steve roberts

...cynic as I am it was because SKY insisted on having Play-Offs because Oxford spoilt the party in the last non Play-Off season by winning the league and SKY's cameras were not present to catch the moment! Seriously, however, I think that it is fair to say that speedway went along with SKY's insistence that Play-Offs would make a better package providing live coverage but as we all know that particular 'marriage made in heaven' ended in divorce without actually raising the profile of the sport in the best way possible...an increase in attendance figures. I can understand why there is a desire to have Play-Offs in one form or another (despite Oxford being 'robbed' of an opportunity in defending their crown for reasons beyond their control) but as I keep saying one has to look at the bigger picture as to why the sport has declined to such an extent that it is no longer the mighty force that it once was and introducing Play-Offs hasn't improved that situation. Speedway's problems lay much deeper than that. I speak to many people who use to go during my working day but for one reason or another they no longer attend. Reasons given are many and varied and many have been covered many times on this forum. I've now exhausted this particular line of discussion and leave others to debate...just hope that Sidney starts another thread 'The Best of'...or 'Do you remember'!

...The 1985 Knock Out Cup Final between Oxford and Ipswich drew fabulous crowds (I attended both) and both were full of atmosphere and incident. Some of those present said that it was the best meeting held at Cowley in many a long year...myself included. Why were they something special? Because both promotions treated it with respect and seriousness and that was reflected in the finished product which is how all meetings should be conducted. Wished I had witnessed the clash between Peter Collins and Anders Michanek (1973 KO Cup Final Second Leg) Many who witnessed it said that it was the best race they had ever seen. Personally I feel there is a place for the Knock Out Cup in one format or another...however I'm sure that there are those who would disagree!

...The Play-Offs should be the icing on the cake but when you have no cake... The reality is that although speedway has run with Play-Offs for 17 (?) years thru it's involvement with SKY TV it hasn't become the saviour of the sport as some may have predicted or had us believe and the decline has continued. There are many issues that need addressing but where to start is the big question. The BSPA at every post/pre season annual meeting come up with all sorts of initiatives but none apparently provide what the sport desperately needs...new fans. Perhaps speedway was of a past time and is beyond rescue?

...Good post! My point exactly and something I've commented upon many times over the years initially on the old Oxford Forum and those who I used to stand with on the pits turn at Cowley....many, if not all, that are now lost to the sport.

...that's the problem. There just aren't enough 'modern fans' and speedway has greater more pressing issues if it wishes to attract younger fans. Cutting rider's costs would be a step in the right direction but that would ultimately mean the 'stars' looking elsewhere to ride which may not be a bad thing. Perhaps going semi-amateur maybe the way forward but it's pure conjecture...question of what people now expect within any form of entertainment. Yes Play-Offs are one aspect but there's more to it than that regarding speedway's future...not sure why you keep bringing up oaps into the discussion? I certainly don't qualify. I don't have any answers (there are many better qualified than me on the forum) but sadly neither do the BSPA and/or the controlling authorities by all accounts judging by the lack of apathy on the terraces based on attendance levels.

...yes my comment was based on your initial comment about Play-Offs within other sports (to which football falls within) to which I, and others, made the comparison that in football (and apparently some other sports) teams that finish top of their respected leagues are crowned champions. Play-Offs are there to formalise promotion and regulation issues. Speedway set a different agenda. I wasn't specifically questioning the popularity of same just that Play-Offs constitute different agendas in other sports and if that attracts 'Joe Public' so be it but speedway has far greater issues within the bigger picture requiring more than tweaking rules and race formulas etc. As regards the 'so called' Golden Era speedway pretty well survived...it's not until things were messed around with to bring it supposedly 'up to date' and attract those missing fans (late 1980's if you like?) that it lost it's way and as I said with the introduction of the GPs speedway in this country was always going to suffer and no longer was the 'hot bed' that it once was for better or worse...down to one's own personal opinion and/or views of course.

