Ommer Mon

Really difficult to pick one, which means I can't select two of my all time favourites Mauger and Lofqvist. My vote has to go to Buce Penhall. The sport is crying out for a personality with charisma who can draw the crowds and he was certainly it (and his arch rivalry with Kenny Carter pulled plenty through the turnstiles).

Don't forget Bobby Schwartz's amazing 21 point max when he came back to Dudley Wood in Reading's colours in 1980, beating Penhall, Gundersen and the other usual suspects. A good way to show the Heathens what he thought about their decision to let him go!

Just to get back on topic after the usual diversion..............................I'm looking forward to seeing how this years batch of Heathens gets on. Cleggy will do a good job but I think it will be a challenge for both Nathan and Matt to take on the other Heat Leader roles as they scored most of their points further down the order last season. I think the biggest asset is going to be Ellis. It wouldn't surprise me to see him end up second in the averages at the end of the season. I also agree with Lucifer Sam that Moggo should make further progress. It's going to be tough ot achieve the treble when we won't be able to rely on home track advantage for much of the season. One thing is for sure, we will be there or thereabouts again and that should make sure the support is retained. I think the standard of the racing may suffer due to the reduction in the points limit but everyone has to start somewhere, that's what the NL is about, and let's hope it is as entertaining as the other years since our return..

Done!

Delighted to see Darryl fixed up. Hopefully he will be fully recovered and will have a good run in the side. Best of luck to him.

I'm very sad to hear the news. As 'Tommy' has said above Dan was the man responsible for transforming Cradley from no hopers to world beaters and he will never be forgotten by the Heathens who were so grateful for what he achieved. I'm proud to say that I worked with him at Cradley. He was straightforward and at times confrontational but there is no denying that he set clear goals for the team and individuals and they responded brilliantly. When John Boulger left at the end of 1976 Dan said he would get someone better and we were amazed when Anders Michanek was paraded as our new Number 1. That showed the kind of ambition that Cradley had never seen before. The rest, as they say, is history. My favourite Dan story is easy to pick. Many Heathens witnessed the team debut of Erik Gundersen in this country, not as a Heathen but as a Wolf against Edinbugh as part of the Festival of Speedway at Monmore green. After seeing him rattle up a paid maximum we left, depressed, thinking that Wolves had signed the next Ole Olsen. The Wolves Promoter had also hailed their new acquisition. The following night at Dudley Wood he was paraded as a Heathen. Dan had done the deal before he rode for Wolves! Heathens legend is an understatement. RIP Big Man!

It's not my usual daily but I saw a copy of the Sun yesterday and there was a 2 page article in there about how Dudley is now rated as the worst Shopping Centre in the Country. Apparently some surveyors have been around the UK rating town centres out of a maximum score of 400. Dudley's score was 5 and those of us that know it would probably say that's generous. When you look at sport in the area the position is probably even worse if that is possible. The town has lost a good quality non league football ground, a cricket ground frequently visited by Worcestershire (and even the Aussie tourists on one occasion), a speedway track, a dog track and two swimming baths. All in the course of the last 30 years! The Council have done nothing to help the Club relocate over the years. There have been options put to them on a number of occasions and they have not actively supported any of them. For a Council that complains that the town's night time economy is dead on its feet they cannot see the link of bringing a Club back to the area that will attract over 1000 people to events in the evening. I have my fingers crossed for Nigel Gary and Chris but they have their work cut out in Dudley and as far as Sandwell are concerned I wish anyone well in getting any form of response from Darren Cooper (Leader) who once said they would find us land and we could pay them when we could! I really envy the likes of Manchester and Leicester where they have Councils who want to deliver sports facilities. It makes such a difference.

When Cradley (Dudley) returned to the track in 2010 we were all a bit sceptical of the quality of the racing, having been treated to the likes of Penhall, Gundersen. Pedersen, Hamill and Hancock. I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed our 5 years at NL level. I remember back to the 70s when 'junior' meetings included riders who could barely stay on on the straights let alone the bends. That's not the case in the NL. Many of the riders at that level are actually lapping quicker than the likes of Olsen, Briggs and Mauger, which is something often overlooked.We have had a great bunch of lads representing the Club and its been an absolute pleasure to see them make progress. You have only to look at the EL to see how well the likes of Craig Cook, Nick Morris, Richie Worrall, Rob Lambert, Kyle Howarth and others who have graduated in the last few years have done. Lewis Blackbird, Kyle Newman and Steve Worrall have regularly beaten Elite League second strings this year. The big problem for the NL is balancing team strengths. The likes of Cradley and Scunthorpe (2014 version) have totally different Agendas and that can produce one sided racing. What I would say is don't be an 'Elite League snob'. Give the kids a chance and I think you will be impressed. I hope it works out for all at Arlington.

I'm miserable! I'd rearranged my appointments to make it to Coventry but the extra distance means I can't make it to Leicester in time. Best of luck to the Heathens anyway and fingers crossed that we are back on track next year. I share the concern over the Stadium's view on having to get the track in shape for the stock cars. No idea what you have to do for that but I do know the damage / mess they cause when the boot is on the other foot! The Stadium owners seem to be embarking on a strategy of making us as unwelcome as possible - all designed to make sure that speedway fans no longer want to visit the place. Even as a Cradley fan I can say that when Brandon goes a little bit of me will go with it! Always enjoyed visits there. It is a great leisure asset for the area. Sad to see it go if that is what happens.

