RobMcCaffery

Back in 1999 the first job was to get him to hassle refs. We put it to him that even if he agreed with the ref he had a duty to his team to be seen arguing their case, and if he did put a little doubt in the ref's mind the next decision might go our way. He soon learned! He'll do a good job for the Kestrels, if that's the name, although to died-in-the-wool Rockets saying good things about a team called Kestrels doesn't come easily....

John's knowledge of the rule book and superb record of following the Rockets around the country saw him given the Rye House team manager's job in the revival, nomadic 1999 season. Len then kept faith with him after his take-over. I'm glad to hear he's been given such a role again.

Surely my old boss John Sampford? (I used to help him run the old programme stall at Rye House )

Still no news regarding Rybnik.

When Edinburgh returned to speedway in 1977 at Powderhall, the Tigers had been racing on Fridays for some time at White City, Hampden and at that time, Coatbridge. The two tracks both ran on Fridays for many years until Glasgow moved to Sundays. In so doing the lost priority but to say that they have no right to race on Fridays is not borne out by history. It's sad that both Scottish tracks share the same racenight but in these days of fractured fixture lists it's not so bad as weekly conflicts.

Sportowe Fakty are also 'stirring' with this article. "The Biggest Scandals of The Decade". https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/861880/zuzel-najwieksze-skandale-ostatniej-dekady-ucieczka-z-zielonej-gory-hancock-poma Torun refusing to race the second leg of the play-off final, financial dodginess, Hancock 'helping' Holder in Melbourne, Wardthrown out of the Latvian GP. It's not all champagne and roses over there. And "Most Poles have never heard of Zmarzlik". https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/860991/gollobomania-kontra-malyszomania-skoki-bija-zuzel-na-glowe-przecietny-polak-zna-

Rybnik are under investigation. A special meeting of the PZM has been arranged for today regarding concerns over their financial status. The local council have taken exception to ROW carrying over 1 million zloty's of 2018's sponsorship money to the 2019 season. They are now demanding that the money be returned to them. Rybnik are one of the many teams only granted conditional licenses and this latest blow could see them forced to withdraw from racing in 2020. Full story here. Google Translate will translate it for you if your browser doesn't automatically. https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/862152/zuzel-sadny-dzien-pgg-row-u-zespol-do-spraw-licencji-przeswietli-finanse-klubu-i Ironically this all comes the day after ROW announced a ZL 500,000 sponsorship deal!

Yes, it's what's called "International feed". The C-More Swedish version featured a couple of experts standing at a table, talking about the meeting, conducting interviews and with their notes held down by a couple of rear wheel sprockets. Rather than leave the various overseas commentators to try to translate the Swedish the static shot was used. This was why for the long interval Freesports used to carry action from the previous meeting or other motor sport. This year saw a new arrangement where Swedish TV pulled out and just one version was broadcast. Some interviews were in Swedish but for the matches televised in Britain (and elsewhere?) some interviews were in English. Hence a comment from one team manager, Peter Karlsson "Oh, In English this time?" When you see something that looks stupid on screen there is often a good reason behind it even if the result is a lot of work for a solo commentator! There's a lot more to TV presentation that many would imagine.Much of the time it's like herding cats.

Talking about a sports event hundreds of miles away live and with no co-commentator and the need to cover long periods where no action is taking place unfortunately requires a great deal of 'filler'. Well-researched background information can only go so far. At least with the broadcast arrangements having changed in Sweden this year Dave didn't have to cope with lengthy shots from a static camera while domestic Swedish viewers got interviews and discussions in their own language as in the pas.. I've done enough commentary of my own in the distant past to understand why Dave relies on social media to fill the gap.The thing is, you can't just read out anything 'juicy' you see on social media. If its inaccurate or defamatory you share the blame and guilt. You have to play safe so sadly it's the rather simplistic comments that get through. Dave from Reading may think Dackarna are going to beat Lejonen by ten points. Personally I'd rather just watch the match and find out for myself, Perhaps the problem lies in the content that people are putting online? There's the challenge. If you care about this then why not raise the standard yourself. Put something interesting, informative and essentially legal or broadcastable online. Why don't I? I've done more than my share in the past... It's time for others. Given the restraints he works under, Dave does an excellent job and thoroughly deserves his award again.

It is always about the money. They could limit the match coverage to one heat at 4 am and they'd be happy. It's got nothing to do with serving the fans. Last time Eurosport had the GPs they only used the free Quest channel when there was no room on Eurosport. A highlights programme of any sport bar football would be a first on Quest which is otherwise almost totally a "Best of Discovery" factual channel. We shall see. Things could have changed. Hopefully that's true.

What the hell are you on? I didn't state for one second that they had any connections with Poole before moving Weymouth Wildcats in in 1985. I stated that the Stewkesbury Plan destroyed the NL that had existed during the 70s and 80s. Of course it came after then. Where the hell do I state that Stewkesbury ran Poole pre 1985? Do try to keep up. You're too busy trying to cause trouble to even think, that's clear! I was the Poole correspondent for Speedway Mail at the time! Perhaps instead of accusing me of not knowing the facts you might learn to read?

