters have had experience of this quite often ! So you can understand why I am reluctant to visit !

Considering the tragedy that was Lokeren, West Ham has to hold that sadly unwanted title. Any other team's perceived misfortune pales in comparison.

Workington like other clubs relied on riders from the Premiership and visa verse. So who pays for the van and accommodation? The doubling up and down has, in my view accelerated the decline of clubs at this level.

Great that Doris, used to work at Whitworth rd cemetery and Teo's final resting place was always kept nice.

Good post. Apart from the fact that speedway is in a big mess mainly caused by the BSPA promoters, the people currently running BV don't seem to have much idea about the sport and how to promote speedway. I visit on a regular basis and to say the stadium and track are without doubt the best in the UK the crowds are more often than not relatively poor and the fact that speedway and NSS actually exists in Manchester is a closely kept secret. I sent a constructive email to the BV management Mr Smith with some supporters views and didn't even get the courtesy of a response. Which says it all...they think they know better than the paying fans..!

I believe Nathan Stoneman is Welsh, as was Kevin Price. Wasn't Glyn Taylor also born in Wales? Had to laugh at the idea of Nicky Mallett as a suggestion for favourite Welsh rider. Would he ever come in a list of favourite anything? Maybe "favourite suspected arsonist (never proven)"?

I assume the drip feed logic is attempting to keep the advertising budget ( a laugh in itself) low. The thought process being if we are in the paper and on social media we don't need billboards, school visits, 2 for 1 type promotions to get fans through the turnstiles. It doesn't work. When Jonathan was around so was advertising/promotions etc and there were plenty of new faces on the terraces. Keeping them there is a whole different ball game which can't be solved by Lynn alone.

Other than for Doyle, Fricke or Robert Lambert I can't see any bids coming forward if such a thing existed. Chequebook speedway long ago departed from speedway other than perhaps the maximum allowed by contactless cards (£29.99 )

I wish Valentin the very best of luck having been given the chance to race in this country, but what a kick in the teeth for riders like Mason Campton and Simon Lambert who have no club to ride for, through no fault of their own.

No surprise at all that Berge has tippy toed away from Somerset, he did a very similar thing when at Berwick a couple of seasons ago. No sooner had he signed then he wanted away and ultimately got his wish, he is a talent but he needs to sort out his temperament.

It’s more than big enough. It holds 9k with temp seating, many gps on circuits gone by have held less capacity. Teterow being a prime case. There is this weird obsession around the size of the stadium in retrospect for a GP. I just don’t understand it. It’s going to compliment Cardiff, not replace it. 9K is absolutely suffice.

Jack Millen stands out a mile over all others off & on track..........hard as nails on both.....underrated as a rider.........yet a great bloke taken to early, RIP crazy jack.

Just for fun, here's my current Top Ten of German speedway riders: 1 - Martin Smolinski 2 - Kevin Wölbert 3 - Kai Huckenbeck 4 - Erik Riss 5 - Max Dilger 6 - Michael Härtel 7 - Tobias Busch 8 - Mark Riss 9 - Lukas Fienhage 10 - Valentin Grobauer

in that case every big meeting should go there. A National Stadium should be holding a GP at least, though i realise the crowd would be a fraction of Cardiff it would be bigger than some other GPs. The quality would be 1st class of course.

You can still have 7 separate press pieces by having follow up stories about each rider That could help build a team identity and promote a growing sense of club identity

Unless costs come down across the board, speedway will struggle to survive as a professional sport. The fans can't afford what the promotors want and the promoters can't afford what the riders want. It's a vicious circle that has to end eventually.

excellent news that stoke have been handed the national league best pairs event this year. things are on the way up at stoke this year with a great team and a good track to race on. a big well done to dave tattum and the team and good luck for the new season.

I'd forgotten about Alan! Yep, born in New Zealand... Steve

Hi Magnus not sure. possibly not. Keep an eye on this thread- either me or someone else should post the sale date before the day.

Interesting read that Moxey. For various reasons I had fallen out of love with the sport from the early 90s, so although I knew that Belle Vue had won the league in 1993, I never realised the circumstances behind it. Still, the record books show that we won it! Thanks.

You're being over-kind.

