Diamonds85

Yes, I think Archie is nailed on to be one of our rising stars... Think he will do alright after the experience of this year, each week he got that little bit closer... Will be nice to have a local lad around too... Assuming it's 2 rising stars this would be a decent start to the building I think 1. 2. Connor Mountain/Adam Roynon 3. Matty Wethers 4. Max Clegg 5. 6. 7. Archie Freeman Add a big number 1, a solid number 5 and another talent at reserve, think we'll be in for a cracking season... Really can't wait

She must have had a big impact on the club if her life is celebrated yearly all these years later? Not even sure when Redcar moved to STMP but I have always remembered them racing there (I've only been going to the speedway since 2007)

All these years I've been going to speedway and I've heard about the Julie Lewis Memorial meeting at Redcar, yet I have never known who she was and how she was involved with the club... It would be really interesting to know and know when the first Julie Lewis meeting was staged, thank you

I am the happiest bloke in the world right now After a long hard depressing week of 13 hour shift work, after the emotion of last Sunday, this has been the best bit of news ever!! I WILL be digging my hands right into my pockets in support of Rob Grant next season, so there BETTER be an Edinburgh style fan club for us to put that money in to... The most important thing now is we need a BIG team line up... Think Max, Connor and Adam need to be snapped up NOW, before anyone else gets them... Then build from there, I can't wait

I believe that £110,000 is the figure put together for the first year, which would include the purchase of the club and all its assets and other year one set up costs... Surely that figure would be significantly lower for future seasons, even at Brough Park... Which is why I suggested that we should consider dropping down to the NL for one or two seasons until we find our feet with new owners backed by fans...

The two key pieces of information we need to determine is: How many supporters are willing to put how much in If there are any companies who are willing to put into the funds to help support the club I mean... over £10,000 was raised not that long ago by people just for the love of the club... And I know a lot of that was outside help... But if we could get 150 fans put in £10 a week, then a month that could be £6,000... Plus any larger sums that people could put in, plus any companies who are willing to sponsor us, we could be looking at that £10,000 being raised on a monthly basis, if we can keep that going... But is 150 fans unrealistic? I am not sure who or how many are keen, or can afford, to do such a thing... That's what we need to find out, so any future buyers feel confident enough...

Main thing we need is someone with spare time who can run and manage the club, with the odd bit of financial backing from a successful business such as Rob's (Wouldn't have to be anywhere near what he put in this year) and from the fans too, things should be set I believe the low attendance levels this season have been down to a multitude of things... Covid, poor team, a few jumped ship to Redcar because they weren't a fan of how Rob was running things... However I think with the correct advertising and if the Diamonds could come back stronger, with a more attractive lineup, the 500-600 fans of old could be easily brought back + others? I think you're right unfortunately So we may need to find another figurehead... I believe that Rob has made a profit within the speedway, but that has involved investing heavily from his other businesses, which have mad significant losses, so overall, it's been a loss But if us fans can chip in and support a new leader, AND we can get the numbers back of old, then it could well be viable? If we had a new stadium that was owned b the speedway we could lease it out for all sorts of activities... Amateur meetings, practice junior days etc, just like Scunthorpe do, I would suggest that is how they make the majority of their income? I don't remember the exact details, but it's approximately £500-£650 (someone will be able to quote the exact figure I'm sure) a day to hire the track at Scunthorpe... And it's hired out by AMSA and Wayne Carter and sometimes independent people on a more than weekly basis... That's HUGE, obviously it would take years and years to get that up and running though... Oh and also, no stadium rent to pay Nice to get a mention... Just hope Mr rich man is sat at home now rubbing his hands together...

I am aware that a lot of you guys volunteered your duties, which is amazing... But I also assume that some in other roles were paid? I can't say for sure as I am not really involved in any background type stuff...

Yes... Rent may be the same, but as I mentioned above, it's reductions elsewhere we need to look at while we go through our initial difficult financial season... Rider wages is the most obvious place to start? Also, is it cheaper to enter a team in the NL (licence wise etc) compared to the PL or CL? I don't know... Yes... We do need a figure head to take charge and run the show so to speak... Look after the funds, go to meetings with the BSPA etc... If we could find someone and hundreds of us back them financially, that could be the way forward? That figurehead doesn't even need to be that wealthy themselves if we've all got their back... I am sure the current crop of volunteers, some of which I know or have known in the past personally, would be ecstatic and more than happy to come down and help again if their team they've been volunteering at for years came back? Although yes, there would need to be certain positions refilled again... Their wages would need to be taken into account also I'm guessing not... If only he could be that figurehead I talked about earlier... He wouldn't need to worry about the money side as much, just the planning side, which afterall, IS his business ain't it? Entertainment... Us fans could provide as much financial backing as possible... And considering he actually made a profit this year (granted he lost a lot on his other businesses during covid) the possibilities are endless... I just wish that things like the waffle truck and extra food and drink options had been there all year, as they were heaving and must have been making a fortune for him... Although I only visited the bar personally

