PotteringAround

You imagined it. Or rather you're misremembering two different things. Collins did compete on Superstars a few times, and Kevin Keegan's crash on a pushbike was one of the most famous moments from the programme, but they weren't connected. Collins never competed against Kevin Keegan on the programme.

At least the Casey family have got an apology, which is something. However it does seem to be a begrudging apology forced by his book publisher, perhaps out of fear of being left with a shed full of unsold books. And as others have said, the apology does beg more questions. 1. Collins claims not to know that Steve Casey was ill, yet he has been fighting the disease for several years. Collins' wife knew he was ill. Members of Collins' inner circle of friends knew. Steve Casey was a well-known figure. It's hard to believe Collins didn't know. Maybe it just slipped his mind in that moment of incandescent rage? 2. Collins says his feud with the promotion has gone on 35 years. That takes us back to 1988 when he himself was the BV promoter. Did he have a feud with himself? It's well-documented that Collins had a falling-out with John Perrin not long after they took over BV. And Perrin was a rough type who could fall out with anyone (despite also having his good side), so I wouldn't totally blame Collins for having a feud with him. But surely that would only last until the end of the Perrin era? The BV promotion has changed hands at least three times since then, and there have also been changes of personnel within the promotion during those times. So how has the feud managed to continue against people who had no connection with the actual feud? The only common connection is Collins - and in particular his list of 100+ people who he thinks should have a free pass to every Belle Vue match. (This list contains some former Aces riders, some former Aces juniors, some former non-Aces riders, some ex-Collins sponsors and friends from 50 years back, and some people with no connection to the sport at all). This list has been presented to every new promoter since Perrin, and unsurprisingly rejected by every new promoter. I suspect that Collins knows that no one could ever accept such a nonsensical list, and he uses it on purpose to cause trouble. Of course a few of the people on the list are genuine ex-Aces, but those are admitted to BV anyway. Eric Broadbelt, Ken Eyre, Bill Powell are all regulars, as were Peter Williams and Taffy Owen until their deaths. Chris Morton pops along every so often (which must be difficult considering how his involvement ended). Joe Screen has been. Andy and Paul Smith are obviously there with their son/nephew Jack, and Carl Stonehewer came when his son was second-half riding. Geoff Pusey came along last year with an old upright and was welcomed and allowed to do a few laps in the interval. Peter Ravn came with his clutch business and was welcomed and interviewed on the centre green. Basically any ex-Aces riders are welcomed and so would Collins have been if he'd wanted to come along.... ...And that's where Steve Casey came in. An ex-rider, but even more so a passionate Belle Vue supporter, he felt it was wrong that Collins was denying himself a chance to watch the sport he had graced for over a decade. Like many, he felt that people like Collins should still be part of Belle Vue. He tried, off his own bat, to work a solution so that Collins could end his petty vendetta and come along to BV without losing face. But despite Steve Casey's best efforts, Collins proved too stubborn and threw it all back at him. What Collins did to a dying gentleman who tried to help him is unforgiveable, and the apology is still very weak.

If you mean the regulation about the transfer window exception in the event of "Proven long-term injury" then it's the last paragraph of SR 012.2

Think it's 4.03 remaining for the last signing. So Rathbone on 4.07 won't fit. Kieran Douglas looks favorite.

I think the moral of the story is "If you don't want the public to think of you as a dick who would viciously scrawl an obnoxious message on a book that a dying man had paid £20 for, then don't be a dick viciously scrawling an obnoxious message on a book that a dying man paid £20 for".

It's 1.00pm in Califormia, which is 9.00pm here.

NIce to see that Collins' publicists at Retro Speedway made this kind gesture to Mr Casey. Obviously Retro Speedway were innocent victims in this shameful episode, and their gesture is to be commended. No blame can be attached to them. I'm sure they will have been mightily embarrassed by their client's actions, and as shocked by his callous act as the rest of the Speedway world is. Having seen the photograph of the actual "message" which is currently doing the rounds all over Facebook, it seems even worse than described here. There seems a real spiteful venom in his bitter, angrily scrawled diatribe. However it seems there still has been no apology to the Casey family from the one person who needs to make a full and immediate apology. Collins says he doesn't do Facebook and other social media, and that may be best for him at the moment. At least he won't see how many ex-fans of his are disgusted by him and have disowned him. On the other side of the coin, his ignorance of current public feelings will probably mean he doesn't realise how much an apology is needed. Perhaps his publicists will be able to advise him of how badly he has tarnished his reputation. Finally a question for his publishers. Is there a mechanism in place where people who have bought Collins' book can return it for a refund in view of the recent ugly events?

People making a joke of it, and making light of it, but sadly it is speedway shooting itself in the foot again. Imagine the BSPL have to make a big decision involving two teams... One of which has given them a big wad of money, and one of them which hasn't. If the BSPL management committee rule in favour of the team handing out the cash, how is that going to look? It's not even that the BSPL have to be biased, it's just that there has to be the perception that they could be biased. Whchever way you look at it the BSPL ar now conflicted by this. It wouldn't happen in a professionally organised sport. And yes, there are plenty of other conflicts and matters of self-interest in the sport. But ask yourself, is adding another one making things better or worse?

