Noodles

TREVOR SWALES has done almost every job possible during a long association with Peterborough - now he tells MARK PLUMMER about his biggest-ever task . . . Peterborough Panthers is more than just a speedway club to Trevor Swales. Its been a huge part of his life four more than forty years. Swales has probably spent as much time at the East of England Showground over the years as he has done in the marital home. Just as well then that most of the family share his passion for racing and have been at Alwalton alongside him. His father, his wife, two of his sons, his brother, his sister-in-law and his niece have also been involved at a club currently which has been a permanent fixture in the sport since 1970. I was thinking the other day and flag marshal is just about the only job I could come up with that I havent done at one point or another, said Swales. I was first involved as a rider in the clubs second season in 1971 and have done so many things since. Ive been on the gate, Ive been in the bar, Ive done the track, Ive ridden, Ive managed the team and Im currently a promoter. But I would never have been able to justify putting in the sort of hours that Ive done were it not for the family also loving speedway and being involved. After dabbling as a rider in the early days before moving onto moto-cross, Swales returned as a sponsor and official in the 1980s even purchasing a rider for the club. I bought Wayne Bridgeford from Rye House, added Swales. He came in as a number eight for us in one meeting and won both his rides. Rye House were playing hard-ball at the time so I decided I would buy him. Im not going to say what it cost me, but it was a not insignificant sum. In the 1990s he continued to fill a variety of roles off-track before departing at the end of the Peter Oakes promotion. He returned early in the current century and became team manager ahead of the 2004 campaign an appointment made by currently outgoing supremo Mick Horton. It was a reign which featured an unforgettable Elite League title triumph and continued until the arrival of former World Cup-winning boss Jan Staechmann in 2012. Swales settled into a supporting role with the former Danish chief and his replacement, club legend Ryan Sullivan, while becoming a co-promoter a role he still occupies today at the end of a difficult campaign back at Premier League level for the first time since Panthers dominated the second tier in 1998. There have been some great times down there years, continued Swales. The racing at Peterborough is always second to none and I'll never forget the successes down the years. "Ive had offers to go to other clubs, but Ive never even really considered them. Peterborough always has been my club and always will be even when times are tough. Theres no denying that it has been tough lately. I described the current season as the most trying of my time at Peterborough in an interview the other day. Nothing went right for us on or off the track. We had injury problems that ripped our team apart and, combined with the other issues, probably stopped us winning trophies. It would have been brilliant to end the season on a high by winning the League Cup, but Edinburgh are an awfully strong team and we were relying on guests. Now Swales is taking on arguably his biggest challenge yet as he plots Peterboroughs survival. Swales has joined forces with Ged Rathbone (the mechanic of skipper Ulrich Ostergaard and a man who joined the clubs management team during this year) to front a rescue package for the club after current supremo Mick Horton pulled out halfway through a two-year leasehold deal. Swales and Rathbone, a businessman in the North-East, are currently finalising the date and details of a major fans event expected to be staged before the end of the month as they explore all avenues in a bid to ensure Panthers race on into a 45th year. Swales admitted: The problems Mick has encountered this year have been well documented. People shouldn't be too critical as he stepped in last winter to keep speedway going in Peterborough and it has clearly cost him a lot of money to do so. Mick has made it clear he wont be around next year, but we need to everything we possibly can to ensure the club is still around. We cant change the past, but we can influence the future and myself and Ged have some ideas. "If successful we will avoid racing on Tuesday nights like the plague as they just havent taken off. We need to look at running on weekend dates Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays to make ourselves as accessible as possible to families. But we will need as much backing and expertise as possible to help us. Weve already had some promises of financial backing through sponsorship and we will need plenty more as we are well aware the club cannot operate on admission money alone. Commercial revenue is vital and I would urge anyone who is in a position to help us in any way to get along to our big fans event once weve got the date finalised. It is going to be a huge night in the history of the club. Source http://speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.27599

Panthers Fans Forum: Plans for a rescue package Trevor Swales is heartened by the response to his plans to put together a rescue package for Peterborough Panthers. The long-serving co-promoter is ready to join forces with North-East businessman Ged Rathbone - the mechanic of skipper Ulrich Ostergaard who joined the clubs management team during the summer in a bid to keep Panthers racing in 2015. They are close to finalising a date for a major fans forum (likely to be at the East of England Showground towards the end of October) at which they will discuss plans for the future and seek financial support. And Swales revealed donations have already been pledged. He said: Myself and Ged are working hard to get the date sorted for the fans event. It will be a huge night in the history of the club. We need everyone who wants to see the club continue to be there. A poor turnout and it could be curtains, but we hope we dont find ourselves in that position. The response to what were trying to do is already pleasing. Weve had a couple of financial pledges and that is very encouraging. But there is obviously lots of work still to do and we want to hear from anyone who feels they can assist us in any way. Swales is not aware of any other parties currently interested in taking over at Panthers who have raced every year since their inception in 1970. He can be contacted on 07920 824092. Source http://m.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/speedway/speedway-news/panthers-fans-forum-plans-for-a-rescue-package-1-6359794

But if he was not involved himself then it stops becoming a hobby. He has already said he is too busy to run it. I enjoy fishing but I wouldn't buy all the equipment and pay someone else to do it for me because I was too busy. Where's the enjoyment in that for me? None.

Where's the attraction in that for Frost? Have an expensive toy and employ someone else to play with it for you?

