steve roberts

THE Swindon Robins Speedway team will have a £5m new home in 2016 after plans for a new stadium were announced yesterday. Work could start as early as May on the new venue, which will not only have new facilities for the riders but is being designed so it is ideal for television companies to broadcast events. It will be built next to the existing Abbey Stadium, built in 1949, which will then be demolished. Greyhound racing will also take place at the new venue. Clarke Osbourne, of Gaming International which owns the land, says while it has taken time to get to this point the end result will be worth the wait. He said: “The recession was very much like this eclipse for us. For a period it looked very dark but it has now brightened up. “We are delighted to have got to this stage. We had planning permission a number of years ago but it was all held up by the recession. “There was certainly a time when things really looked as though they weren’t going to happen but the support we’ve had from the local community and MP have been great. “If everything goes to plan we would hope to start work in 10 weeks so everything will be ready for next season. Promoted stories Ugliest Celebrities With No Make Up On (socialspinwheel) Beckham says 'Number 7' shirt should inspire Memphis(Channel NewsAsia) Could the looming EU data regulations over the next 12 months lead to the death of cloud computing? Find out.(The Future of Commerce) EastEnders Star In Heart-Breaking Cancer News(Entertainment Daily) Beloved Corrie Stars Facing Sack (Entertainment Daily) New Policy In UK: If You Don't Have Life Insurance, Read This! (UK Life Insurance Saver) Recommended by “We have designed it so it will be for TV. “A lot of people say this but it really will be state-of-the-art. There will be camera positions built in and the latest LED floodlights. “It will be somewhere which is not only convenient but also cheap for television companies.” Clarke says there will be some disruption during the building period but every effort will be made to keep it to a minimum. When built, the new stadium will hold around 2,500 people, similar to the current level but it will have the facilities to hold functions every day of the week, thereby increasing the revenue generated. The stadium will also incorporate space for local charities and youth groups to use and the market will be retained. North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson campaigned to save the stadium back in 2008 when he was a borough councillor. He said: “This is an immensely proud moment for me. “I led the campaign in 2008 to save the stadium so it is fantastic for the local community and the speedway fans. “I am delighted that after many years these plans have now come forward. This is really good news. “The pressure is now on for Alun and his team to have a really strong final season.” Let’s give old stadium a send-off in style THE announcement of the new stadium has created mixed feelings for Swindon Robins and Great Britain manager Alun Rossiter, who has a long history with the Abbey. He is delighted the sport is about to get a huge shot in the arm with new facilities but will miss the venue he has been coming to since he was a small child. “I am over the moon at the moment,” he said. “I started as a mascot here in 1969 and then rode for the team, captained the team and am now the manager, so this is a really big day. “This stadium was built in 1949 so there is a touch of sadness but we have to move forward. The track is fine but if you look at the rest of it, things are very run down. Unfortunately, you do have to move with the times and on to bigger and better things. The stadium will stand in the middle of a new housing development and many of the streets will be named after former riders. Alun says it shows how important the stadium is to the town and believes it will bring in many benefits. He said “These are really exciting times for Speedway and the whole of Swindon. Having a brand new facility is something which will lift everyone. Share article “We have had some really good support from the local MP and I don’t think this would have happened without him. “What we have to do now is make sure we send the Abbey off with style.” Taken from the Swindon Advertiser 21/3/2015.

Shambolic Agree entirely! The whole Swindon Stadium scenario has been a public relations shambles! Having declared an 'End of Abbey Stadium' meeting without knowing what the future holds just smacks of incompetence and a lack of foresight (whoever is to blame) One can only hope that the people of Swindon have the opportunity to continue following speedway (however it seems very unlikely, at present, at a new stadium in the forceable future) and that it doesn't go the same way as Oxford and Reading!

Like to add Colin 'Joe' Gooddy to the list!

If I recall the accident was featured on either World of Sport or Grandstand at the time! My first visit to Bristol was the same meeting in 1977 (the original was cancelled due to rain... which I also attended!) 'The Rebels' were chasing the championship and a win here would have more or less tied it up. However they lost by two points despite the superlative efforts of Gordon Kennett, Kai Niemi and Mike Sampson. Great memories!

Does anyone have access to a DVD covering the 1977 British League encounter between the Heathens and Rebels? The meeting was covered by Central TV.

If you say so!

As I live in York I am only able to 'grasp' what I hear from others! As I initiated this thread it was based on a conversation I had with a group of Swindon visitors who explained that demolition had begun. I have tried to obtain information via the internet (yes I am well able to 'think' for myself!) but the information is vague to say the very least. I accessed the Swindon Dogs web-site to find that meetings/bookings were still taking place contrary to what others have been implying. So please don't patronise me with your comments! Thank you for the information. Greatly appreciated! Many thanks for the information! It confirms what I have found having accessed the Dog Racing web-site. As I live afar the information I have been given and/or read strongly suggested that the stadium was due for demolition. This is obviously not the case and therefore I can only conclude that speedway will continue for the forceable future at the present location (ie next season) We await with baited breath!

It all seems very vague to me! I was informed that the 'old' stadium is being demolished as we speak by some Swindon folk I met a couple of weeks ago? I've sent an email to the dog people requesting information as, apparently, they are still operating?

