steve roberts

Yes I followed 'The Rebels' from Cowley and never missed a league meeting and did many of the open international leagues when 'The Rebels' moved on. It was a great stadium and I remember being in awe of the place! I had forgotten the Harringay connection.

I recall that Danny Dunton & Bob Dugard made a huge loss after White City won the title (is it really forty years ago now!) but came back for another season before calling a halt to league speedway at Wood Lane and moving the operation to Eastbourne in 1979. That was back during the supposed affluent seventies (although running speedway at Wood Lane must have been a massive undertaking) so goodness knows how modern promoters even begin to break even never mind generate a small profit.

I used to watch the programme before dashing off to Swindon and looked forward to Sunday's 'Match of the Week' when nothing else very much was going on! Living in Oxford we were one of the first to be connected to cable via Redifussion (Swindon was another if I recall) and had access to four channels if I remember.

I used to enjoy the weekly roundup in the studio (I think Phil Collins was a guest?)

...as usual you add your own spin as I wasn't, in this instance, referring to live TV broadcasts but your reference to !0% which you didn't clarify when you made your initial comment which is why I asked the question...simple really.

...er yes...but wouldn't it have helped if your earlier comment had referred to same thus adding clarity to your statement? By the way I don't subscribe to SKY in any shape or form...never have. Meanwhile I'm awaiting with interest when you get round to answering my other query when you've had a chance to do the relevant research.

..bit like the throwaway comment on another thread recently that 'numerous'' riders during the seventies were able to gain team places within weeks of first siting on a bike. I'm still awaiting some examples to substantiate that claim?

As a matter of interest where do you get the 1/10th of the audience figure from?

...yes as it was for me when I was younger but diminished personally over the years as i stated.

When I first attended speedway and for a number of years the statistical side of the sport used to fascinate me but it began to diminish with age and the pleasure, for me, was the occasion and meeting up with colleagues...but, hey, if that's what the younger generation wants who am I to argue!

I would agree but I use to question the fact that it used to be transmitted live with all the gaps and over analysis (something that puts me off watching sport on TV) Far better showing a slicker edited version in my opinion.

..that's fair enough however I can't comment on sport in general as it has no appeal to me now.

I used to enjoy the days of Screensport with its 'Match of the Week' with the meeting shown in full but with the gaps in between races edited out.

...I remember saying at the time that it wouldn't necessarily bring more people thru' the turnstiles but was constantly shouted down. A friend of mine who lived closed to Cowley Stadium wouldn't bother attending the meeting live when broadcast from Oxford preferring to watch it from the comfort of his home.

I remember the late Bernard Crapper (Oxford co-Promoter) saying that he had reservations about point limits because economics would decree the make up of teams but of course given a free reign some promotions would spend money irrespective of whether they would re-cover that investment in pursuit of glory.

...absolutely!

...something John Berry always raised with the intervention of the GPs.

Sounds familiar.

I think that I may be right in suggesting that that was the mindset of Len Silver also?

...didn't Tom Owen once sign a ten year contract with 'The Diamonds'?

I remember the late Colin Hill, promoter at Exeter for many years, used to make small profits because he didn't indulge in throwing money about but put out a team that was generally competitive...certainly at home. Promotions in the past have spent serious amounts to bring success on track but often end up rueing the fact when finances don't add up at the season's end. I can't remember the specific team that won the championship one season but fans didn't flock in any greater numbers to justify the outlay. I guess it's trying to get the balance right...easier said than done!

I remember Graham Drury signing, if I recall, a three year contract with Oxford but was dispensed with after two years (when Oxford re-entered the British League in 1984). He took the promotion to court and won receiving compensation.

The beauty of speedway, in my view, was that there was once an opportunity to watch meetings run under different formats to add a bit of variety...which I'm sure was unusual as regards most other sports? However with people's tastes changing and being more selective in their choice of entertainment generally it's only the fixtures that 'carry weight' that appear to attract fans now.

...I think that you are right Sid. The taste for meetings other than League meetings has diminished over the years. I used to enjoy the variety of test matches, individuals, Best Pairs, International club matches and 4TT (hated the 3TT format!) as people became more selective in their choice over the years.

...remember a few years back walking around the recreation ground where New Cross Stadium used to be and looking at the demolition taking place at The Den (?) Millwall Football Ground.