JagFan

I don't want to decry the NL (sorry I still think of that as the seventies league that came after the NNL ) but I do still yearn for proper second halves where the younger/junior/on the verge of a team place but not quite ready riders got to mix it with the senior established riders. Maybe not GP standard, but Ellesmere Port produced a great deal of good riders down the years via the Saturday Training School and this route - and they weren't the only ones. (Any Gunners fans remember the 'Trainee Tryout' race at the end of the meeting "time permitting" - more entertaining than EL racing ?) Plea to sign the petition to bring back speedway to Ellesmere Port. Thanks in advance http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=18&RPID=1325175

me too please, come on Mr T

Thanks Steeplejack. My era too, and lets not forget Louis and Peter Carr. From a Stoke perspective - Ian Gledhill winner of NLRC - now wasn't that a surprise! Your point about injury free is spot on. Did any team suffer as badly as Stoke last season? I'm looking forward to seeing a competitive Stoke team this year. Good luck for the season

Agree. I can understand some Stoke fans might have become disillusioned but better to have speedway than not, and hopefully this is the fresh start that Stoke need. It's always good when new tracks appear / tracks switch league. I remember 'when I were a lad' looking forward to news from the NL conference about new tracks. I don't recall there were any limits then and there seemed to be fresh teams evry year, IL KOC, NL4TT...must put those rose tinted specs away Looking forward to the day when Ellesmere Port v Stoke is back on the fixture list (2 big assumptions there - EP return, EP enter NL while Stoke remain there!) Good luck to our old rivals at Loomer Road this year. When can we expect the fixtures?

Thanks for that. Looking forward to my visits to Loomer Road already.

It's a shame questions about the way speedway is run do spoil good news sometimes. Just wanted to say great news that the Fen Tigers will be running, and best of luck.

I'm not too clued up on riders in the NL scene (hangs head in shame), though obviously aware of TA, so would be interested to know if all the recent activity gives rise to a sense of optimism for Stoke this season - or too early to tell until other signings confirmed? Thanks

I have fond memories of my 'southern tours' and wish Weymouth all the best in trying to save your speedway. Really hope your campaign succeeds

Just to say best of luck to all Mildenhall fans - would be great to see the Fen Tigers operating again.

Great that this didn't put you off. I saw plenty of great racing at Stoke last season, just wish the organisation was a bit better sometimes. Looking forward to seeing National League at Loomer Road, but hope Ellesmere Port are back soon too. Better to have speedway than no speedway isn't it. I just have to be patient and keep fingers crossed. Enjoy the new season.

I certainly concur with second para. As a fairly regular visitor last season, and with an hour's drive home, I often wondered if Id get home the same might! The sunset meeting will live long in the memory - for the wrong reasons (even though I agree safety is paramount). For me the litmus test is always 'If this was someone's first visit to a speedway meeting....would they come back?' I sympathise with Stoke fans and hope this sseason is the start of something good for you. We were old rivals but I'd hate to see Stoke close