topsoil

With the three riders in question it had better be a decent sized van!

Does it make a difference? One tour Edinburgh Friday, Berwick Saturday, Newcastle Sunday, the next tour Redcar Thursday, Glasgow Friday, Workington Saturday for example.

I can see the argument from the Edinburgh perspective, they maybe wouldn't want competition from a rival so close to them, but I can't see how other promotions could have a say when other tracks not close to them ride. Was this down to rider availability?

Anybody young like this could do worse than to take a look at Tai Woffinden. He had a spell where he did daft things. I don't know who was the catalyst behind his focus and attitude towards the sport, but look at the dividends. Get yourself an experienced mentor like Peter Adams? Of course these riders have a long way to go, how far can they go, who knows? But don't put any pressure on these boys, let them progress at their own pace, hopefully they will get good support and advice. But I have been so impressed with Tai over the past three seasons. A perfect example for any young rider to follow. P.S. was very impressed with Jack Parkinson-Blackburn at Berwick for the under 19 championship. Never seen the other riders in the flesh yet.

I'm sure somebody a lot wiser about these things than me could come up with a lot more ideas like the one I mentioned. I am just copying what I have heard / seen other sports clubs doing. That's why I would like to see a marketing position filled. Again, if you shopped around, for example in Berwick's case, used a small, local firm, or a young enthusiast looking to break into the business (copying a suggestion from Speedway Star) you could get them relatively cheap.

I certainly agree with you on one point, that the sport in general and in the Berwick area needs far better marketing, but I don't think it need cost a lot. I'm no expert in this field, but here's an example. Radio advertising is expensive, but what if you were to run a competition in conjunction with the radio station. Perhaps give away a pair of tickets each day for a week. The DJ asks a question each day, people ring in with the answer. Effectively you are getting air time for the cost of a pair of tickets. A hell of a lot cheaper than an actual advert. A lot of money can be saved by bartering as well.

Haha, was waiting for that figure to be lazily trotted out. That money was to buy the land (a shrewd investment as land prices never go down) and to re-develop the stadium and install floodlights (which will last a long time). Nothing to do with the money spent on promoting, meeting presentation and providing entertainment, which, as stated in the Speedway Star a couple of weeks ago, is already reaping dividends as they are reaching break even point.

Or maybe it needs more accountant type views, because as things stand, too many clubs are spending over their income. You either find a way to bring in more income, or cut your costs to what you can afford. And unless clubs are willing to go out and promote the sport, I find it difficult to see how they are going to generate sufficient income to cover the costs. The sport as a whole needs to look at ways of cutting costs. Find ways to reduce mechanical costs, find ways to use local riders to cut down on travel costs, then that money saved can be spent promoting the sport at club and national level to attract sponsors and fans. The current promotion may not entertain the National League as a potential option, but anybody taking it over might. It would be an easier starting point, if costs are reduced, then admission prices could be reduced as well. Would that attract new fans? Personally I hope that Berwick stays at the same level if they run next year, but I would understand totally any new promotion wishing to take a backward step in the short term, to build the club up again on a secure footing going forward.

You never know, this could be the template for clubs going forward. Use young, local riders where possible, save expensive flights and travel expenses and the like, use the money saved to promote and advertise meetings and providing entertainment during intervals etc. and putting the sport on a better footing to go forward.

Cut and paste and forward to every promoter in the country. You never know, it might just catch on. Glasgow have shown this season that the sport can thrive, if marketed and promoted properly. And it doesn't need to cost a fortune, before you get the 'but Glasgow have money to burn' argument. Give fans entertainment and they will return.

I still think a speedway club could be a good investment if the club and the sport is promoted correctly. Let's face it, the sport isn't promoted and it suffers as a consequence. Glasgow have shown this season that if you promote well and provide entertainment, you will reap the dividends. In Berwick's case, they are fortunate in a way that there aren't many alternative sporting distractions in the town. Berwick Rangers crowds are probably less than the speedway. The opportunity is there for somebody who wants to invest and work hard at it.

Forgive my ignorance, but won't Edinburgh have an objection to Glasgow racing on a Friday night?

If it means speedway continues at Berwick, I don't care which league they ride in. Would prefer it if they stayed in the Premier, but if National League is the affordable option, then I'm all for it. Like I've said before, the sport needs more young local riders getting involved. This could be the window.

I don't think the sport needs bankrolled, it needs promoted. I've thought for a long time the most important post in a club these days is a commercial manager, to attract sponsorship, both for riders and teams, corporate nights, which bring in money and going out and attracting new fans. The promotion needs to start on a league wide basis (a league sponsor would help) and then be topped up by the individual clubs.

Very few I would imagine, the two Edinburgh meetings, the two Glasgow meetings, the Sky meeting against Peterborough?

If it helps in the short term then I'm fine with six man teams, but I would rather see a concerted attempt at attracting more young riders into the sport and phasing out the doubling up situation as a) any time a doubling up rider is injured it affects two teams and how many guests are employed due to fixture clashes.

Genuine question, does anybody know the reason(s) behind Edinburgh continually losing money? Do they pay excessive wages? Excessive rent? Are they struggling for sponsorship? Crowd levels down? Mixture of all? You would think that a successful team would attract sponsorship and a good following.

Seems to be some "big announcements" all over the place these days. Joking aside, is there a doubt over the future at Armadale? I am aware that the promotion up there has lost money in previous years. Shows how bad things are, if even the top teams in the league are struggling financially.

Exactly, they have been a great example for others to follow this season. And as they have pointed out in the Speedway Star, they have attracted enough fans where they are now reaching break even point, which I would imagine, for nearly all speedway clubs, would be an ideal position. Let's hope that other promotions look at this and follow suit.

You and Armadale are made for each other

Meeting seemed to go well, track rode well, considering the weather that day, good facilities, lot of sponsors there, hopefully (should the club have a future) it will encourage the BSPA to hold similar events at Berwick in the future.

Glasgow are doing a great job in this regard, the majority of it through social media, which is free. Advertising on local radio, local newspapers is expensive, so you have to be clever in the way you use it. But a lot of promotions would do well to follow Glasgow's example, as they have said in the Speedway Star, they are now attracting the number of fans which allows them to run at a break even figure.

It was obvious that Woffinden and Hancock were a lot quicker than the others, but what made it so entertaining was that Woffinden very rarely made the gate. Some of the moves he pulled on the first / second bends and even later were outstanding. The dominant performances here and Gorzow reminded me of Rickardsson in his prime.

Saturday night showed that Berwick fans would support National League racing, should that be the option. And maybe, looking at the bigger picture, could be used as a template for how to get the sport back on a solid footing. Sell the sport, it was a great site to see a large group of sponsors on the centre green to watch the racing. Look to bring through young, local riders. Local businesses and fans can identify with local riders more readily. All the young fans were let in for free, I know this is something Berwick has done all this season (and I thought Dick Barrie does a great job with the mascots). Reduce costs, sell the sport, get as many corporate sponsors in as possible. Might just be the saviour.

Probably a few more you can add to that list. Must be only a handful of clubs who are certain of running next year.