greyhoundp

Benko Back ? surely close to being the worst none British rider in the UK, if you re sign him look forward to another season of struggles, there are better young NL riders out there, but i guess they might not like the travelling down to Plymouth. Stefan Nielsen, Joe Jacobs, Rob Branford

Here is a copy of the article http://www.signal1.co.uk/news/local/stoke-potters-speedway-loomer-road-home-damaged-by-vandals/ Worrying times for Stoke Speedway, lets hope they had Insurance to cover it.

Seeing as Tattum has the begging bowl out, Im guessing maybe there wasnt Insurance .

Its a little difficult trying to defend the indefensible, but i can honestly say, the majority of Cradley fans wanted us to move up in 2015, however with the Track situation this became more or less impossible, we are fortunate to have a Track for 2015 so to enter the PL as well would have meant 2 things,1. to big a risk financially, and something people may forget 2. there would have been No Brummies. at least for 2015 this will give Birmingham and Cradley a chance to regroup and re asess after the 2015 season.

SCB, does have a point, you cannot in all honesty compare the wins in the 80,s with the present, yes its great to win for riders and supporters, and even if i play tiddlywinks i want to win but to compare Im afraid not, The same goes for The Golden Hammer My suggestion that it be called The Bronze Hammer thus reflecting the 3rd Tier, Silver Hammer as we progress through the Leagues was NOT taken up. So in some ways Im sorry to be disagreeing with a fellow Heathen, who is 2 years my senior in supporting Cradley, but thats only my opinion, In some ways it could be seen as devaluing the past GREAT Teams that we had. Oh i would disagree with SCB on calling it a Kiddie League that is being totally dis respectful to the riders in it, it does at least have a meaningful name "National Development League" could someone explain to me the difference between Elite League and the League we have masquerading as such at the present time ?. I would like to know does SCB have a name for that also perhaps The Big Boys League might be more apt.

Guys there is NO need to have a limit on 3 pointers, reducing the overall Team limit to 36 will in itself DO this, work it out for yourself, as an example i use my own Team. and Devon, Buxton for examples. Cradley Heath. Max Clegg 8.58 Tom Perry 8.21 Nathan Greaves 7.12 Mike Neale 3.00 AN Other 3.00 AN Other 3.00 AN Other 3.00 Total 35.91 Buxtons Final 2014 1 Liam Carr 8.00 2 Tony Atkin 7.54 3 Adam Extance 4.85 4 Ryan Blacklock 4.16 5 Tom Woolley 3.47 6 Stefan Farnaby 3.00 7 Sean Phillips 3.00 Total 34.02 or Devon as an example Tim Webster 8.74 James Shanes 6.40 Matt Bates 6.00 Richard Andrews 4.24 AN Other 4.20 Tyler Govier 3.00 AN Other 3.00 Total 35.58 As you can see they all have whats described as 3 pointers to varying degrees to come within the 36 point limit. Would Cradleys top Trio beat Devons all round strength ?.

I dont dispute that there was a gulf between them and the other Teams and i think a lot of fans voted with there feet, i know of a number of fans who picked and chose there meetings last season, 60+ is definately NOT attractive week in, week out. Income i would think Kents income must be on a par with Cradleys if not more so as they dont have rent to pay, Kents problem lies in there management being unable to formulate a winning Team even with there financial strength. Hopefully this year other Teams will be stronger, Cradleys not so strong doesnt that sound stupid, build to be NOT so strong .but this is British Speedway.

Now just a minute Mike, explain what we at Cradley did wrong ?, had we not have signed Stevie Worrall someone else would have done, had we not signed Paul Starke another team would have, as for Max Clegg, Tom Perry both Cradley assetts, Nathan Greaves 4 point average, Matt Williamson 3+ average, Danny Phillips 3 average Im awaiting your explanation of what was wrong in comparison to lets say Kent Kings original Team or Mildenhalls Team both of whom are stand alone Teams and want to win the League. The problem as i see it the points limit was to high for an 8 Team League, and there has to be a minimum limit as well as a maximum limit.

Nathan will undoutably improve, and is the 2nd best english rider in his age group behind only Robert Lambert, as for staying on for 4 laps if someone at Swindon would have taken the time and trouble to advise maybe he would not have fallen so often, usually through over trying..struggling to find a Team spot ? dependant on the agm time will tell.

