The White Knight

Obviously you have an axe to grind. :rolleyes:

Too right!!! :sad:

As there seems to be TWO Threads running regarding Freddie - could the Mods not merge them?

My first Pay Packet was £3-12-11d. At the legendary VAUX Breweries. :angry: When I left I trebled my money at a Crane Building Factory in Sunderland.

I am truly staggered by this News. Freddie Williams, to me, was a 'one off'. He always made time to speak to you. I don't think that I could say that I was a friend of his but having spoken to him on lots of occasions he made me feel like one. He had an easy way with people and was very a courteous and warm person, a true Gentleman. That he loved Speedway was obvious whenever he talked about it. He will be sadly missed. Thanks for the memories Freddie and may you Rest In Peace. +

I believe you are right Matt. However, perhaps this is where Sports Grounds could come in to their own. Where big enough, perhaps it would be possible to install a Track. Not 100% sure of Electric Bikes though - I too like the NOISE and the SMELL.

The most telling sentence in the whole Thread. :sad: It will get worse next Season as the further 80% of Government 'Cuts' that are still to hit us take effect. :sad:

You are a top man in my book. :approve:

Congratulations on your excellent Post snafu. To me this represents what supporting Speedway is all about.

:rofl: :rofl:

Beautifully phrased crescent girl - ignore the Peasants. :rolleyes:

YES - it's known as 'International Idiocy'. :mad: Sorry - I just couldn't resist. :rofl:

And Briggo knows a thing or two about Speedway. I am so pleased that this Legend of the Sport has come out and said this and not just sat back resting on his not inconsiderable pile of Laurels. :approve:

It certainly hasn't helped the situation oldace me old mate. My views on the various other reasons for the decline are well known. However, sadly, I don't have a Magic Wand so I don't know the solution. What I DO know is that of the various 'Cuts' planned by the Government - so far only about 20% have actually worked through to us, the Public. That means things are going to get considerably worse when the remaining 80% hit us. I have finally concluded that the MAIN reason that Speedway is/will be in trouble will ultimately be because of these 'Cuts'. My favourite 'hobby horse' the Tactical Ride, as I said, doesn't help - but - it pales in to insignificance compared to the Financial Strictures that are coming our way. It will affect ALL of us. Disposable income will become a problem for lots of people - you will find that Food comes in front of Entertainment as a priority. I don't know what Socio Economic Group Speedway Supporters fall in to - but - I would bet that we will lose more Supporters than they will in Croquet or in the 'Horsey' Set, Badminton Horse Trials etc.....

A very promising outfit. I wish them well. After all the trials and tribulations of the early winter this is great News. Well done to ALL involved and very Best of Luck in the coming Season :party: ................except against Newcastle of course.

Not Coal Scuttle Helmets????? :shock: :blink:

Clampdown on the 'Characters' of the Sport, the likes of Jack Millen, Frank Auffret, Arthur Browning et al used to raise the roof at some Tracks. Jack Millen needed a Police escort from one Track (might have been Peterborough) when he rode for Sunderland. Tony Childs, Taffy Owen - MOST Teams had a character you just loved to hate. The PASSION has gone these days, from the Crowds as well as on the Track. 4-Valve Engines were for me the start of the big decline along with the rise of the Engine Tuner adding Cost on Cost. This drove up Rider demands which in turn drove up Admission Costs which in turn resulted in lower Gates and eventually to where we are now. It's not Rocket Science to pick up on at least some of the reasons for Speedway's decline

Dog Racing 'appears' to be thriving in Sunderland - or is that just the publicity people at work. :unsure: I've never been in my life - so I don't know. As an aside - I've been to loads of Dog Tracks for Speedway and yet I have NEVER seen a live Dog Race in my life.

I thought Len Shackleton was a GREAT Player. I don't believe that he rode for Wimbledon either. I thought this was a SPEEDWAY Thread. Silly me.

Thank you for the explanation. Perhaps you would care to enlighten me about where I am DISHONEST in the opinions that I Post on this Forum. I may be mistaken sometimes, but I don't believe that I am ever intentionally dishonest. I would be interested to know. You and I are BOTH entitled to our opinions - I have no problems with that. Paul Starke did VERY well for Newcastle HT. I was really impressed with him.

I have read my Copy - EXCELLENT as usual - but one thing puzzles me. Tony Why no Book on Freddie Williams? I bet he would have a terrific Life Story to tell. Surely the piece in 'CLASSIC' was just a 'taster' perhaps?

Are you talking about the bloke who serves the TEA Opinionated? Charman - interesting concept - it MAY catch on. I may be a bit thick - but - what is someone with a POOLE 'Pirates' Avatar doing on a PLYMOUTH 'Devils' Thread slagging off Plymouth Supporters and their Supporter's Club. Why don't you go on the Poole Thread and slag off their Supporter - seems MUCH more sensible to me. Not that there is anything wrong with Poole Supporters - apart from ONE I can think of.

Top man Steve. :t: :approve:

Paul Starke is your man. 100% trier and picks up useful Points too. :approve:

No Briggo!! :shock: