steve roberts

I think that it's fair to say that the debate has shifted slightly as regards the "right" or "wrongs" as regards booking in advance and all that involves?

I know that in the "Good Old Days" it used to be if you served ten years or more at one club...if I recall Eric & Nigel Boocock and Terry Betts were the first to enjoy a benefit meeting? It was then extended to those who served under the same promotion (Gordon Kennett comes to mind) but nowadays it seems very ambiguous and open to all sorts of interpretation.

I don't have Apple Pay but I'm happy to pay contactless on the door if it's an option. Where I used to work the signal would go down and the system used to crash leaving people no alternative but to pay cash. I don't see why one should have to pay more however on the day?

...as we are constantly reminded of on here!

My brother used to attend Harrogate Utd's home matches but that involves booking in advance now apparently?

...I don't attend because I live 180 miles away and I'm afraid with petrol to consider and the inclement weather it's not worth the risk paying in advance. I would gladly pay cash or use contactless on the gate (apparently cash is acceptable for obtaining a programme?) if I was passing thru' on the off chance which is unlikely considering my personal circumstances.

...thankfully I don't go to football. Not prepared to get ripped off!

Problem with that it does discriminate against those who wish to pay cash or even use contactless? Why would I want to book in advance to visit my local arboretum and then expect to pay a booking fee on top?

Personally I get fed up with all this booking online when one wishes to go to an attraction...and on top of that some even expect you to pay a booking fee! Became the norm during the pandemic and now appears to be the way forward. I prefer to look at my options (weather) and don't wish to pre-empt what I wish to do on any given day.

Agree entirely.

Good to see that you are still around Chris and I agree with your thoughts 100%.

All a bit odd regarding Martin and Eric...obviously more to it than meets the eye? I believe that Martin has also severed his links with Charlie Dugard Machine Tools.

Again wish I was abe to make it. Good luck to everyone!

Having said that are there plans to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the sport with a meeting or event?

The vastly underated Tommy Johansson. Who could forget his pass of Ivan Mauger during the 1974 World Final. Unfortunately suffered with a blood disorder if I am correct but did pick up the 1973 Swedish Championship and who knows what he might have achieved if he had signed for King's Lynn before being "nobbled" by the Hull promotion prior to the 1975 season and picking up an injury which curtailed his career in the UK.

...you've reminded me Jan was the brother of Eddie!

Remember Eddie Davidsson at Cowley...simply awful and found it hard to negotiate the tight bends. I'm sure he was the father of Jonas and his brother who I can't recall the name?

I'm sure that was the general aim but if I recall teams could declare one "old hand" so as to encourage a new breed of riders to develop and because some promoters had a foot in both camps it did generate a flood of riders who went on to ride in Division One.

Recall in Tommy Jansson's biography that Jan could be somewhat of a hothead? I only saw him ride the once at Cowley.

...I have to say that Soren Karlsson is an intriging one? Turned out for the "Bees" I remember before signing for Swindon? Remember Bob Kilby saying that on a non-riding visit to Birmingham when he shared a car with Soren that Soren was off his head drinking sherry!

...as an all-round accomplished motorcyclist I recall in his book when he mentioned the "wall of death" ride made by Tony Rickardsson that was just pure luck and no way could be looked upon as intentional despite claims to the contrary by Rickardsson.

That rings a bell? I remember my brother saying that when he went to the local fair where we lived there was a shooting gallery and Conny was a dead shot with the rifle! Apparently he had just completed his National Service.

It's a bit like my first year watching Oxford in 1972. From the starting line up only two survive...Rick Timmo and Norman Strachan. Those no longer with us include Garry Middleton, Oyvind S.Berg, Ken McKinlay, Colin Gooddy and Svein Kaasa. Thankfully Gordon Kennett and Malcolm Ballard who appeared later are still with us.

Yes it's often said that we are living longer but I have often questioned that generalisation.

One would have thought so...I've been to meetings whereby the result has been changed after the event because the ref had got it wrong when the wrong rider had been declared.