Great news for both Teams, Team manager well Phil Morris or Jack Lee both have the contacts for NL Brum will do well if either of them are appointed, now for the local derbies lol, a potential mouth watering prospect because as some of you know us Heathens can be a fervent lot, and The Brummies might need awakening from there slumbers hahaha. The NL certainly seems to be on an upward curve at the moment, with the prospect of a few new Southern Teams, and now Cradley confirmed and The Brummies to apply, it only needs Leicester to come on board now and 2015 should be interesting to say the least.

This has to be the best news for both Teams, 2 Teams one venue the way to go for the future maybe ? well done to The Heathens management, thanks to Tony Mole for rescueing Perry Barr from the Phillips debacle. I may appear to have asked awkward questions of The Heathens management however there was good intent behind the questions, I wanted to see the Heathens continue preferably at Perry Barr, this they have done, again well done to them and looking forward to 2015 especially the local derbies against our fellow Perry Barrians, The Brummies.

So which comment is correct ? The Speedway Star comment or the following, Jon Cook commented: “It’s been fun and an honor to fill the role but after three years as Vice Chairman plus two before that on the Management Committee it’s time for someone else to do their stint. These are challenging times for the Sport as we’ve seen with the loss of two Elite teams and, therefore, this is a sensible time for me to concentrate fully my Speedway time on the Hammers

Oh dear, if thats true then heaven help Speedway.

Have you ever applied for a marriage (fiancee visa) ? for the UK, you cant just come here and get married, you need a visa to do it. , Spouse visa, Family visa, Visit visa, you name it, you need it.

I do believe Rob Branford was planning to return in 2015, a good signing for someone.

Sad to read that Dan McCormick passed away yesterday, Dan was the man who brought success on track to Cradley Heathens after many years of being everyones whipping boys and also rans. I for one will forever be grateful for providing us with a Team that will always be in my memory, he also began the Cradley Heath dynasty of World Champions, Dan was never at a loss for words his imortal quote when speaking of Eric Gundersen "Wolves wined and dined him, but Cradley signed him" and the rest we know. My condolences to Dans family and may you now rest in peace after your final battle.

Nigel Pearson has said the Heathens didnt cover expences in 2014,I think this is not only about the NL but British Speedway in general, its a worrying time for some promoters, and supporters.

With Nigel Pearson saying Cradley Heath have not covered there expences for 2014, and only today Scunthorpe with there own Track have said they have lost money, this really is a massive AGM this weekend.

The last i heard it was 10p per mile but that was 10 years ago, probably 15p per mile now, so if a rider travels Manchester to Plymouth or Kent whats that a 400 mile round trip ?.

Actually if any Team can bring 2 prospects through each year, they are doing well, so KL are a victim of there own success.

I think thats where most of the riders will be coming from, depending on the points limit, Im thinking teams will be tracking 2/3 three pointers in 2015.

Another Rule i would like to see implemented; At the moment if a NL rider has a PL average of 4 or over he cant ride NL, shouldnt we also be saying if a none UK rider has a PL average less than 4 he shouldnt be able to ride PL, because those same ability riders are available from the NL.

Over the years since we lost Dudley Wood, we have had both the main parties running the Council at various times, neither has done anything to help, the fact remains Tony Mole had a perfectly good site in Oldnall Lane, Cradley, but from what i can gather the Council wanted roads improving, before granting PP, there is no way any promoter can afford to do this. And remember we are talking about for 20 meetings over a 365 day year. All that needed doing to enable Speedway to run at that site was double yellow lines painted along the length of it, job done, thats the frustrating part that the Councill have played in this.

Its been said and proved to an extent that having the best reserves gets the highest League position, so for fast track riders maybe for 2015 the reserves will only get half points in there guarded races, but in the other races they will get full points, and those races will then give them a proper average for Team building purposes in the following years.The pay rates will need to be adjusted so that they dont lose money for half point guarded races. When they beat an opposing Ht leader or 2nd string they will also get proper points money not only FTR pay rate. This achieves three things; 1. Teams are not so reliant on having 2 good FTR riders 2. It gives FTR riders a chance to earn more money in line with there value to the Team 3, It also gives them a proper average against other none FTR riders. Sounds complicated which i dont like but it is a way of ironing out the anomalies.

And surely The 2nd City can get every Heat sponsored at £60 per Heat ?.