Leaderboard

I am truly devastated at the loss of Steve. He was my friend and travelling companion on several memorable domestic and overseas trips. He had no side to him but was a straightforward gentle gentleman. He worked tirelessly to get Peter Collins to come back to Belle Vue - and don’t believe PC’s propaganda, he was told he would always be welcomed at the NSS as would any ex-Belle Vue rider. What wasn’t on offer though was his demand, not request, that nearly 200 of his cronies, some who’d had no involvement with speedway let alone Belle Vue, also got in free. Steve tried many times to talk sense into PC, including going round to his house, but PC would not change his mind, possibly because he’d backed himself into a corner. Steve was never one for taking offence and went to the Glossop signing of PC’s book. Having paid his £20, PC scrawled in his copy “Steve, I will never forgive you for what you have done to me and my family. I will never go to BV if you are there.” Steve shared a photo of the inscription but then said to me that he’d enjoyed reading the book. That is the sort of man that Steve was and I hope that, although Steve will never be at BV again, neither will PC as he’ll be barred. I am not alone in knowing that I will never forgive PC for what he wrote. Many men become world speedway champion, there’s one every year, but there will only ever be one Steve Casey. I knew Steve’s cancer would take him sooner rather than later but am still stunned that we have lost him. The world is a much sadder place today.

Firstly to say that we at Retro Speedway are naturally sincerely saddened by the news of Steve's death. In my experience he was a very amiable, decent bloke. He was clearly devoted to Belle Vue, had a keen sense of Aces' history, and was a natural enthusiast for speedway as a whole. With respect, Gordon, and I fully appreciate you are feeling very sad and upset right now, the acknowledgement you hoped for WAS addressed by Retro Speedway - PRIVATELY - with Steve direct. An online forum is not the best way to handle such personal matters. I believe Steve thought so too. Possibly unknown to you, Susie and I both communicated personally with Steve, separately, over the book signing matter. Understanding the possible upset caused, we offered to try and resolve things to his satisfaction. He appreciated our sympathetic words. As you rightly point out on the other thread, Steve did read the book and said he enjoyed it. In fact, on Nov 23 he sent me an unsolicited text saying: "Hiya Tony...just finished the PC book and really enjoyed it...was a great read with some fabulous memories and insights (accompanied by four 'thumbs up' emojis)." I obviously thanked him for his kind comments. Earlier this month, he phoned me to say how grateful he was to unexpectedly receive our new DVD, Defunct British Speedway Tracks 2, which we sent him as a goodwill gesture, to hopefully lift his spirits after another spell in hospital, and because he actually features on it in the BV Kirky Kane segment. I hope this serves as the public 'acknowledgement' you expected and that those reading these posts gather a true picture of Retro Speedway's part. RIP, Steve.

I have kept quiet on this for a very long time in the hope that there would at least be an acknowledgement of the wrong that occurred that night. For those that want more, please see my comments on the thread entitled Steve Casey RIP

Those other sports usually have options. However, the British Basketball League is actually owned by the owners of the London team, so you absolutely see it in other sports.

I thought she did a grand job when I went to see Sheffield there. Could be 3 years of experience to where she's improved, but I found her level of interaction and talking to the fans to be spot on, which is better than 80% of announcers who absolutely love the sound of their own voice.

Sadly, it was announced tonight that Steve Casey has passed away after a battle with cancer. A wonderful man, a wonderful speedway FAN. After his riding career ended after spells at Ellesmere Port and Newport he returned to his spiritual home at Belle Vue where he performed a superb job as a presentation manager. I was proud to know him when he worked with Allied Dunbar (along with Chris Morton) in the 90s, and used to love our chats at the NSS every meeting in recent years. He always had time for people, and there's no greater compliment that I can give him. It's a lovely coincidence that he passed away as his team are finally the champions again. RIP Steve. A speedway legend who will be missed by many. Thoughts are with his family and friends.

It amazes me how much stick Gerry and Peter get. In my experience, pretty straightforward, people-focused, invested in the community, great at business. They seem very private but that’s all.

So after all the faffing and delay it's not even the club that let's the cat out of the bag!