Personally I feel that many youngsters are just not interested in attractions and/or sports (there was an interesting post earlier regarding younger fans and football) as previous generations once were. I work within tourism and unfortunately many museums have now had to 'dumb down' to accommodate the short attention spell of youngsters generally as well as their parents in some instances. If it's not about pressing buttons they're not interested and you sense the boredom and general apathy all around you. You'd be amazed the number of times I've attempted to grab the attention of school parties where many of them are plainly ignoring me whilst staring into their personal devices...despite it supposing to being an educational visit and of course their supervisors often do nothing to help matters! The price we have to pay unfortunately whereby technology rules over many other things in life. My motto is "I control technology and where I wish to engage but I don't allow it to control me"

...your comparison with Play Offs was primarily about football. Totally different scenario. Football will always be successful due to the massive media attention it receives and constant brainwashing. Whatever speedway comes up with it will never be able to compete on equal terms. Interesting your comment about rule changes but speedway ran along quite successfully with little manipulation and/or changes to the rule book. The constant changing of race formula, points limits etc etc during the late eighties was one of many factors that caused the gradual decline of the sport. It's obvious that changes haven't brought the necessary crowds back to speedway despite suggesting that times have changed and speedway needs to move on. Personally I feel that the sport has reached a level that is unsustainable and all the tweaking will not alter that.

...yes the seventies when speedway enjoyed coverage in the mass media and terrestrial TV and attracted thousands of people instead of hundreds and England ruled and teams filled with British riders and the Second Division was a conveyor belt for developing talent. Comparing speedway to football and the Play-Off system as your earlier post highlighted is a totally different scenario as has been pointed out. Tweaking and playing about with rules and the unavailability, or indeed unwillingness, of some riders from competing in Britain won't encourage new fans to the sport hence the continuing decline. Not forgetting the impact that the GP's have created regarding the domestic programme over the years despite it's good (?) intentions.

Sad news. Remember him turning out for White City when 'The Witches' dispensenced with his serivices. RIP

Yes I think you are right...used to follow the Ice Hockey scene in the UK (Oxford City 'Stars') but can you imagine the uproar in footballing circles if the team that finished top didn't end up as champions!

...just read your post and duplicated your view! Always amuses me when people compare the Play-Off system in speedway with football in particular. Not sure how other sports decide their champions however.

Sad news indeed. Promoter at Oxford, White City and Eastbourne and was always passionate about the sport. Remember when 'The Rebels' signed Tony Lomas and Bob took to the track at Cowley to demonstrate the best way of riding the track and promptly broke his ankle! A great servant and a great loss to the sport. RIP

...but am I correct in saying that Play-Offs in football, for example, decide who is to be promoted and relegated? Those teams that finish top of the table (whatever the league) are crowned champions unlike speedway.

Yet another stadium apparently under threat. What with the demise of Coventry and my team (Oxford) as well as Reading plus Dudley Wood and the recent demolition of Plough Lane speedway's future looks bleak to say the least.

Ah yes! Respect...something that occasionally goes amiss on this forum whatever the subject and/or discussion and/or opinion and continual discrediting of some posters. To my knowledge I've never shown disrespect to any comment that you may have made...disagreed perhaps...but never disrespected. ...now we're both guilty of going round in circles!

...oh go on! Name some names...be a devil!

...constantly and without fail although I am sometimes selective in what I read personally!

Interesting observation and suggests that nothing can be taken for granted...even football with all the media hype that exists!

...I read this book back in the seventies and recently bought a copy off ebay. A fabulous read and compliments his much later book 'Will to Win".

...the difference, of course. being is that I only engage with areas of new technology that I find useful rather than allowing technology to dictate which often involves having to spend hundreds of pounds on something that you may never use, or indeed, require but it's all about "Keeping up with the Jones" Thankfully I'm above all of that. It was interesting to see that books sales are up depite the advent of kindle which many 'experts' envisaged would bring about the demise of books....and I have hundreds of books which I consult.

...it's the same when you phone a utility company and all you want to do is talk to someone direct whilst the introductory waffling message gives you a hundred and one different options and messages it's cost a tidy sum before you've got to where you wish to be.

...I watch Laurel & Hardy and Chaplin movies and have a collection of Super 8 movies, Video and DVDs featuring both and others. Doesn't mean I don't accept modern technology as I have just re-found model railways and enjoy the new improvisations and as a very keen photographer I am about to upgrade my digital camera.

...Personally I've never totally gone along with the music played argument. In all my years going to speedway the music was often of the latest chart selection which is what the younger generation (those very people the sport needs to attract) tend to listen to anyway and, therefore, able to relate to same...which is more than I could half of the time!

...This is an area that the late John Berry used to raise. Whereas once upon a time the one-off World Final when staged in this country would provide a divided income for British tracks (as well as other FIM and shared BSPA events) when the GPs came along the whole scenario changed and with little interference from the BSPA who allowed the circus to dictate it's own terms.