When you look at the goings on at other clubs ( Berge at Somerset, Workington pulling out etc) it makes the current situation at Eastie seem even more admirable. An all British team certainty capable of the payoffs, management/promoters doing their utmost in obtaining secure sponsorship and backing, and making appointments that the fans want such as Kevin Coombes. Happy days for Eastie fans at the moment.

Blewett definitely, but I never considered Chris Julian "wild". Spectacular, yes, but that is different to "wild"! Steve

Colin Gooddy he was old school hard as nails also Tommy Roper he took no nonsense.

Clark Facey, Dave Grimley, Mac Woolford, Dave Patten, Bobo Valentine, Billy Wall. Martin Hitch, Melvin Soffe, Kevin Pope, Richard Evans, Martin Satchel, Brian Butterfield, Mathew Cross an endless crop of second halfers who give the supporters pleasure over the years.

Hey ho here i come Hitchey great value.

Good to hear that Barry is still around and still with his fine head of hair! Yes. The Roger in question is, of course, Bob, brother of Cyril and Bert. He only rode for New Cross for a short time in 1952&3. His two brothers rode for the Rangers for much longer.

Drip feeding riders is all about media, it’s about getting as much publicity as you can manage and drip feeding news and riders gets you a lot more coverage than releasing a team in one go.

Indeed, I was under the impression they dropped down to cut costs, with riders freely available already in the UK it’s a strange one.

Berge looked critical to Somerset’s season as someone who could genuinely significantly increase his average. He’d be bound to ride like a heat leader at the OTA. Compare that to Grobauer who the management hope will ride to his average and knows zero away tracks, it looks like a big step down for Rebels fans. Imo it goes from looking like a solid top 4 side to now having major question marks over the bottom end of the team.

Oh no, don't panic, he's definitely not another Henning Loof, who was a no hoper, even here in Germany. Grobauer is a pretty good speedway rider, much better rider than Loof. He's a useful second string for my local Bundesliga Club Landshut. I would rate Grobauer in the top 10 here in Germany. He has made steady progress in recent years, riding in Poland's second division last year. It will be interestuing how he adopts to British speedway. That's always unpredictable, as it is a complete change of livestyle. It may be a gamble for Somerset, but he could turn out to be a good signing. After all, the SGB Championship is not full of world beaters theses days. Grobauer may surprise a few over there. He deserves a fair chance.

Seven separate press releases yes, I get that, but there is no need to leave it this long. It just leads to the ridiculous PR about the team training for the season when they could only show one rider as only two had been named. Name two or three before Christmas then the others one a week after that. Once the team has been named that's the time to issue training PRs when all riders could be pictured surely. At least that makes sense to me.

What Laura has described is no different to any other club in the top 2 leagues it is the scale of it that brings Promoters to their knees. All of the northern clubs have over the years struggled to get Midlands and southern based riders to join them. Pre Facennas Glasgow was wholly reliant on "sponsorship" to get a decent rider there (Like Danny Bird), Edinburgh likewise and Berwick even bought/rented a house for the Czech contingent. Ironically it was Peterborough then in the top league and Newport in the PL that were to my knowledge the first teams to provide 7 riders with 7 vans all cutely signwritten. Fuel, tyres, insurance, mechanics and living allowances are not unusual at all but it is the Promoters who are armholes when they don't want to meet those demands and even worse when they close a club because of it!

Nothing Nowt Absolutely Nothing

Agree totally but it’s easy to invite calls when all teams are full and another 7 riders still looking for a team after the demise of Workington. I will be happy if we have 7 men standing at the end of April early season is usually carnage. Personally think most teams have a fairly long tail this year due to the points limit.

But leave a cherry too long and it goes mouldy. By the 3rd bite the taste isnt that attractive I can understand every few days over a period of time or even week by week til around Christmas Once a month from November and less than half the team announced by February though doesnt do it for me

I'm going to stick my neck on the line and go with the surprising choice of Jenga. I'm hoping I'm right and they improve enough to actually post something half decent for a change. Prove me right Jenga! As for riders, I think Jake Allen could be one of the leagues top riders by the end of the year!

Cub's admission prices now on the Lion's website. Season ticket holders can get in for £10.