StevePark

R.I.P Barry Simpson + Taken off Barry's Facebook page: I would just like to let all of Barry's friends know that Barry sadly passed away on Wednesday 17th February, peacefully in his sleep. Many of you will know that Barry was diagnosed with MND in March 2020, but now he is at peace from this cruel disease. Thank you to everyone for their kind words and support over the last year. Ali and family.

Interesting Tweet from Jason Crump:

I thought that was "protected" for Premiership meetings?

http://speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.38597

http://www.sheffield-speedway.com/news.php?extend.2937

So they could sign Ben Barker?

Newcastle have 7.

Danny Smith has signed as a Newcastle asset (copied and pasted from Facebook): Welcome Danny Smith! Hot on the heels of the signing of 16-year-old Archie Freeman on a full club contract comes another addition to the side's ever-growing youth portfolio by signing another recently-turned 16-year-old locally-born rider in Danny Smith! Like Freeman, Smith has been shifting the Brough Park shale during junior and second-half events for a good number of seasons, often battling well with Freeman as they both have developed a high degree of speedway skill side-by-side. Diamonds' team manager, Darren Hartley is full of enthusiasm for the signing, saying: "Danny was always on the cards to be signed into our set up once he turned 16, and he perfectly fits the bill of exceptional young talent, home grown in the North East, and as such is another local lad desperately keen to improve and go all the way to the top with the Gems and the Diamonds!" Dave Tattum, the club's co=promoter went on to add: "We're really pushing the club's youth development policy this season, like never before, and now with Danny fully signed and, on our books, the future is looking very rosy indeed." "Newcastle Gem's manager, Steve Pate was also thrilled at the signing, adding: "Both Archie, and now Danny, have been honing their skills on the 500cc engines over the last couple of seasons, and last year Danny too took part in pretty much the only full-scale 2020 competition to take place on UK tracks, the British Youth Championships, gaining vital experience with every round and will join Archie at first in the ranks of the Newcastle Gems NDL side, gaining more, and more experience with the aim of joining the full-time Diamonds in the Championship at some point in the future. We are really getting a bubbling youth scene going at Newcastle right now, and just at the right time for the lads and the club!"

Newcastle Speedway Facebook page (part of): Newcastle Speedway would like to wish all of our staff, riders, supporters and speedway fans everywhere a very happy new year. We are certain that a lot of us will be desperate to see the back of 2020 and we all can't wait to have a much better 2021! The tapes are waiting for us all and we can not wait to be back at Newcastle Stadium hopefully by April. Rob Grant would also like to let all supporters know who travel by car to our home meetings, that from next season, the car parking charge has been abolished, which is welcome news indeed. We also have some more VERY exciting announcements coming up in the new year, so make sure to listen out for those! In the meantime, all the best to all friends far and wide of Newcastle Diamonds!! Have a good one!

We are not talking about the current race night format, though, are we? We are talking about a regionalised "all one League."

Redcar would probably switch back to a Thursday.

Depends on where the riders live (obviously!!), they may not live local to their home track!!

There used to be a 'minimum' points limit. Does that still exist?

Copied and pasted off Facebook (Newcastle Speedway page): Company director Rob Grant has issued the following statement to update the Newcastle supporters of the road ahead. "When I took over Newcastle Speedway back in November 2019, I did not envisage all the complications that were to follow in 2020, these being on top of a global pandemic. I had taken over a club that had had no other active interested parties come forward, and at the time I genuinely felt that with a lot of hard work I could get Newcastle Speedway to become commercially viable. I have spent most of this year fighting for survival with uncertain stadium arrangements, in which I'm pleased to say that discussions have rectified that issue, and as everyone has read, also an HMRC VAT investigation from the previous 6 years before my takeover. This wasn't even an issue at the time of takeover as the investigation had only been brought to our attention a couple of months into the new regime. Thankfully, we had not even began trading due to the pandemic. The seriousness of the investigation and the financial sum that was suggested that NEWSPEED2003 Ltd owed was such a colossal amount that we had no choice but to seek professional help, with the conclusion being that the company I had taken over was now insolvent to the debt. As the company NEWSPEED2003 was placed into liquidation, all assets, equipment and monies belonging to the company were seized. This included all sponsorship investment and season ticket revenue. The newly formed company NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS Ltd, with myself as the sole director, had to re-purchase all the assets back for a second time, therfore meaning I was now back in control, but with an empty bank balance. At this point I like to thank my team at Grants Family and Catering Butchers as without this company's financial backing I would of certainly of had to walk away from Newcastle Speedway. This has led to where we are at present. The new management at Newcastle Speedway; myself, Dave Tattum, Darren Hartley, Tony Kearman and Rachel Robley are still as an enthusiastic as ever with some great visions for the future, including a possible move to a new location. I came into Newcastle speedway as I believed I could get the company to be commercially viable and I still believe this. I am not the type of person that invests finances at something just for the sake of it and I will not be following the example of some of the other management and promotion that throw countless amounts of money into it as if it's just a Friday or Saturday night toy. That is not me. I'm all for leading the way through commercial management and I will not place Newcastle Speedway in any financial danger, or my other companies for that matter, which are subsidising the speedway just to "keep up the Jones" sort of style. We at Newcastle are better then that. Considering the effects of the liquidation, we are not in the same financial position as other clubs. Thankfully, we are still in a comfortable enough position financially, but we are not comfortable enough to be playing fast and loose with the finances. The team is built on what income we have coming in, and a team of 7 that desperately have a passion and want for Newcastle, which in my opinion is the key ingredient to team morale and eventually team success. We at Newcastle are unfortunate that we don't, as yet, have a sponsored licence to employ overseas riders, but I can confirm that an application has been completed and sent off for acceptance. We are talking to a couple of riders for the final team spot, and I would ask that the supporters stay patient as we look at what options are available. We are fully aware we are in need of more top end power but due to a 11th hour takeover most of the other teams had completed their signings, and with most teams carrying the same line-ups over, we are making sure we find that right suitable candidate within budget and from very little resources left available. In conclusion, I would just like to thank everyone who has and still is supporting us through this year, which I for one will be glad to see the back off in a few weeks time! I look forward to seeing the much awaiting action next year. Newcastle, Covid permitting, are planning to open on bank holiday Easter Sunday with the 90th anniversary/new era individual. Finally, from myself and on behalf of my team, I wish you all the very best and a much needed enjoyable Christmas." Thank you, Rob Grant.

