Bryn

In a word..... No!

I'm on the point of giving up with you lot on here! I pose a question that I hoped would provoke some interest at the start of a new year and it sure did by soon developing, as I might have anticipated I suppose, into yet another would-be battle between those intent on slagging Poole off versus those determined to defend Poole to the hilt, both sets effectively saying "blow everything and everyone else!"

Having first witnessed speedway way back in 1966 I am as usual, apart from when I've been in Oz, bored stiff at this time of year and eagerly looking forward to the new season watching the sport I love at all levels from training tracks upwards on tracks of all shapes and sizes and different riding techniques required! My one fervent hope apart from wishing all clubs/riders well and an injury free run, no impossible dream alas I fear, is is that the level of moaning and whining on this and similar forums without putting forward constructive replacement ideas recedes dramatically! What are YOUR hopes for our sport in 2014?

Well then, to use a phrase pinched from somewhere else, "I'm not showing you mine if you're not going to show me yours," in that case!

Where can I find those stats 'Shadders' as would be interested to see them?

In response to greyhoundp, firstly my I say I'm sure everyone connected with the Wightlink Islanders fully appreciates the motives behind the thoughts expressed in your latest posting above, certainly I do, but a weekend raceday is and always has been a 'no go' I'm afraid. For starters Saturday & Sunday are Wightlink's busiest days of the weeks and there's simply no way they would be able to provide the club with free sponsored ferry crossings for riders and match officials on those days as they do now on a Tuesday. Additionally of course, those spending holidays on the IOW largely begin/end those by travelling to and from the mainland at weekends. Alas, it's not looking at all good in terms of speedway continuing at Smallbrook I've got to say and sadly, it's very much looking to me that providing my mate Chris has remembered to book the ferry crossings using his ex-British Rail employee discount, our trip across to the IOW for the conclusion of the Island Speedway (IOW) Ltd shareholders meeting will be the last such trip the two of us will be undertaking. And I simply cannot see the sport returning to Smallbrook in the future if NL racing is not staged there in 2014.

You're obviously not quite awake yet JH because I'll think you'll find that the club's PREMIER League side are called the Plymouth Devils! Go grab a cuppa!

Xmas Eve and postie has just delivered my copy of the new book available, "British Speedway Memories" and with it consisting of 200 pages that's my reading material for a while well and truly sorted! Alas thanks to stupidly falling over before a meeting at Swindon back in September and being carted off to hospital for an op on a busted hip plus an enforced rest. I missed the deadline for submitting my own happy memories but fully intend to enjoy reading all the other contributions. Now where's my reading glasses?

One minor query and that is to ask you if you might possibly have miscounted for I thought Tai's hashtags totalled 2416 although I might well have made a mistake of course!

Why not ask BT? They'd have the figures so surely that would be the logical thing to do wouldn't it?

Can I just make clear to avoid any possible confusion that what is now on the totally unofficial IOW website is, as are the vast majority of articles on that site, a copy of the Official club press release. This latest one yours truly typed and distributed at 7am this morning in my voluntary capacity as the club's PRO. It will also appear on the club's official website in due course adding that the webmaster of that does work full time.

It's now CRUNCH TIME in terms of the continuance of speedway on the Isle of Wight as the holding company's shareholders i.e. the fans, gather at Smallbrook to continue their AGM following no decisions being reached when they last met in November. Will the sport be staged on the island this year or will it cease? I'm just about to set off from here in Kent for tonight's meeting over there that gets underway at 7pm - undoubtedly the most important meeting in the club's history! I fervently hope for a positive outcome but whether that hope becomes a reality, well we'll just have to wait and see what is ultimately decided tonight!

Didn't watch it but is that right what I've been told - 1st: Scotland, 2nd: Wales, 3rd: Ireland?

Let's hope that when full details emerge Steve's injuries turn out to be minor rather than major. My thoughts are with him.

With respect 'gustix' and fully acknowledging your knowledge of the past in speedway, the NL is not about that for it is about the future i.e. being a step on the ladder to ultimate success in the sport. Hence emphasis is placed quite rightly on young riders when it comes to assembling sides at the beginning of any season. Having said that, I see nothing wrong at all with the inclusion of one experienced rider in a side to pass on knowledge gained during a career and help the youngsters develop their own individual talents in a team racing environment.

My humblest apologies for trying to make you a sight more grander than you are!

With respect 'Halifaxtiger' why were you 'waiting for that one' as my response was directed towards 'Grand Central' and, as you can see he has to listen to his boss! Seriously though, where exactly would the money come from? The club's in debt, it's struggling to find funds to by an air fence which it HAS to by to continue and, like most club's when it comes to the nitty gritty of actually physically doing things e.g. handing out leaflets, lots of people may have come up with ideas on forums such as this and at supporters meetings etc but few get involved. At this moment in time, it's 'crunch time' with the priority being to save the club, find the necessary funds for the air fence etc., and thus operate in 2014 for, as TMW has alluded to, if the Wightlink Islanders don't operate in 2014, it's going to be nigh on impossible for speedway to return there. Just look at Reading, Hackney, Wimbledon, Halifax, Bradford...

What on earth have the last four or so posts got to do with this thread???

What form of advertising are you suggesting is a must then 'halifaxtiger?' I can vouch for starters in the year you refer to that over 70 separate press releases were each distributed to 40 plus different outlets both on the IOW and nationally.

That's where I've put it to be read John - surely it's up to you to do what is necessary if you want to read it. You could always join , read and then leave couldn't you?

Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/294612857236337/ to see official press release issued in advance of vital shareholders (i.e. the fans) meeting next Tuesday. Trust me "Ray Stadia" it's NO smokescreen.

Apology duly accepted. Given the list of riders that have begun their UK league careers at Smallbrook and then gone onto higher levels, it will be very sad to see the club cease to operate if that proves to be the final outcome. Mind you my lottery numbers could come up this weekend couldn't they?

The Wightlink Islanders fans already subsidise their club as it is they who are the shareholders in the somewhat unique operating company rather than an individual putting up the money. Alas though the point has seemingly been reached when a decision has to be taken as to whether the club can continue or not and the signs aren't very good.