heathen79

Going back to the team building topic, surely Paul Cooper's average means he is definitely not the man in question. James Birkenshaw perhaps? Or for a curve ball, I know a certain former Tiger and Heathen was loving working with High Skidmore in the pits last season and itching to get back on a bike. Too late for a final firing of the Scud missile?

Has decided to do just PL this year according to the SStar. Buxton did have him pencilled in as number one, but following his decision the Hitmen signed Taylor instead.

I'm with you 21stCH. Can't see Garrity getting 9.00+ and I do genuinely think there will be a few falls and exclusions to factor in! Still, on the other hand, probably good enough to be considered the best reserve in the league on starting averages!

Boogaloo by any chance?

On the contrary, according to Neil Machin in this week's SStar, the name hasn't really been chosen. I quote: "We're still working on the team name and that's proving more difficult than we imagined". I'm not being dismissively critical and saying it just won't work. I think there is a difficult dilemma here and no perfect solution. Neither Sheffield nor Scunthorpe will want the team 'diluted' in name at home by becoming Sheffield/Scunthorpe (or would it be Scunthorpe/Sheffield?) but surely this has to be the most sensible decision when away. The idea of just ignoring the other club is not right in my opinion. Although one club name looks better (e.g. Hull or Doncaster), clearly that dilutes the club even more and I don't believe this should be considered as a way forward. Both Sheffield and Scunthorpe fans have to be embraced here or it won't work. And it has to be done properly too because the fans will see through anything else. Very few Stoke fans felt any part of 'Cradley and Stoke' in 1996, because it was basically Cradley riding their home matches at Loomer Road. Unfortunately, that meant that it was too far for enough Heathens fans to make the regular trip and the Potters fans weren't interested because it wasn't their team.

And from a 1970s typewriter by the look of it! Tell me all the official National League averages are not being worked out by hand somewhere Anyway, I like the look of the Belle Vue team, but I don't think its a title winner. No outright number one, I think Bekker will usually be beaten by the likes of Herne, Roynon, Lambert, etc. However, it's a strong balanced top three. Middle order looks like a weakness to me, but then Garrity clearly better than his reserve starting average - if he stays injury-free.

Also says in Speedway Star now that the actual team name is not yet decided and seems they can't agree on it!

Fair comment with all of that last post 21stCH. Brendan certainly looks on a good average to me too, and had previous Cradley connections from 2009. Lots to take into account though and I'm feeling pretty positive about the Heathens team, compared to other signings elsewhere.

Like the look of that draw. I am presuming that there may be some geography taken into account rather than a complete random draw. Shame about Scunny and Kings Lynn though. Seems odd too.

I would imagine the way it will work is that no new riders will be signed as assets of the 'merger club'. All new future riders will be signed as either Sheffield assets by the Sheffield promotion or Scunthorpe assets by the Scunthorpe promotion. Between them they will put together the National League team, based on a combination of their separate assets. Granted, the key thing here is the development of young British riders and i acknowledge and support that fact. I hope that other similar ventures do encourage other clubs to double up for home fixtures and put more teams into the National League. However, I do find it odd that the league table will show the name Sheffield/Scunthorpe and yet the Heathens will ride home and away against either Sheffield OR Scunthorpe, but seemingly have no contact or interaction whatsoever with the other club. Anyway, just the number one rider to announce for the team, and just about any average rider can be fitted in! I am intrigued as to who will lead the team.

I'm just pointing out the way things are done now. Courting the media coverage is essential and that's the best way to go about it. I think you'll find that many more clubs do the same, compared to what you've said above. Scunthorpe only announced Ashley Birks and the Worrals this week and yet they've been signed up for ages. Look at the announcements for the Ben Fund Meeting or Telford - riders have been signed up for weeks and months, but a couple more names are announced each week. You want the news of signings or anything else to have the most impact and I'm fine with that!

This is an unusual tie-up with lots of benefits, but I have to agree that the away match protocol is too bizarre. They should carry the joint Sheffield/Scunthorpe tag for away matches. Anyway, no disrespect to Scunthorpe, which I enjoyed visiting last season, but I am hoping for Heathens at Owlerton this year! This National League is getting better - now have possible trips to see the Heathens at Belle Vue, Sheffield and Stoke, plus riding against Hackney. Shame Peterborough and Coventry didn't join - it would almost feel like an old British League fixture list!