Adam Roynon replaces Ondrej Smetana:

Let's hope they don't use VAR then............

Copied and Pasted off Facebook: Newcastle Speedway Supporters Group It's been a year to the day since Rob Grant, put pen to paper and signed on the dotted line and successfully took over the reigns at Newcastle Speedway. Not many, if anybody, would have been able to predict the difficulties the year ahead would hold in store for Rob and his team. Under his first year as Newcastle promoter Rob has had to deal with and rectify some pretty serious financial issues, that could have seen Newcastle Diamonds lost forever. He's also had to make sure we have a stadium to still call home next year, whilst also dealing with a global pandemic that hasn't just affected his new speedway business but also his very successful Butchers and catering business as well, and whilst all of this has been going on, Rob hasn't even managed to get a wheel turned under his new management, which very well may be the very harsh salt in to the even bigger wounds. Now all of this may have been enough to make some people to walk away from the role, but not Rob. If anything, it has made him even more determined to make sure that when we do eventually get the green light on British Speedway again, that 2021 is going to be a season to remember! He has assured the Supporters Group during a conversation today, that he is "raring more than ever to get going" and get the "new era at Newcastle Speedway firmly underway". That enthusiasm that he so keenly demonstrated at the beginning of his takeover is obviously still very much alive and he promises to "put all his blood, sweat and tears in to making sure Newcastle Diamonds Speedway once again shines brightly in the forefront of people's minds". He would also like to sincerely thank everyone that has stood by him during these very testing times and he is extremely grateful for the support he has, and is continuing, to receive. We here at the Supporters group are firmly behind Rob and we can't wait to get the 2021 season going under a new promotion who has nothing but Newcastle Speedway's best interests at the forefront of his mind. There are some very truly exciting times ahead Diamonds Fans and we will see you all trackside very very soon!!

TBF he had the occasional decent meeting for the Diamonds (9pts on the Isle of Wight , for instance) , but they were outweighed by the poor meetings in the end. Witheld his services in September 2006 and was banned for the rest of the season. Not helped by his mechanic getting in touch with the local paper 'The Journal,' who, for some bizarre reason, put his part of the story on to the back of a report of the match at Rye House (which Newcastle lost 69-21), making it look like I had put it on to the end of my report of the match!

Nope. Went into the first corner in his first ride - fell off - never rode for Berwick again.

An ex-Newcastle rider (who shall remain nameless), used to get in for free at Newcastle, but spoilt it at first by bringing his wife and kids, but then the kids would bring their mates and their mates' family too. It got totally stupid and was soon put a stop to. A member of the WSRA can get in to all tracks for free. But I know members of that, that aren't ex-riders!

Copied and pasted from Newcastle Speedway Facebook page: We are very saddened to learn of the passing of Ken Marshall this morning. Ken was always a fabulous supporter of Newcastle through the years and always did all he could to help the youngsters progress through the ranks. Everyone at Newcastle Speedway sends their condolences to all of Ken's family and friends at this very sad time.

Copied and pasted off Facebook: Nick Skorja joins Landshut Newcastle have found themselves having to make a team change for the 2021 season having initially hoped to run with their shelved 2020 septet, however they must now move forward without the Slovenian star Nick Skorja. "Everyone at Newcastle Speedway would like to wish Nick Skorja all the very best," said Diamonds' boss, Rob Grant, "He is taking up a new opportunity with German team Landshut, however Landshut compete in the Polish leagues, which share Newcastle's race day, Sunday, making it an impossibility for Nick to compete in the Diamonds' squad in 2021. All the Newcastle management, whilst hoping he has a great season in Poland next year, are staying hopeful that Nick will return to UK, and racing for Newcastle in the future." With Skorja moving on to pastures new, Newcastle's behind-the-scenes team are now looking at what options are available and have added: "We are currently looking at what options we have available and have spoken to a couple of riders already, both of whom are based in the UK and from the EU. As soon as we know which direction we are taking. we will act appropriately and quickly, and in due course will reveal the decision to the fans as soon as we can."

But, no crowds allowed at any 1st round proper match.....

Line-up: