iris123

Will the happenings in Poland put promoters off even bothering to start ?

Freddie Williams of course from the other thread But also his team mate at Wembley George Wilks in a decent career, never left London as his base, riding for Harringay, Hackney, Wembley and West Ham. So didn't even have his home base south of the river

Freddie Williams fits a number of categories. The main one, he never rode for his local club. A welsh rider that never rode for a welsh team and also qualifies for the other thread of One Club servant. But it seems the Williams family moved from Wales early on, and who can blame them ? But he seems to have been based in Portsmouth, so a few clubs more local than Wembley

It was at the U21 team meeting at Teterow. Andy Smith was helping one of the Brits out. I was talking to him and remember being surprised that Mark was sitting in the Aussie part of the pits I think, but can’t remember which rider either was helping

That is a great one. Remember Pete at the end of his career

Saw Mark a few years back spannering for someone. Might have been a young Aussie

This was last week Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, revealed how grassroots team sports can resume from this weekend. Sports will need to publish specific guidance approved by government officials. Members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have, in the last two weeks, been working on how our sport can work safely for competitors, officials and spectators alike. We believe the biggest risk to riders is the natural danger element of racing motorbikes with no brakes. Clubs have already been planning how social distance measures can be taken for spectators and again we must emphasise speedway venues rarely host capacity attendances. Grassroots team sports inevitably include a small spectator element and we believe we are within touching distance of our sport being able to start a reduced season. However, we acknowledge the clock is ticking and if we cannot begin league racing in August there is every chance the season will run out of time. We thank all British Speedway supporters for their patience and understanding and wish to assure everyone we are doing everything within our power to start the season next month in a safe and enjoyable manner. We will update more as soon as further information becomes available So I doubt we are waiting for the BSPA to announce a date. They like everyone else are waiting for the next government update, whenever that may be. And they hint that if it is some weeks away, then speedway might not start at all

Wittstock v Rest of Germany

In a way I can understand that one or two brothers didn't want to follow on behind Peter. But that is a bit funny with Dave Morton. Started at the same time as Peter and I think I remember that the Collins brothers and Mortons were childhood friends. You would have thought it the natural thing to join Belle Vue

Yes, a strange one that. Wonder what the reason was

I think norbolds comment was not in answer to anyone’s post, just a stand alone . Think all the posts so far have been interesting

Not stretching it at all. Just the thread went off in a little tangent and nothing wrong with that

On that theme Welsh rider Taffy Own never rode for a welsh team. I guess his family had moved away by the time he took up speedway ? Probably the same with Ray Wilson ?

Theoretically. Attendances are similar, but other than that not so. Not with riders travelling around Europe for instance. I doubt many non league footballers travel round to different countries on a weekly basis The thing that makes me wonder is the case of Denmark. The football is going ahead with a limit of 1,500 fans, but still no news of if the Danish league will start. In fact yesterday two of the teams came out and said they won't be racing this season. So why ? maybe is they can't satisfy the conditions needed to start up , because crowds of 1,500 would be pretty good. Maybe a professional football club is far more professional than a speedway club in that they have a manned working office daily etc, whereas a speedway club is basically run part time mostly by volunteers.Plus of course they need riders coming and going.......

I was thinking not only the availability of medics, but the necessity, plus actually holding a sport in a proper stadium separates it from being in the 'grassroots' section that is being talked about. I personally can't see speedway being included. Certainly not if you pay to get in, and probably not if you can't pay online

Of course the problem is still the attendance of medical staff, which aren't normally needed at #grassroots' sports are they, but would be at speedway ?

Quite probably along the lines of what has happened in Denmark. The 'grassroots' leagues have started without spectators. I.e the meetings where nobody pays to get in. But the professional league hasn't started and are talking about end of August at the earliest before they do

Only if it is grassroots speedway

What do we mean by ‘providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities’? Providers and operators of space enabling the following activities and facilities may reopen if they are ready to do so and can do so safely, following public health guidance: · Indoor and outdoor sports courts · Indoor and outdoor gyms · Indoor and outdoor swimming and diving pools, including water parks · Other indoor and outdoor sporting activities (including but not limited to sports fields, rugby, football, hockey, cricket and other pitches, skate parks, climbing facilities, trampoline parks, boxing halls, ice skating rinks, horse stables and arenas, bowling lawns, golf courses, and snowsport facilities, watersports and sporting facilities, track and field facilities)

The important word is 'grassroots' in the sport.......... https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/providers-of-grassroots-sport-and-gym-leisure-facilities

But as it was, he was at Newport for the start of their season, but I guess he was miffed at how it was done

Meissen are running a Germany v Czecho meeting on 01.08.2020 . Not sure of the line-ups or if it will be live online again. Guess it will......seems that fans will be allowed in this time, but not seen how many

Not sure I knew that. Might have forgot. I do remember as a kid local lad Alex Stepney winning the European Cup

SEC Bydgoszcz

Yes, we seem to have gone over to riders who almost rode for one team only, but not quite....... As for Tebby, well Maido was manager and dropped him pre-season. Maybe with short notice, and the idea was Jim would be no.8 and have to fight for his place, which he didn't think was right and I think went off to Newport. Personally feel it was a good decision.