Surely the obvious reason for drip-feeding the news is that it can be put out into the press regularly leading up to the start of the new season to help generate more interest and keep the column inches for the club and the sport as high profile as possible. Glasgow released news of their entire 1-7 months ago and have had nothing to report since. I'm sick of reading that 'the shape of their track is coming along nicely' for the last 7 or 8 weeks!

Would like to add my congratulations on this news. All Heathens fans are delighted that Mildenhall are back in the league and it looks to be with a very steadfast promotion there. Kevin Jolly appears to have worked tirelessly with whoever he needed to, Michael Lee is a huge name that can attract lots of interest and Chris Louis brings the expertise and promoting experience. Fantastic to hear, just what we were hoping for!

No National Trophy so only League and Knock Out Cup really, and I presume everyone has entered the cup. Not sure about selection for things like the Fours. That was a bit of a mystery last year to me!

Well I guess if you have taken up a sport and then become a professional sportsman within that sport, you can be classed as the top of your profession. Until you turn professional you are still climbing the ranks. There has to be a cut off somewhere, otherwise you could argue that Tomasz Gollob is the only speedway rider at the top of the profession and no-one else qualifies. Taking football as an analogy, there are players the length and breadth of the country trying to make the grade, but only those who are professional players are at the top of the profession. Otherwise no Championship or League One teams could sign a work permit player.

Fully behind the move to bring back Armo and the reaction from fans online has been pretty awesome - a very popular choice. He'c capable of holding his average, if not improving it at this stage of his career, and those scores posted above clearly reflect his points scoring potential. However, his presence with the youngsters like Perry, Morris & Franklin is worth much more. We will be weaker at reserve for sure, but we have to remember that the team is much weaker than the end of 2010 because our averages had increased so much. And all teams are a little weaker anyway to get under the points limit. Title winning team? Yes, we'll be up there again!

Agree with that, especially with the rules for this year. Daryl is an asset of Swindon, courtesy of Gary Patchett, and has been promised a place in the Dudley reserve berth this year, after his inclusion as Number 8 last season.

Can't comment on the specific details and obviously when asking 'how could you', it was the job of the Heathens management to make the decision. They key point however is that the vote was against that particular proposal, not against Mildenhall in general. Everyone would be dismayed if the same thing as last year happened again, so it is vitally important that the right setup is in place to bring the Fen Tigers back properly. SS also says that a new bid is being prepared and naturally we all wish the guys all the best in putting together something viable for 2011.

No reductions in National League. Only reductions on PL averages which may then be used for conversion, but not applicable in this case with existing NL averages.

Surely the work permit rules do not matter anyway, as it is a league decision that riders will be British only (other than those with ancestry).

Yes, but I think we bought our own trophy, because winning the leage earned you nothing last year! As a stand-alone club we're looking at the following home fixtures: 8 League matches 1 National League Shield 1 Knock Out Cup + potential progress 1 Golden Hammer Individual 1 Challenge v USA Potential progress in Play-Offs So thats 12 definite. Rising up to a possible 16 with some success! Away trips as well as league, cup & playoffs will include NL Pairs & Fours (weather etc permitting this year!!) Would love to see an inter-league challenge ideally - if rules permitted this. Perhaps even against PL opposition at Monmore and then we could bring back Lee Smart and Micky Dyer for the occasion!

Echo the above. Look forward to renewing the old rivalry of the Aces v Cradley, albeit in the guise of Colts v Dudley Hope the Manchester fixture is on a date which can attract lots of travelling Heathens fans, as many will look to visit I'm sure, but a typical working week might make it tight for some. Any Bank Holiday fixtures likely for the Colts?

Newport are running this season! Seriously, no surprise there, but what a fantastic top two that have been announced. Already that has to be as good as any team will be able to match. Could be a long tail, but those two will be awesome for the closing stages of any match.

Contract bought out last year after the Weymouth dispute, with a little help from the sponsors!