Hunty

S So giving riders platform to sucseed isnt going to help bring them on. We have a fan base that supports the riders through the HSSC by the 50/50 that makes 170+ each week that goes back to the riders. We have start of season nights that are in aid of the riders with all money going to them and this years is nearly sold out. We all know how difficult it is to start off in speedway and as a club of management and supporters and sponsers we really give them the best opertuinty to push themselves to the next level We have bumper crowd which surely attracts more sponsers because they will be sponsering a young lad who is going to be riding infront of more people at meeting. Its not so much us 'Cherry Picking' riders is as much as most of the National League Riders would like to ride for the heathens because they are going to be managed well, supported well, given an opertiunity to ride a whole season cause its not often we have made rider changes. We really do devlop riders and I struggle to name any that have not left us on a higher average or moved onto bigger and better things. You quote that we have four riders from the elite league draft but out off the 23 that were in the elitle league draft 10 of them were Heathens or had riden for the Heathens over there short careers. We support our team away, we take our well earned money to other clubs and spend it at there tracks, some National League Teams look for our fixture because they are in for a bumber crowd. Over 300 we took to Kings Lynn for the final how many Kings Lynn fans came to the first leg, you could count them on your fingers and toes. We took a coach and more to IOW we piled into Buxton and Stoke on the double header day we dare I say it our fans the majority at proberbly both tracks. How we have done no favors to the NL is beyond me, I understand that we may have made the gap between PL and NL closer for ourselves whilst making it bigger for some other clubs but it happens in in all sports the better players go to the better clubs. Simple as that, you will say its where the money is, but thats only because we have a fan base and management that can support it. We are a big fish in a small pond, we are desperate for our own track to make the step up and then we might become the small fish in the big pond. Untill this happens the Heathens will do everything they can to sucseed but the development of the riders comes first. Not all fans will agree but I belive that and ive said it loads of times on here but the best moment of last season wasnt winning everything it was watch a young lad Max Clegg take his first steps on to very big things.

Has the league got more to offer? The fact is the gap between PL is getting bigger in terms of some teams and smaller in the cases of others, so I 100% agree with what you have said. The league should be and is aimed at development, it needs to have more links to the grass roots of the sport such as the MDL. I've said it a few times that if the EL draft works then I would hope there would be a influx of PL teams and EL teams having development squads. We are already seeing a trend towards that happening with the KL young stars, the Stags and Scunny running a second team. It needs to be competitive, it needs to have clubs who can bring in supporters to make it have that edge to it that the meetings really do matter instead of just having 7 riders just trying to improve lap times and technique. Lowering the average would suit one side of the coin in terms of having more rookies but them on the other where will there riders with the bigger averages ride is there a PL spot for them after there first year in the EL draft? Nobody knows until 2015 how it will pan out. It terms of the Heathens, we're in a bit of a situation where as soon as we get our own track it would be PL here we go, but until then we are doing a great job of bringing on talent but are in the situation of big fish in a small pond. Something's got to hive to balance it up. Fingers crossed that we get our own track and Mildenhall can make a push up too and that we get more second teams from the higher leagues.

Drumroll Please? The end of Eastenders Music Leaving us on a cliff hanger?

I fort they had to choose from 16-99 The 1-15 rule is out the window due to Pedersen picking 5? Bit confused now!

Utter joke that the BSPA keep making the English Channel wider and wider. They don't promote British Speedway they just hinder it, this event will be shown in over 70 countries to millions of people and yet the we don't enter. Why what's the problem of sending riders over there to compete at a very high level. We will be forgotten about soon, we manage to get a British Speedway WORLD champion and yet he's not allowed to promote our sport across the WORLD. Man words don't disgrace how disgruntled I am it this. This is the reason why our World Cup squad is lackluster cause we don't let them race together in meetings like this to gain experience. Yes World Cup is individuals but these events form bonds and partnerships and understanding.

Darcy Ward has changed his Twitter name to have the number #43 next to it!

I don't see it being that easy for Cradley. The home meetings can be a bit of a whitewash sometimes but individual heats can be absolutely fantastic to watch. Last year I saw the best racing all year at Monmore Wood on a Tuesday night. I go to EL fixtures all over the country and went to the Play Offs at Wolves and Birmingham and well Poole v Birmingham at Perry Barr was bland to the say the very least. The NL final second leg at Kings Lynn was only won by one point to the Heathens, ok that's an away meeting but come the end of the season we had some great tussles with IOW Kent Kings and the young Stars. I expect us to do well but it won't be the same outcome as 2013 let me tell you that!

Scott Campos is returning this year riding for the KL Young Stars

The national league fours were amazing for the rivalry. Nothing untoward but the way we won it was fantastic. It got a bit fisty on the track which gave us a point for I think it was a Mildenhall rider was disqualified for turning right on a stright against Morris! Was amazing!

Wishing everyone involved and the supporters on the island a postive outcome for tonight. Fingers Cross and Good Luck!