Well... Why don't we on here think up a bullet point list of things that need to be mentioned in a post, and someone who it literate put something together with it? WE could do something... Hello Ajr, I believe you must be getting me mixed up with someone else as I've never really met up with anyone new at the speedway recently? Although catching up over a beer, I would be down to do that with anyone Yes, their grandkids, who they look after on a permanent basis... Don't really feel I wanna explain why, but that is the situation... Also, they are not my parents, therefore they're not looking after MY kids, before anyone leaps to that suggestion. Don't really wanna say any more than that on here Not a problem haha, it's a strange situation, so I understand the question marks raised National league would drastically reduce the rider wages as far as I know the riders are on a set £20 a point? Could be wrong... Now I don't know what our lads were on this year, but I imagine the likes of Ben and Max were at least £35-40 a point... It would reduce the rider wages significantly, surely? Whilst we are struggling for funds in our initial '£110,000' year where we would have more money to fork over than normal... Then, we can start thinking about moving back up and splashing more on rider wages (if it ever gets to that point)

If the majority could set up a direct debit of £5-£10 and we could get a handful of fans who are willing to put more in a month, up to £1,000 like some have suggested, we could be well up near £60,000 for the full year... BUT, we need an initial cash injection, sometime within the next 6 weeks, for us to even declare our intent... I just don't see that happening A fan direct debit type situation should have been set up at the beginning of this season, in hindsight...

It may sound stupid... But could we drop down to the National League for that first £110,000 season... Maybe cut the costs down slightly with the riders wages... Get the season's costs down to say £90,000, it is closer to reality than the £110,000... Let's face it, the 350/450 hardcore fans who have been going week in week out will still probably go to watch NL racing as they love the club and go whatever, and imo it is some of the most exciting racing in the country. Just an idea of cutting costs somewhere to help reduce the costs in that initial season? Could still include some good riders in the NL, some local talent too. Max at number 1, Archie at number 5, Josh Embleton and Danny Smith. Even Jack Shimelt at number 6 and 7, as I feel the standard of NL racing will drop even further next year and if Jack can progress well over the winter, he may not be too far off come the start of the season... Some very cheap to pay riders there... And you're only looking for another 2 riders to make a team? Just an idea, I'm sure someone will explain to me why it can't be, and please do £110,000 is a scary sounding figure, I know a few fans said they can give a couple grand here and there, but £90,000-£110,000 is just too high a figure imo, we desperately need a new Rob Grant to come in to supplement the generosity from the fans...

How much money has been slapped on the club then? doesn't sound good...

Eh??? I take it you weren't there then...?

All sounds very promising? Any real interest from anyone would be great, hope it's enough to keep the club afloat? I'll keep EVERYTHING crossed that it is...

Must have taken A LOT of courage for Rob Grant to get up and announce what he announced on the microphone before heat 15... Just what he has been through TODAY let alone the last 2 years... He needs to be applauded for that, but he did make it very clear that his involvement was complete, nothing more he can do... What a massive shame but best of luck to him for the future in his own businesses... He even had to courage to admit that he made many wrong doings throughout the season, but like he says... If anyone out there can do it better, please come forward

The post needs to be incredibly well thought out, afterall, it's an advertisement for the club... It can't just be a few sentences thrown together, maybe John and Rob and Co need to get their heads together and sit down, put something really professionally together, not give potential investors a choice, they need to be sold within the first few words... Not the usual lack of punctuation and spelling mistakes of usual from our Facebook page (no offence)

If someone could put the post together, a well thought out one, it could be shared over and over by as many people as possible... Let's get the word out there for people to see!! Isn't there a local council member who often visits the track for big race meetings? Couldn't they help get the word out there too, we can't let Newcastle speedway end on tonight

Could John Courtney be joining the queue again? And be the new name on Tyneside? With the backing of a few loyal fans prepared to show you the support that you have done for the club on countless occasions in the past...

@TotallyHonestJohn Hi John, What's the crack then? Did anything happen in the bar upstairs after the meeting? Would be great to know what happened... I would love to have came up but I was with my elderly relatives and couldn't have really expected to have made them come upstairs after standing for so long and they had to get their kids home ready for school in the morning too... I am very interested in helping out financially on a weekly basis if we can somehow manage to get a fan consortium put together to support someone in the future. I might not be able to put very much in, but I would be more than happy to do my bit. Looking forward to hearing from you. Cheers

Not at this short notice I would guess...

The previous promotion may have entertained us all for years... But let's not forget that their backhanded 'dodgy' way of running the club's finances for all them years is one of the main reasons that today is the final meeting ever for Newcastle Diamonds... Among other things yes I know

So who's in for Ben then? R/R what a let down for the final meeting...

They announced last week if it's rained off it'll take place next Sunday... but they also announced then that this individual meeting would be taking place.. so who knows

Is this the same promoter who was involved with is before? Or is there another former peterborough promoter who has redcar ties?