As I've commented previously a statement from Terry Russell would be appreciated?

Try contacting Classic Race Jackets. They produce replica jackets (I recently ordered a 1972 Oxford Rebels jacket and was very pleased with it!) Contact email address is: pete@classicracejackets.com Regards

One of speedway's many oddities! I could never understand how a team known as GB was represented by just one Englishman (Ray Wilson) when it won the World Team Cup in 1971. I remember talking to non speedway fans who used to think it laughable that the internal politics within speedway allowed Aussies and Kiwis to represent Great Britain! Just another example whereby federations (whether the ACU, FIM, SCB, BSPA etc) were unconnected causing confusion and there I say, derision, amongst non fans. Not surprising that speedway always appeared to suffer when it came to be taken seriously!

So was I! It was one of those strange instances when nothing could go wrong for Blackbird. If the meeting had been either the previous or following week it wouldn't have happened! Occasionally happens that a rider rides above himself for no apparent reason (although there was an interesting article some years back in 'Backtrack' where he put it down to the bike he rode that evening) and never again reaches that same peak. Perhaps all his stars had aligned that night?

I could have helped...but to my eternal regret I sold all my programmes!

Hi Salty! Yes can't really comment with authority on modern day speedway as I haven't been for 11-12 years but I do enjoy reading and commenting about the past! I recall Bob Radford's comments in said article and he has on a number of occasions criticised Ulf Lovaas regarding dealings with him. I would dearly love to read Ulf's versions of events to balance the discussion! 'Mad' Malc Ballard was indeed involved in a bad coming together with Cribby (I think that Bruce ended up breaking his leg?) and Malc had his car severely damaged when leaving Dudley Wood as I recall a collection took place at Cowley to help towards the repairs. He requested a move from Cowley and moved to Poole for the 1974 season but quickly transferred to Leicester when he decided to retire. I remember a 4TT down at Eastbourne in 1974 (when he representing the Pirates) when he got up to all sorts of mischief picking fights with, if I recall, Dave Kennett and Laurie Etheridge. Last I read he was a mechanic in the Lewis Bridger camp (?)

Wonderful memories of a less than perfect track...but good memories all the same!

I find it very disturbing and a sad reflection on speedway in the 21st Century but with the loss of Reading and Oxford (whether the sport returns to Cowley remains a huge question mark?) and now possibly Swindon will mean that the Thames Valley will no longer have a representation. Considering that London hasn't had a team in years and I understand that Coventry is also under threat (I meet people form all parts of the country in my employment within the museum industry) it's certainly a worrying trend.

Interesting comment from the late Malcolm Simmons when he was a columnist for the magnificent "Backtrack' magazine. "Regular readers will know that I used to have little 'digs' at Scunthorpe-born Woffy for being what I once considered to be an Aussie masquerading as a brit, having spent most of his childhood growing up with his family i Perth, but British speedway badly needs to claim Tai as its own and should try and capitalise on his success this season" (October 2013)

Frederick (Rick) Timmo was a loyal servant to Oxford (1967 - 74) even turning down the chance to race with 'Briggo' at Swindon when offered the opportunity.

Call me a cynic but am I right to say that Clark Osborne has something to do with Blunsden Stadium? I well remember when he placed Cowley in great jeopardy back in 1975 under the banner of Bristol Stadiums Ltd (?) when the site was about to be sold for redevelopment until saved thru' the great efforts of local fans (my uncle was one).

How about a statement from Terry Russell? Isn't he the man in charge at Swindon?

Only the home team as the away team was tucked out of site!

Just caught up with the video!

The first and second bends had very limited viewing access at Cowley which is why the third and fourth bends proved popular.

Many thanks for this! makes fascinating reading. I recall my brother seeing Conny at the local fun fair held at Blackbird Leys during his short stay in Oxford. Apparently he was proving very successful on the gun range...he hadn't long finished his National Service! Hasse was a favourite of mine. Remember the day he pulled up outside my house with a long trailer/caravan hooked up to his car! Last rode for 'The Rebels' in 1975 but it was very short stay. He was late coming over (June) due to commitments back home. He rode one match at Cowley (paid eight points) against Hull and, if I recall, rode at Reading and that was it. I last saw him ride at Crayford in 1983 representing his Swedish club side. Thanks again!

Would find it fascinating to read interviews (in a perfect world!) with the following riders: Conny Samuelsson - Rode for Oxford during 1969 but struggled around Cowley although put in some superlative performances at some away venues (claiming a track record at one track?) He left Britain and never returned and I would enjoy reading his reasons as he seemed to have it to make a success of it in Britain? Malcolm Ballard - A volatile character who appeared to have it all but retired after joining Leicester in 1974. Mike Sampson - Suddenly hit stardom in 1977 and was one of the main reasons for White City's success in 1977. His weekly rips to Barrow must have been horrendous! Steve Gresham Another volatile character hated by riders and fans alike! Hasse Holmqvist - Very popular rider at both Cowley and Monmore Green but whose time in Britain was very spasmodic. Ulf Lovaas - A favourite of mine but Bob Radford has often gone into print questioning him. Would like to read Ulf's side of the story. Per Sorensen - One of the main reasons why Oxford became a great side in 1986 after years spent at Swindon. Just a few but I'm sure I could think of some others!