rogero

ps The programme at Plymouth is superb!

Doners 123. Everything that you states is correct. Well said. I am a Plymothian living at Plymouth again (now back after 38 years away at Hampshire). I support Plymouth Albion (rugby), Plymouth Gladiators (Devils), and sponsored a Plymouth Argyle player. I contributed money to raise Rasmus Jensen speedway rider a few years ago. I saw my first speedway meeting at Plymouth in 1961 ... 60 years watching speedway. I have supported/watched Reading, Oxford, Poole, Weymouth, Wimbledon, Exeter, Swindon, St Austell. I have been over to a few GPs and I have watched other matches to Wolves, Coventry, Canterbury, Cardiff, Stoke, Wembley (league and World Finals) etc Speedway is now in a mess and, therefore, all speedway supporters need to keep their faith and support (teams or locations). Therefore, the whingers and those with sour, poor sportsmanship comments. Just really look at Plymouth and the Plymouth Speedway team truthfully ... both are positive. The 2 matches with Kent and Berwick have been great. Great racing, good atmosphere and good attendances (Covid19 allowed). Guests. Yes ... Atkins would have been a great asset this season. Sadly, he has to miss the full season because of a shoulder problem. Many broken ribs for Crump. He'll be back in a few weeks. Goret and Ruml, are new to UK and have had been poor starters so far. Cook is starting to look good. Ruml will be a very rider with a few more matches. Plymouth Gladiators Promoter, Management (now has May) have been through the pains and finances and, now, this club, team and supporters now have a fine speedway club to enjoy and deserve. Yes, Plymouth won't be the Championship titles but wait until the next season. In the meantime, enjoy UK holidays in Devon. Watch to Tuesday evenings at Plymouth Coliseum and enjoy the evening's racing, nice people, atmosphere and Pedersen, Crump etc etc If you would like to discuss everything, a nice chat in a beer at Plymouth, please let me know. Maybe some of the poor comments here might understand things more truthful/correct. Enjoy your speedway ..whether at Plymouth, Poole, Berwick, Glasgow, Edinburgh etc etc ps Wolves are now looking at close down if things do not improve. So .... speedway supporters help everyone.

Thanks!

I have tried a few people to find out if BT will coverage Live Premier speedway meetings? I find it very fed up with those people that should know about it .... no. not one person has replied. Does any know the answer? Thanks. Best regards Roger

Thanks .. worrying!

Hi I have tried to find out (a) Has the new Swindon Stadium started/finished? (b) the new season first meeting is Swindon v Belle Vue on Thursday April 11th is shown in the Fixture, Will that meeting happen? It is only 5 weeks away. Does anyone know answers, please? Thanks Roger (rogero)

I was able to watch Ivan's funeral from Australia from a livestream 90 minutes. Emotional, very interesting, great pics and clips and so great to be watch! When the bagpipes play New Zealand's national anthem went Ivan's coffin was driven away .. l had a few tears. I hope that the livestream has now recorded and is still to watch. Really wonderful watch. (There is right through the flicking film was very poignant). https://livestream.com/FuneralLivestreamingAustralia/events/8173657/videos/174019226

I was able to watch Ivan's funeral from Australia from a livestream 90 minutes. Emotional, very interesting, great pics and clips and so great to be watch! When the bagpipes play New Zealand's national anthem went Ivan's coffin was driven away .. l had a few tears. I hope that the livestream has now recorded and is still to watch. Really wonderful watch. (There is right through the flicking film was very poignant). https://livestream.com/FuneralLivestreamingAustralia/events/8173657/videos/174019226

The trouble with this is that memories are still raw and he isn't too well respected my many people. Any speedway is good speedway for me but, after the promise of a decent 2016 Premier League team, the thought of a drop to the NL is not attractive to many supporters

well, interesting that David Short was able to state 450 .. a mid-March, cold night and an individual meeting. The the crowd for the last competitive team match last September was well over 4 figures. Well over! Yet, he didn't mention that and the Promotion never has. Everything in my business, speedway and logical instincts tells me that there is something inexplicable here. The timing is indefensible. This weekend we were due to race against local rivals Somerset. Surely that would have been a better time to assess. I am furious, upset, devastated and I feel for the riders. After seeing Reading, Exeter, Oxford, Weymouth, Newport & Bristol all close I am now devastated about my home city Plymouth Devils. My 55 year love affair with speedway is now set for divorce.

This is all very sad!! PC people ... just grow up and get real. Where will this end? Plymouth Devils to rename to the Pacifists and have a saintly logo because Devils is too close to evil?! Poole Pirates to replace the cross bones and skull with an Isle of Wight Ferry Logo. Dear me .. Somerset hang your head in shame!! Gutless, untraditional and pure PC surrender. NOT speedway!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whatever the situation... against all odds, the Devils are through to the Play Offs. I look forward to seeing a load of Exeter supporters there at Plymouth to cheer us on against Glasgow.