Torun confirmed 3rd October 2015.

Speedway: The future of speedway in Peterborough is in serious doubt again. Current Panthers supremo Mick Horton has told the Peterborough Telegraph he will not return for the 2015 season. City businessman Horton has decided to pull out of a two-year leasehold agreement with club owners Rick Frost and Julie Mahoney after just one season of Premier League racing. Horton has told the Peterborough Telegraph that losses spiralling to as much as £60,000 have forced his hand with crowds falling some way short of the levels anticipated. And he says a Premier League Cup final first leg showdown against treble-cashing Edinburgh at the East of England Showground on Sunday (2pm) may be the final chapter in a city speedway story stretching back to 1970. There are two massive reasons for people to turn out in force on Sunday, said Horton. There is the chance to see us race in a cup final in what could potentially be the clubs last-ever meeting at the Showground. And that is not just me scaremongering. It is 100 per cent certain that I will not be in charge next year through circumstance rather than choice. Our operating losses this year are somewhere in the region of £60,000. I didnt come back into Peterborough to make money and I could have lived with spending a bit, but not this sort of money. I was let down by potential investors before the season even started and the move to a regular Tuesday race-night did not work out at all. The fans have not turned out in the way I hoped they would. We needed our crowds to average around the 800-mark, but they have been closer to 500. The product is great. The racing has been terrific but the club needs the backing of sponsors and supporters. Im not making excuses and I dont want people to feel sorry for me. But the buck stops with me. All I hope is that someone will step in to keep speedway going. Horton acknowledges that money is owed to riders for September meetings and stresses every penny will be paid. He also experienced tough financial times during his last spell at the Panthers helm between 2003 and 2005 at Elite League level. But he insists he has no regrets about returning for a second stint when the clubs future was up in the air last winter. He added: I let my heart rule my head when stepping in to keep speedway going in Peterborough. I dont have any regrets about doing that, but it is no secret Ive become a bit disillusioned with the way things have gone. I did not realise the situation would be this bad. A lot of people down the years have found out that Peterborough loses money year-on-year. Hopefully Rick and Julie will get back involved as the club needs them. They can provide the financial support. Peterborough Panthers co-owner Julie Mahoney hopes the city club can race on. Panthers future is again up in the air after current supremo Mick Horton announced he is walking away from the club at the end of this season. Horton has quit halfway through a two-year leasehold agreement struck last winter with Mahoney and fellow owner Rick Frost. Mahoney and Frost are not in a position to take on hands-on running of the club again, but they are keen for it to survive if buyers can be found. Mahoney said: Mick has not formally told us that he will not be continuing, but we are aware of the press reports today and he hasnt honoured the terms of the lease that were agreed last winter The club will definitely be available and myself and Rick will happily to speak to any interested parties. I must admit though it is doubtful we would consider another leasehold arrangement given our experiences this year. Were not in a position to run the club ourselves as we simply dont have the time due to our business commitments, but it goes without saying we would like it to continue after investing a lot of money and time at Peterborough over the years. Frost and Mahoney rescued Panthers from the brink of financial oblivion in the summer of 2008. They remained at the helm until taking the decision to resign the clubs place in the Elite League at the sports annual meeting last November. Horton stepped in to front a consortium which ensured that racing in the city would continue, but he claims to have been let down by potential investors before suffering financially. He told todays issue of the Peterborough Telegraph that he has lost around £60,000 during the 2014 campaign - the clubs first at Premier League level since 1998. It will be completed with an appearance in the Premier League Cup Final over the next few days. They host Edinburgh in the first at the East of England Showground on Sunday (2pm) a meeting Horton has billed as potentially the clubs last-ever at home ahead of a return clash in Scotland next Friday (October 10). Source Peterborough Telegraph BBC Cambs Sport tweeted: Owner Rick Frost says Peterborough Panthers won't compete in the Premier League next year unless he is able to sell the club. #panthers

Odd, only a week after Tampere?

Err remind me, when did SKY show the Swedish league?

Is Warsaw a definite next year then?

Yes, no, well sort of. We have an update which has no news. After weeks of silence apparently it is now important to update us on the no news.

North didn't want to ride at the beginning of the season when asked and still didn't want to ride when asked again a few weeks ago. I heard that some riders were getting paid straight from the gate receipts but not entirely sure it's correct to be honest.

I wouldn't fail a drugs test but yes I would be sacked from my job, and so I should. Didn't Ronnie Correy fail a breathalyser before the Fours once?

He wasn't interested

Because of the drug allegations?

And there in lies the problem with Peterborough now spreading their home matches over Sunday and Tuesdays

6.30 I think, exactly the same as Lewis.

Good grief. Horton is trying to attract new fans in not drive the last few away.

I was thinking Richard Hall?

I sont worry - you are top 4 wasn't the best sunday either.

Nope Bjerre is now number 1, rider replacement is now elsewhere in the team but I get your point though.

It's one change not two, apparently.

The Peterborough 'Patched Up' Panthers quest to win nothing this season moves on to Scunthorpe this Friday when we rock up without the suggested replacement for Fisher, and Ulrich is racing in Denmark. Anyone know the record for matches raced without a full 1-7 in a season?

Looks narrow coming into the home straight off turn 4. Looks like the fence comes in before going out again turn 1?

Where is everyone? Is there a ladies basketball match on tonight?

Lewis Blackbird is thankfully fit enough to ride for Peterborough tomorrow.