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A rule that Matt Ford would have used himself if in a similar situation as he was an expert at manipulating rules if it gave his team an advantage.

Interesting topic having just read all the posts about getting kids, teenagers and families to attend. I often think this is a problem at most Speedway clubs in that so much focus is placed on trying to get new fans through, when actually they would be far better placed to try and get previous fans back who have decided to stop attending. That is of course easier said than done, but you are at least then preaching to the converted (or at least they were at one point) instead of a complete newbie who has no idea what is going on with no connection to the team or sport. When I first went to speedway in 2000 it was billed as a “family sport” and a night out for a the family. I think that’s absolute garbage. It should be billed as an extreme sport. 4 guys racing flat out with no brakes is about as extreme as it gets and that’s the selling point I think.

Or wait 30 years and post a question in the Years Gone By section.

IIRC in the 2010 season every team had a number 8 they could declare at any time for a meeting in place of any rider. Coventry's was Aaron Summers and I suspect they used this RULE to make sure Pawlicki didn't ride enough meetings to move up before the Play Offs. A masterstroke to be fair, but a rule not thought out properly at the same time (who knew?!)

Track is a lot better. The track staff have done a lot of work to improve it and should have credit for doing so.

When the date was offered it didn't have to be accepted. Also with the sudden change would suggest that all riders and teams know the provisional fixture list which wouldn't of been available at the time of setting the original date. Just another excuse to blame Rob for something

Only Poole fans would talk about making changes before the team is even announced or a wheel has turned.

A World Final at Exeter? Can you imagine? A dear old place which I hold in great affection, but I'm glad the World Final never declined to the point it was at the County Ground Despite being a big Mort fan, I have to reluctantly agree with this. He could not get out of the gate consistently enough. The whole of the 1983 World Final is on YouTube....every race. On paper, it was quite an open field - until Muller wheeled his jet engine into the pits and had direction over track conditions, but I digress - and I would have Mort in the 8 or so riders good enough to win it that day. At the interval, he was doing pretty well on 6 points. But 4 of those were earned from the back. You just can't win World Finals earning 2/3 of your points that way. No one can....and he tailed off after the interval. Even had a World Final been held at Hyde Road, I still doubt it. It was great when he won the BLRC, but things out of his control helped him that day too. And if it had been a World Final at Belle Vue, with every rider peaking with the best machinery geared up to that day, all having prepared in practice, then I think his odds lengthen. Brilliant rider of course - as I am sure Nigel Boocock was - but there is a difference between being brilliant and being the best.

We know the team, concerned about Ablitt, don't think he will last the season so expect mid season changes, my opinion is that Lawson should not be in the team and we should have gone for more strength in depth.

However that is not a rational approach, as because of the destrengthening of the NDL all other averages will have been inflated so a 7pt 2018 average is more equivalent to an 8pt current GSA.

In my view Glasgow are the best team that has been announced, I think Poole will need mid season changes to challenge but then according to some its a second rate competition that is not worth winning anyway.

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Nah, park vans outside the zone, then ride the bike in.

You obviously haven't been to Poole in ages, the trackman does a brilliant job, as vouched by the riders

...or indeed Newport!

I think you’ll find arnieg is correct. As at 31 December 2020, the company had £1,000 of share capital and £633,975 of accumulated losses leaving it with a net deficit of £632,975. This was made up of business assets totalling £185,144 and total liabilities, most of which will be monies owed to the owners, of £818,119. The business lost approximately £271k in 2017, £153k in 2018, £94k in 2019 and £115k in 2020. As the club only ran a handful of meetings in 2020, my assumption is that it is fixed overheads that are causing the huge losses rather than day to day running of meetings

Since you ask...... Yes, Leon Flint has the better CMA, he is on 3.63, Drew Kemp is only 3.36

Don't think that's accurate. Leon is the RS and believe has the higher average of the 2... Where crescent girl lol

Spelling and grammar police are out in force in this thread, desperation comes to mind.

I agree with that, have to see how it goes, nothing against Lawson personally just feel we would be better with at least one strong reserve.