Interesting snippet in the Redcar section of the Speedway Star. Interview with Danyon Hume about his move there. Buried in amongst that.. ”Hume is hopeful of returning to Ipswich to double up in the Premiership, and feels the stars are aligning nicely in his attempt to continue climbing the Speedway ladder” No direct quotes from Danyon himself but that was obviously relayed to the interviewer off record. Thought that was interesting.. New boy Keynan Rew is the front cover headliner this week as well, with a two page interview inside. . Well worth picking up. Fully fit sometime in February and will be raring to go in time for press and practice.

Its a winning team most want ..

Not a ringer - a legal replacement for an injured rider. Certainly more credible than a guest. Unless you know otherwise?

Thanks Steve. Great photo of SKC and Jackie

318 - it has to pay for him home and away

Why thank you

Well,, how do ya do that then

Thanks Tony. And I appreciated then and am happy now to acknowledge your gestures. You were, of course, as much an innocent party to what happened as was Steve but I did and do believe that what happened needed to be made public. The one man who should have apologised has remained silent. As I have said elsewhere, PC’s behaviour was unforgivable and I am not alone being shocked and disgusted by it. I know he’s got a huge chip on his shoulder about the NSS, but you don’t take your bile out on one of the guys who has worked flat out to achieve a reconciliation.

Not a great looking side imo

He's expensive .....and take him away from B.V isnt that good...

I wouldn't shift Worrall out personally, I'm all for Worrall signing as I think it's a shrewd move tbh. Only Prem track Richie is rubbish on is Belle Vue imo other than the NSS he's pretty reliable everywhere else and he rarely let's his team down imo.

Its ok....but not that good if thats the team ..needed a big signing like N.P to draw the crowd's in ...

And less conspiracy theorists

Will the deal just be for one season if Glasgow don't win the Championship? Asking for a friend.........

It’s just you, I think.

The Oxford Channel was a free-to-air terrestrial channel, later rebranded SixTV. It was an analogue channel though, so went the way of the Dodo after the digital switchover.

Great news! We need more Facennas in speedway.

188 different tracks in total covering 31 countries which is every country in the world that has staged a meeting within the past 5 or so years.

And with most guesses "it's good , but it's not right"

This is hilarious. You expect the paranoia from the other end of the M8 , but the affliction goes much further than there . Speedway fan - wish the league had a sponsor Speedway God- it has now Speedway Fan - yeah but its a Glasgow promoters company , surely that's a conflict of interests Speedway God - how ? Speedway fan - i dont know it just is . Thats them trying to buy the league again Speedway God - how ? Speedway fan - ( getting more worked up ) I dont know it just is . It seems well dodgy though . Speedway God - in what way ? Speedway fan ( reaching for the valium) i dont know it just is . So there you have it , the league and the sport badly needs sponsors , but only.if it's the right kind of sponsor . If Vladimir Putin owned Cab Taxis , nobody on here would bat an eyelid . But anything to do with splash the cash Glasgow and its , " oh no no no we cant have that "

Sorry Tony, I can't buy that. Unless we have the exact number and names between Wee Eck's 180 and your "tiny handful" it's pure conjecture. I also can't go with the notion of riders "putting their neck on the line". I have admiration for anyone who gets their head above the parapet and goes for it in life, particularly if that is something dangerous like speedway or stepping into the boxing ring. But let's not pretend they are risking their lives for some greater noble cause and sacrifice. These are not volunteers marching off to war. They are sports people in it primarily for selfish reasons, personal glory and remuneration. Without those, they wouldn't be doing it. In PC's case, often very well remunerated, squeezing out as much as he could get from BV in his latter seasons. And fair play to him too...it's a short and dangerous career. What makes me uncomfortable about this book is that it is a one sided take from someone who has had a brain injury. This has had an effect and as such, his interpretations are questionable at least. And, to be really, really honest, it's only been published because there is a few quid in it. We can't take it as some sort of historical document without the views of all other parties involved be they past and current BV management. You can't have your cake and eat it. I was a big fan of PC and I've enjoyed lots of your output over the years. But let's say this as it is.