I'm a speedway fan of 50 years. During that time Westcountry teams have had a rough time. It hasn't been easy for The Devils. Geographics alone work against us! I'm also a rugby man and not a shrinking violet. I like to think I am a good sport. So, in the best spirit I can muster .. I hope that Scunthorpe survive to ride on next year. That said, the things written and the antics that went on before, during and after Friday night's meeting does speedway no good and makes Scunthorpe Speedway look like a disgrace to speedway. Those words were not fro me but from a neutral who was there .. a Somerset supporter! For my part ... whatever went on, THANK YOU Scunthorpe for making The Devils go to Rye House with a point to prove. The sign of a great team. The Devils deserve this success and if Scunthorpe supporters are a sporting as they like to think they'll show a little magnanimity in the outcome for Plymouth. I look forward to seeing The Scorpions at The SBA in sunny Devon next year.

Whether it's true or false it's an easy accusation to make on here and then try to be clever after the event. I drove form Plymouth to Exeter every Monday for about 20 years to support The Falcons and some fans rubbed our noses in the dirt about there being no track at Plymouth. Thank goodness there is one track in Devon now. It would help Plymouth if more 'speedway supporters' from Exeter made the trip along the A38 to help!! (Just as I did for 20 years supporting Exeter). I really hope that Exeter come back in to the sport ... in the meantime I'm looking forward to the rest of the season with a strong Devils team!

I like the start to team building and it seems that Benko & Simota will be included. I'd like Danny King at no. 1

I like the start to team building and it seems that Benko & Simota will be included. I'd like Danny King at no. 1

Plymouth's entrance fee for adults is £14. A short walk from a big Park & Ride car park (free) and programmes £2. I've been watching speedway for 53 years and racing at the St Boniface Arena is superb ..... the best I've seen. You feel right on top of the track on the back straight.

Agreed Lewy. I live 163 miles away from my beloved home city of Plymouth so I often have to make do with trips to Poole and Swindon for my speedway fix as they are reasonably close in comparison. After 55 years of watching speedway I can genuinely report that the whole experience at Plymouth's St Boniface Arena is superb, the best in the UK ... atmosphere, view (right on top of the track in places) and first class, competitive racing. Unless you've been there a few times you have no idea. Try it!

Mikeonthemic at Plymouth is excellent and gets a a good atmosphere going. Each to their own but I had good feedback from mates about the music. I recall Land of Hope & Glory being played at Cardiff a few years ago after Bomber crashed and the place rocked. I don't see the problem with a couple of 'patriotic' tunes ... many would no doubt enjoy it rather than some of the rock tunes. (Me I love heavy rock and classical). Mike if you are reading this keep up the great work, the music at The SBA is superb and a massive improvement form a couple of years ago.

Oh dear! Maybe the BSPA should have waited until the TV money is in or not. As it stands there appears to be a devaluing of entertainment and there will be some uncompetitive races. I deal with a number of businesses .. in a competitive world and a lack of money around you offer better value and a good product etc etc In 2014 it seems that Promoters costs will be cut, they may retain TV money and charge the same money for a lesser product? Is it me?! Will Matt Ford at Poole be reducing entrance fees by 10%? There is scope for that now. I live in Basingstoke and travel to my home city (163 miles) whenever I can to watch my speedway. I have taken a number of newbies to Poole this year ... I always travel down to watch 8 or 10 fixtures a year. NOT ANY MORE. If all this is true about NL riders racing against EL riders the product is diminished even if there is a genuine attempt to raise the standard of NL riders. I fear for the sport when someone like me ... a speedway fanatic of 50 years ... is now rethinking my support for my nearest EL team. Do the Promoters ever survey the views of fans? Seems to me that they will regret this BSPA meeting.

A lot of my friends have left Sky to go to BT Sport as many of the rugby matches are now on there. I love both rugby and speedway so, in the knowledge that Sky might drop speedway, I emailed Sky a couple of times. The first reply explained as follows: Thank you for your recent email enquiry regarding Elite Speedway. please allow me to assist you further with this matter. Just to advise you that ESPN, which was an independent company and only used Sky's platform for their viewing services, ceased to broadcast on 31/07/13 and the services were taken over by BT Sports. I have checked our Sky Sports calendar and can advise that the only Speedway Elite we currently have to view is on Sky Sports 2 HD this evening which is the Grand Final between Birmingham and Poole. We want all of our customers to receive the best service possible from us and I am sorry that I cannot provide you with any further information of this service. However if we can assist you with any other Sky related enquiry, please don't hesitate to contact us As this didn't answer anything I went back to them and asked directly, are there plans to cover the british speedway elite league on 2014, yes or no? The reply came back as follows: Thank you for your email about Speedway. As this time we have no plans to broadcast Speedway on our Sky Sports channels. I am sorry that I can't offer further assistance at this time. True, the responses were not originally from the sports dept but I persevered to get the contacts to check with the sports editor. So, who knows who wrote the reply but it doesn't look positive. Let's hope that another broadcaster will take over. At this moment in time I fear for my favourite sport more than any time in the last 50 years of supporting!