Based on averages the weakest reserves in the league and looking around reserves seen much stronger this season IMO. Kemp wasn't able to average 4 last season and at ashfield was absolutely awful, worse than Willie Lawson was before he replaced him! Have a feeling Lawson and A N Other may go by end of may for a stronger bottom end. Mostly cause get impression most Poole fans not too happy about having Richard, couple bad meetings feels like will be on his case

You would hope he would be, if not back to the new promotion at Eastbourne in 2023 I would hope.

Poole fans need to get involved with any "Local Plan" . The stadium needs to be (& seen as) a benefit to the community not just speedway once a week 8 months of the year. Its current use as a car park is probably seen as its biggest asset locally. There must be 20 different things that could operate & benefit the community from the stadium. I'm sure this will be the only way speedway @ Poole & in the U.K. will survive long term.

I can’t remember for certain, but didn’t Hopwood ride for Plymouth after IOW in 2018? His IOW ending average was 7.16 but 7.37 at Plymouth.

Hopefully Halder can have a run without injury. He looked a good prospect as a tiny 15 year old!

Only know Joe, and I'm glad he's giving it another go.

Let's see who's laughing come October

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As someone who used to buy and read programmes at all meetings I attended my pet hate was a rain off issue that had no connection with my team being sold for full price with an insert. No one likes it and programme collectors hate it. In the current climate surely it’s better to save it for when the original team returns and just offer this with an up to date insert, at the very least it’s of interest to both sets of fans. Bearing in mind 75% of a programme is Owners, Promoters, Team Managers and Team Captains welcoming the visiting Owners, Promoters, Team Managers and Team and thanking Sponsors and pages upon pages of adverts it’s a wonder anyone still buys it. I am aware that all copies of programmes go to the BSPL to ensure no one says something out of line and risk a fine but this practice has over time made a lot of programmes bland and uninspiring unfortunately. Since 2014 I have used an iPad spreadsheet (I produced myself) to follow matches although I still glance through the programme I get with my ST. I no longer buy programmes at away venues and haven’t for years, although I might look at an Eastbourne copy to see why it won programme of the year in the recent star awards.

I assume they will still have had significant overheads during that year, such as promoters wages, stadium rental, rate contributions etc (this is pure guesswork, as I have no knowledge of Belle Vue's agreement with its promoters or landlords). So those losses could be speedway losses.

Can we have Chris in stead of Ray please?

We all know that, he has been told that before but just keeps saying the same old anti Poole stuff he has said for years.

I mentioned Kenny Carter and Hyde Rd? And Shawn Moran and Ipswich

Don't have to justify yourself People will spend money on what they see VFM. Down to the promoters/owners to provide that imo. Before last season I hadn't bought a programme for 5/6 years, prob even longer tbh!

You just can't help yourself, your as bad as he is

I agree the racing part is but other than that presentation is anything but!! Imagine a group a teenagers at the end of a race watching people religiously filling out a programme asking of the time was 58.8 or 58.9, they wouldnt be fooled back

LOL. If someone is telling you that a speedway club has lost over £1.1 million in two years, they're pulling your plonker. And if they had, I don't think they'd be telling every keyboard fan. I'd suggest the only people with sight of the club p&L account are the two owners and their accountants. So unless your insider info has come from them, I think you've been had.

I'm sure that's what people like about you on here, the pleasant way you come across I've got a suggestion to increase income, get rid of the out of date programme which is overpriced and in many cases poor and provide something on a digital platform and/or a phone app which is much more accessible and get with the times. Done properly and everyone could be a winner.

Any other suggestions for reducing your club's income?

I understand what you are saying, and agree with you, so you have made the point without me rewriting it. My reason for not understanding is due to a brain disease, and yes I accept many younger people also suffer the same sort of health issue, so it's not an age thing.

That was net liabilities not losses. A totally different thing.

It does make me laugh when some cov fans come on here moaning about Poole fans and the club and cheating, think they should think back to when a certain polish rider missed a meeting so he could stay at reserve for the play offs. With the club stating he was injured the FACT WAS HE WASN'T so who was cheating then?.