As much as people say on here that the Heathens are able to pay more and attract the better rider is true. However it could all be taken away from us in a finger snap. As stated above, Wolves ran there cubs before we arrived, whats to say that next year they will want it back due to the NL Draft being a sucsess? The management have stated that this is our last chance, after this season it would be down to the supporters to determine what happens to the club is a site for our own track isnt found. There are already 7 new spaces in the NL this with the introduction of the Stags being involved again. If IOW stay on then thats 14 new rider places. We have lost so many to the NL Draft but isnt that a good thing. The national league is the development league and as much as it was great to win the lot last year the best thing I whitnessed was watching Max Clegg take massive steps in his development and look where he is now. The reason why there is a lack of riders is because we have developed riders from all teams that are now too good to ride in this league not down to the new draft system but the PL points limit. From our team i can name that Blackbird Morris and Roynon are three names who cannot ride in the NL because they are too good. Paul Starke was very close to being over that fresh hold, and I dont excpect to see him in the NL next year. The lack of 'TOP' rider shouldnt be a complaint, it should be a postive as is showing the sucsess of this magnificant league.

I'm all for the branding of the riders and having there number over it! Great to have some Grin #45 merchandise. However I've looked all over the shop to find stuff these days and there is nothing. Some of the merchandise from clubs is terrible.

Only a matter of time if the NL Draft works we will have a lot more teams in the NL which will develop even more talent, 9 teams means we have already got 7 more riders. We're onto a winner if it works and the national league needs to be taken more seriously

He did pledge his loyalty to Buxton before verbally! He said he would stay due to them giving him his first opertunity last year. Didn't sign anything but it has angered some Buxton fans

I would say Starke but Perry is also an option!

I agree totally, but as stated in his interview in the papaer yesterday he thought he would be still at reserve, which I hoped he would be. Hes now in the main body of the team which he has never done before, against stronger riders and he stuggled with smaller tracks like our home track Monmore. He was very good away from home, won us the semi final in the cup with a great performance but if your looking for a weak link in this side I think most people would point stright towards Nathan. Now we all hope and that he can prove me wrong and be one of the signings of the season in 2014. Its just my opinion, I traveled away alot last year and Nathan had bad meetings at Buxton and smaller tracks but bigger tracks like Kings Lynn and IOW he was our trump card. Im glad weve kept him in our team, Im not a fan of having a brand new team every year. Nathan is a year older, a year wiser and has a years experiance under his belt...So i fully expect him to prove me wrong and keep ommering in 2014!

Bostin stuff to have our whole team annouced so early. Cannot wait now, we have a great top 3, proberbly two of the best in Worral and Starke. Perry should be back to his best, Max was doing well at in the main body last year and our two reserves look very strong. Nathan could be a problem but if he can stay on his bike we all know he has the speed to win! Good stuff and OmmerUM! Cradley Heathens 2014 Side 1. Paul Starke (9.93) 2. Max Clegg (6.27) 3. Tom Perry (6.30) 4. Nathan Greaves (4.00) 5. Steve Worrall (7.09) 6. Matt Williamson (3.33) 7. Danny Phillips (3.00) 39.92...Almost every point avaiable spent! Great stuff!

Highly doubt it will be the other reserve, the article will be more about Nathan and what they did last year more than what will happen this year as we rarely get any print in the mercury if ever before! That's if it is Nathan!

Doubt it, Kings lynn have a good amount to play with and look strong in the places they have filled, Kent Kings look very promising. Were the team to beat but the team everyone wants to join as the backing they get from the club and fans finacially is a big draw!

Yeh i had a tweet back from saying he had signed for 2 clubs...we know that one is Scunny in the PL wonder where his NL team will be! Fingers crossed its with us at Cradley!

It's Danny Phillip who has been announced this morning for Cradley. First reserve and they expect the next signing to be announced next week and talks with Greaves are starting.

You have some teams starting march and then other starting in may! Last year it would have cost Stoke more money then they would have made to run their meetings so they didnt finish them! Also Kings Lynn v Heathens was a pointless meeting and there were no tickets sold so nobody lost out! Fingers crossed for 11 teams!

1. Paul Starke (9.93) 2. Max Clegg (6.27) 3. Tom Perry (6.30) 4. Nathan Greaves (4.00) 5. Steve Worrall (7.09) 6. 7. The Cradley Heathens have (6.41) to find two reserves! Are they both 3.00 reserves!

Id go with Freemantle, would see a progression in avaerage to around 5 with him. Id also go Darren Mallet which would leave us with one rider to find! 1. Steven Worrall (7.09) 2. Darren Mallet (6.04) 3. Tom Perry (6.30) 4. Max Clegg (6.27) 5. 6. Nathan Greaves (4.00) 7. Brendon Freemantle (3.00) (7.30) Left for second heat leader!

Understand the points of the Air Fence not being tested and why is it fans who have to stump up the cash! However im just going to post the link again to actually help the cause and not hider it like people have in the thread! The rules state that we need air fences, the only way IOW can get one is if people donate not argue! http://www.gofundme.com/iow-air-fence