UK tracks visited. Edinburgh (Powderhall), Edinburgh (Armadale), Glasgow (Shawfield), Glasgow (Ashfield) Berwick (Berrington), Berwick (Shielfield), Workington, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Scunthorpe, Hull (Craven Park), Halifax, Bradford, Sheffield, Belle Vue (Hyde Road), Belle Vue (Kirkmanshulme Lane), Belle Vue (NSS), Ellesmere Port, Stoke, Buxton (Stock car stadium), Buxton (Hi Edge), Long Eaton, Wolverhampton, Cradley Heath, Birmingham (Perry Barr), Leicester (Beaumont Park), Coventry, Peterborough, King's Lynn, Mildenhall, Oxford, Reading, Swindon, Cardiff, Newport, Somerset, Exeter, Plymouth, St Austell, Weymouth, Poole, Isle of Wight, Eastbourne, Lakeside, Iwade, Sittingbourne, Wimbledon, Hackney, Wembley, Rye House

Only 1 Commonwealth rider per team. Can't grab another one.

15.42 left for 2 second-strings and a reserve. But who is available in the North to fill them? Rathbone? Rothery? Muff?

Belle Vue announce Freddy Hodder as third signing

...and Bickley and Hook aren't even Edinburgh's most expensive NDL rider!

The 3 Northern clubs completed their PJL fixtures, there was just no final due to the 3 Southern clubs not taking it seriously He was in charge of one of the worst offending Southern clubs wasn't he?

Again, I'd say you are completely wrong. Can't think of any upcoming rider who has jacked it in due to lack of an NDL place. I'd like to know who you think these "many, many riders" are. I can't think of any promising young British riders not being given an NDL chance, let alone it being a "constant issue". Perhaps you can supply a list of all these upcoming riders being constantly frozen out of NDL? There have however been plenty of riders packing it in due to not being able to move up into a 2nd division. A constant problem with the structure of the top divisions. I'm not saying Hagon will sign for Mildenhall, just that he hasn't retired and has obviously signed somewhere. Could be Armadale, Belle Vue, Berwick or Mildenhall. I just assumed Mildenhall was closest to home for him. There aren't enough quality NDL riders around to staff all teams, so Hagon will be somewhere.

Not sure what you're on about there. Josh Bailey took a break after a bad crash in 2019. It wasn't a lack of team places. Scunthorpe didn't sack him or anything. Sam Hagon rode for Oxford last year. Not sure who he's riding for this year, but if it's Mildenhall, they only confirmed their participation this week so give them a chance. Finally, no teams wanting to enter the NDL have been turned down. A new team has joined (Workington) and 2 teams who couldn't guarantee to continue at the AGM were given a further month+ to get sorted (which Mildenhall now have). So basically you seem to have everything wrong?

With a fortnight to go for teams to make a final declaration to run in 2023, what do we think are the chances of Mildenhall coming to the table? Are things looking more financially viable? I think the gofundme has raised £5k of a £15k target. Can things be negotiated with landlords to give more time to prepare a track less dangerous than in 2022? What kind of a team can be put together? Presume the rider shortage is less severe in the south?

it's lucky that Brennan starts at reserve then!

The Sunshine Bus will take you there, so you'll be Ok.

Belle Vue won the top award, the "Outstanding Contribution to Manchester Sport" at the Manchester Sports Awards last night. Good for the sport for the Premiership Speedway Trophy to be up there rubbing shoulders with Manchester City's Premier League football trophy

Rumour I heard (the day before PL & CL AGM) was that Workington, Belle Vue, Leicester, Oxford and Kent were definitely in for 2023. Armadale were going to drop out. Berwick and Plymouth also thinking of dropping out due to CL being 2 home & 2 away. (So presume they'r back on board now that CL is only 1 home & 1 away?). Mildenhall hadn't decided, (but they wouldn't be present at PL & CL AGM anyway, and surely they'll be in for NDL)?

Daft idea. Suppose you're way ahead on a 5-1. One of your riders has an engine failure. You end up with a 3-3. It's gutting you've lost that 4-point advantage, but you still get a share of the heat. Change to 4-3-2-1 You're way ahead on a 7-3. One of your riders has an engine failure. You end up losing the heat 5-4. How silly would that look? Not only do you lose your 4-point advantage, but you're outscored by 2 riders who were miles behind.

I'd be surprised if he can get in the Belle Vue team. With Bewley, Fricke, Woffinden, Lambert, Zagar, Kurtz, and Wright all fighting for the 3 Belle Vue heat-leader positions, some are certainly going to be disappointed.

Congratulations to all connected with Save Coventry Stadium on this brilliant victory. No doubt Brandon Estates will be willing to play the long game, and will continue until they get their own way, but I reckon they thought they would get their own way today....and they didn't. Sadly I think the stadium will suffer further fires now, even if the landowners do get convicted of neglect at their upcoming trial. But well done to all for today. Keep up the fight. Tony Gillias is a beast! p.s. In the report they said that "Nationwide Doors Ltd" were willing to help rebuild the stadium, but a check of Companies House shows "Nationwide Doors Ltd" as a dormant company in Lancashire, so I presume this is the wrong company? Does anyone know who this company are that are willing to help rebuild?