Very sad to hear the news that Tony has pulled out. I know how much Birmingham means to him and it must have been a very difficult announcement to make. Also sad for Brian Buck who has put so much personal effort into the Brummies down the years. A Cradley move to Birmingham would be much better than nothing but it is not a universally popular venue with Cradley fans (me included) so we may struggle to maintain the numbers all season. I don't think a Birmingham Heathens venture would be particularly successful and that is nothing to do with any animosity between the fans because I've never encountered any. In fact both sets of supporters have supported both clubs in their various planning battles over the years. Here's hoping that both Brummies and Heathens get back to the tapes for next season in some guise. There is still time for somehting to be done if there is a backer to be found.

Dry at the moment - even a bit of blue sky where I am. Weather forecast does look a bit grim for later though. It could be an all out effort to make it to Heat 10.

Four points up from the first leg after a cracking 5-1 from Cleggy and Greavesy in Heat 15. Heathens to win by plenty to set up the treble chance at Coventry on Wednesday night. Bumper crowd predicted for what could be the last 'home' fixture for a while. Hope something gets sorted out with Ladbrokes / Wolves / Perry Barr. Ommer 'em mi babbies!

Have to confess that I have often wonderd why the track rakers were dispensed with. The tractors rolling round does seem to take large chunks out of the meeting and interrupts the flow. The long gaps between some races is one of the reasons that my kids haven't fully got the speedway bug and if that is the same for others of their age then perhaps we have stumbled across one reason why so few teenages go regularly (at least that's my experience)

Oh dear. Here we go again! Quite a sad coincidence that the Cup Final at Monmore Wood will be staged on the 19th anniversary of the closure of Dudley Wood! Perry Barr isn't an easy venue to get to from our area on a weekday. Could Sunday be an option perhaps? I know that the Brummies suffered from planning restrictions but I don't know he detail. Does anyone know if two meetings a week are allowed?... and then you have to have enough spare dates. Quite a problem (or is it just Ladbrokes positioning to put the rent up??????)

Thanks for the update Arnieg. Hope all goes well for them.

Here's hoping that the rain stays away for this one. Should be a cracker. Does anyone know why Steve Worrall has missed the last two Edinburgh fixtures? With Stefan Nielsen hopefully returning to the Coventry Team I can't see a repeat of the 35 point KO Cup win. Come on you Heathens!

Yep congratulations to Scunny. I'm sure the team are feeling much better after that than they usually do and I hope all the lads take that feeling with them into next season. Nice to see the nephew of a former Heathen leading the way in spectacular style! Well done Ellis Perks.

The issue at the starting gate should not have been allowed to fester for about 3 minutes. If the Referee had excluded one or both of them for delaying the start none of the rest of it would have happened. The start of that race was a total shambles and it was obvious that tempers were getting frayed. I'm not sure what sanctions you can impose on a referee but it would be interesting to have his views on his inactivity.

Just wondering why you think Tuesday is the worst night of the week? It hasn't appeared to have dented the enthusiasm at Cradley.

Well it may only be a challenge match but it has the makings of one of the closest and most entertaining meetings of the season at Monmore Wood. With the Brummies including Ben Wilson, Adam Roynon and Simon Lambert in their team, they are going to give the Heathens plenty to think about. Nice gesture from the promoters in letting Birmingham season ticket holders in free. They've suffered enough this season and best of luck to them for a comeback next year. Heathens to win by 8. Just need the weather to be kind now!!!

Yep that's the way its panned out this year. I think Coventry would have been much closer to us if Nielsen and Crang had not picked up their unfortunate injuries though.

Yes. Some of the meetings have been very one sided this year but I don't blame the management for that. They put the best team they could together within the 40 point limit and that is what the supporters expect. There have been some visiting riders who have mixed it. Leaving out the top riders, the one who impressed me most was Connor Coles and I hope he makes a full recovery for the start of next season. I hope the challenge match against Birmingham will have some good racing in it next week. Simon Lambert, Ben Wilson and Adam Roynon should keep Steve and Paul on their toes. It may only be a challenge but it could be the most entertaining meeting of the season.

Have to confess I felt a bit sorry for the Moggies. A severely depleted team, missing their top two riders and three others, especially Connor Coles who rode very well on his last visit. There was some good racing with Simon Lambert and Dan Halsey doing their best to hold the tide back but a large win for the Heathens was inevitable. Three maximums and not a single last place. Awesome!

Still no Josh Bates unfortunately and Joe Jacobs is also missing with Simon Lambert guesting. Brendan Johnson is back but Jack Kingston is out with Michael Neale standing in. Luke Chessell could be good for a few points if he can maintain his superb starts and hang on. Heathens at full strength and the sun is shining at the moment! Fingers crossed. Think it could be closer to 28 points now.

Good to see them both shake hands after a cracking race. As Dean said its time to move on and let's hope the SCB don't go over the top with the punishments.