Yes it was, just after the 1980s finished. It ended the National League and saw the recreation of British League Division 1 & 2. Mysteriously Poole found themselves moving from the old NL to Division 1. Many subsequently wished the Pirates had just moved up to the BL and left the rest of us as we were.Mind you it was nothing compared to what came later and the developing egomania of their supporters....and sponsors.

I've only just noticed your childish comment in the second part of your petulant rubbish. If you interpret my feelings to the forum in such an infantile way you really need to learn to read. I decided to just follow the international section because of the depressingly ignorant and hostile atmosphere caused by louts like you in the British sections. I have no feeling at ALL about my treatment by British speedway. You really must check your medication since you are clearly hallucinating. I was treated badly at one track and walked away from it. That is my right. I've been to plenty of others in my five decades as a supporter. I am fundamentally a supporter who was lucky enough to help the sport out in a more formal way. What I objected to was how speedway operated, not how it treated me. You really could start a fight in an empty room couldn't you? "Boo Hoo" Just what level of IQ do you have? It's like listening to the French castle defenders in Monty Python & The Holy Grail. You goimg to call my father a hamster next? Pathetic. Like all normal humans I get annoyed amd I make mistakes but thank God I'm nothing like you. I take part in these discussions to pass on my experiences to help to explain situations and to pass in my thoughts of how the sport can be improved. All you seem to want to do is boast and put down others. It's sad really, big man. Thanks for proving my decision was right, I'll leave you to bully those who dare cross your path to glory here. I've said elsewhere that all Poole can do to the CL is damage it. Certainly dragging people like you in is quite a start in that process. But, one tip, keep lying about me and I guarantee you will regret it. That is NOT a threat, just a warning. You've crossed the line.

See Skidder's spreading the Poole poison to the CL thread. Hopefully it'll only be one season at that level and they'll return here without causing too much damage this time, bearing in mind they were the club that destroyed the 1970/80s National League with a disastrous merger under the "Stewkesbury Plan". Shame to see them polluting the atmosphere of a competitive but ultimately friendly league.

Changed my mind Skidder when reading your ignorant and hostile drivel and thought I'd have a little fun.Clearly that's not possible since you are such an arrogant piece of work. You will be totally out of place in the CL. This was my fear when I heard Poole were self-relegating - your unpleasantness along with too many like you at Wimborne Road can only pollute an otherwise relaxed and fun league. Hopefully it'll only be for a year since all you and your club can do is corrupt the league you're in. Keep signing the cheques, it clearly makes you a very superior person....

They'll come to terms when the trauma eases. Eventually.

Oh dear, have we hijacked a Poole thread? Oh deary me. Keep up the good work....

No no no, Crayford were the budgies! They used to sell toy kestrels on stands and some were waved by the home fans to celebrate wins. We used to ask them if their budgies could talk....

Huge changes in 2022 then total reversal in 2023 when the bills come in?

Only in Carlisle within the city walls with a bow and arrow. A separate adjudication is required for Berwick to prevent people shooting themselves ;-) Enough politics.

In my 48 years in speedway one of the best groups of supporters for having fun and taking the rise out of the opponents (and me) have been Middlesbrough/Redcar fans. Poole will have to re-learn that we have fun in tier 2(BL2/NL/PL/CL)and leave the nastiness (on the whole) to the upper 'elite'. One reason I've always preferred this level - it's competitive but still fun. Some of the Poole fans who don't remember the 80s won't know what's hit them ;-) Here's an example. Local derby Rye House v Canterbury. Recent tensions on track with Barney Kennett 'putting it about' at Kingsmead. As he makes his way to the pits he is accosted by a Rockets supporter, who presents him with a large lollipop "Because he's such a big baby). The fun is rapidly running out in speedway. Time to lighten up and have some fun. Educating Pirates could be fun in 20.

One trip to Redcar will soon sort him out ;-) We know what'll be on the breakfast menu.

Krakow and Pila both out of racing this year. Most of the Ekstraliga teams on supervised conditional licences, including the champions, Leszno. Huge crowds and high income are great, as long as you don't have higher costs. Pila withdrew because the local council wouldn't subsidise this year's losses. Sometimes you need to look past the glitz.

We lived with Ian Thomas's expert shenanigans for years in the second tier. I doubt whether Poole will be anything like their tier 1 version, well at least for a while.....

Thanks for the clarification. The debate about the NSS pre-opening was pretty ill-informed on many levels, and coloured by naked jealousy from some fans that a track in Manchester could dare to carry the title National Speedway Stadium. In most situations like these there is a chance that they will be fulfilled, and equally a chance that they will not, which is why, as surely if you were trying to pick a winner in a race, you have to study 'form'. Having said that there's no reason why an appalling record can't change. I hope so much that in Swindon's case it does. It's a great set-up with a good fan base and a superb record of continuity in the sport. It would be another cruel blow to lose it, and we've had far too many of those.