steve roberts

I've attended meetings whereby even referees don't know that certain rules have been contravened/manipulated and frantic phone calls have had to be made to clear up any "misunderstanding" and/or "gamesmanship" by opposite Team Managers so what chance do fans have in some of the more extreme instances?

Agree 100% and a chance to catch up with mates on the terraces and have a banter!

Personally I don't think that speedway comes over very well televised "live". Edited highlights is my personal choice but I'm sure that I am in the minority?

...problem is that those in "control" feel the need to constantly change the rules/race format/points scored/points limits etc etc on an all too regular basis.

Personally I preferred the old aggregate bonus point system...far easier and simpler to understand!

Interesting but I would argue that the coverage of American Football expecially in this country has influenced people's perception regarding "play-off" scenarios.

The future of Swindon Stadium has been an on-going unacceptable public relations disaster for many years now. I feel sorry for any "Budgies" fans who have been promised this and that without any substance and continual cover ups.

Must have been great being a speedway fan in London during those days!

Yes Oxford was most definately Thursday...it changed to Friday when Hackney's license was acquired back in 1984. It reverted back to a Thursday for a couple of seasons (can't remember the reason why now?) and then back to Fridays during the late eighties.

No that's not what was implied in my last comment or indeed previous posts...my defining question/answer was that football decides its champions by whoever finishes top whereas speedway decides otherwise for better or worse. The detail of the rights and wrongs has long been debated on the forum going back many years regarding the pros and cons of "playoff" systems.

Because the system works perfectly well as it is whereas other sports are continually tinkering with their formats in the hope of attracting mass media/sponsorship attention...football gets that automatically and always will until the money runs out as it already has done for many clubs.

I don't actually follow football much now so I bow to your input. Personally I think generally "playoffs" are an advent of American sports whereby your average american requires a sudden death situation and can't comprehend/appreciate a league structured format and all that entails!

...think I've managed to desipher your response but I'm not entirely sure your average Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City & Utd et al fans would neccessarily accept that scenario to be honest but I would be happy to be proved wrong but I guess that will never be answered?

...and we at Oxford had some right "humdingers" in the cup competitions!

...and you have to ask the question why has football avoided going down that route? Would football fans except that scenario? Of course promotion playoffs have been the norm for many years now but I think I am right in saying that those who finish top in the various leagues (Championship, One & Two) are still crowned champions? Only those immediately below that are involved in playoffs to decide on who gets promoted?

I would agree that comparisons aren't a true reflection on the state of either sport but I was referring to the fact that football still "rewards" the team that finishes top as champions irrespective of prize money. but as I have stated in my earlier post those teams further down the listings are fighting for their very survival whilst the richer clubs continual to get richer. As regards Speedway we were sold the story that live league speedway would pull in major sponsors which unfortunately, for whatever reason, never did. Which beggars the question who got the SKY money?

Champions are still champions however and that's what the record books show. Football at that level has become too money orientated with the richest getting richer and, dare I suggest, buying success whereas further down the leagues teams are struggling to fight off survival and bankruptcy. Not a healthy situation in anybody's language.

Speedway Star used to publish figures many years ago now...not sure why it was dropped although being of cynical mind I'm sure the promoters at the time had something to do with it for whatever reason!!

I have no direct link to Alan I'm afraid but I see that he is still posting on the forum only today (Moxey)

Back in the early sixties when two of "Cloughie's" colleagues were throwing games and were found guilty and imprisoned never to play professional football again...and people talk about the Sunday People allegations and how it corrupted speedway!

...remember reading Jack "The Villian" Millen once drop kicking the phone over the tapes! Couldn't agree more as regards placement of phone. I once asked Bernard Crapper what he used to say to the the ref whilst waving his arms about in mock protest? He told me that he was often just passing the time of day but was playing up to the crowd to get them excited!

I'd recommend anyone to read "Cloughie's" autobiogarphy. Although written nearly 20 years ago his views on the modern game and TV in particular make fascinating reading and there is much that is still relevant today especially regarding "big" money/salaries, club owners and over the top commentary analysis amongst many other observations.

...not Premier League Football however where the team that finishes top become champions. Not sure if the lower divisions apply the same criteria? You can imagine the outcry if the team that finished top in the Football Premier League weren't crowned champions?

I'll believe it when I see it...the future of Swindon's Stadium has been banded about for so long now it's easy to think cynically.

My comment was not directed at Kelvin Tatum or podcasts but just a response to Dean's observation about riders constantly referring to "set ups".