King's Lynn's hopes of a top 4 spot increased as soon as it was decided their final match wouldn't count for the averages, leaving Jakobsen on his 5.04 starting ave!

Oxford vs Swindon (Doyle & hopefully with most of our 2019 side) what a start to the season, will be coming up to watch this one, reckon quite a few Swindon fans will do tbh! Sell out for a friendly, good cash injection to start the season with!

Calling yourself a snowflake is very apt.

Hopefully there will be soon. Is this winter going to have a record on how late to finalise a team?! Even Peterborough will announce their final team before Plymouth and Brum at this rate!

Surely if u had signed Nicki ud want to tell everyone ....and it seems Tomalin has his 1. 7 sorted ....

Spot on ...and 3.5k is cheap compared to some ....

Connor Coles & Jamie Halder complete the Bullets

It could be that it was I who started this hare ... I saw in the Speedway Star that Gino wanted to come over here and had a low average, and so suggested it on this forum. This speculation/wild guess seems to have taken on a life of its own! If it was really Manzares, he would have been signed by now?

Wasn't Gino always plan A? Are they waiting for the USA v ROW meeting next week to announce him live on the BSN broadcast?

The real blame lies with Buster, Carl and Dale if / when the inevitable let down happens. All three of them are experienced enough to a point where they should be having a word with Tomalin and advising him to hold back on making public statements we wont be able to back up on track as well as setting out goals that aren't achievable or realistic. Instead they've basically just stood around watching the new promoter dig himself a hole from the get go tbh if the last one is Hans Andersen. Where's Buster this winter? He's been as quiet as a mouse.

Hans Andersen should be nowhere near the team. If we line up it's quite frankly pathetic and weaker than last season. NKI Andersen Basso Worrall Holder Cook Jenkins

Hayley Bromley is the centre green announcer at NSS usually. if that is who you mean, she also writes a column in the programme. She's far better than Porkie from Monmore and the guy at EoESg. I don't mind the guy that does it at Owlerton & Perry Barr as much as those two, but she's more knowledgeable than him IMO.

Huge gamble who seems to have let his teams down badly in recent years. Only ever seems a match away from another ban. Big name on paper would be good for the league however along with KK another that takes the wee wee out of British soeedway.

Any money going into the sport is more than welcome. How many times have many of us have said that we need sponsorship for the Leagues. As for conflict of interests is there not other conflicts of interest. Sheffield (My club) and Leicester having the same owners. Kings Lynn and Peterborough having the same owners. Sheffield and Ipswich both sponsored by Guy Nicholls companies. For me it is good news.

It's much less of a conflict than having the same people owning more than one speedway club in competition with each other. So the Facennas choose to invest in Speedway in the UK and all they get is S##t from people. I guarantee they've put more ££ in than they've got out of it.

The rules are written in pencil…..very lightly !

Did you work at, say, a theatre? Sure they'd just let you in free whenever you wanted even if you just did a 2 month stint. Come on, I know some people keep anyone who ever rode a speedway bike on an untouchable pedestal but, from a financial perspective, this is ridiculous.

Why would a business allow its former (self employed) workers to use its facilities for free, especially in the current climate. Honestly the naivety of some people staggers me, the riders of yesteryear (other than, at most, a handful of legends) got paid and aren't owed anything.

Dear me. Where to start? First of all, Tony Mole didn’t sell out to David Gordon and Chris Morton. David and Chris walked away from the deal on offer, the same as I had walked away some months earlier. I then made the approach to David and Chris about putting together a consortium. Similar but different. And on the financial involvement, I repeat that George had no financial involvement in the promotion. His individual sponsorship was hugely important, but went directly to riders. Last year, I financially supported various riders, events and organisations, including speedway promotions but would never claim I had a financial involvement with any of them. The differentiation is important as I never sought nor was asked for my input to the running of the businesses, and have little or no insight into their day to day operations.

In truth, PC has no knowledge of that. He wasn’t part of the consortium and, despite his recollection, his views on the NSS were never sought nor offered. My understanding is that his only involvement has been his well documented reaction to being refused life time passes for nearly 200 friends, helpers and employees, very few of whom had ever had anything to with Belle Vue.