cityrebel

that's good news shads, that means I might be able to return to my old vantage point next season!

to be honest I was surprised when it was announced the raiders would be returning, the crowds were poor in their last season. I still think there is plenty of time to put a side together for the New campaign, but for me it means far too many meetings at rye with two teams running.

Two of my neighbours still get the speedway star from the local newsagent, but have not been to a meeting since Wimbledon closed in 2005. They know that I still go on a regular basis, but show little interest of ever going again themselves. Reading the star and watching it on sky seems to be enough for a lot of fans these days, and who can blame them!

I remember watching jack Biggs and jimmy gooch ride for hackney in 1970. They were veteran riders that seemed to belong in a bygone era. I suppose you could say the same about jimmy Squibb, who rode until the mid 70's.

Very sad news. I knew Eddie well and he was a familiar figure with his stall outside the main grandstand at plough lane. RIP Eddie.

50 and male I'd say, which sums up the majority of people I know that go to speedway.

I have not missed the marathon double headers at rye in the past couple of years. I just hope that Len can speed up the running of meetings at the launch pad next season, sorting out the pathetic track grading and watering would be a good start.

they were extra special, because they invited top riders like ronnie Moore to compete who weren't even riding in the main match!

Despite being a dons fan, I was a regular at wembley in 1970/71. We used to visit my nan who lived in notting hill gate on Saturday afternoons and go to the speedway in the evening. The second half races at wembley were the best ever.

The last world champion I never saw ride was Knutsson (one S or two). I saw fundin ride in his last season for wembley in 1970, does anyone remember the boos at the world team cup final!

I remember them taking place, but it all seems like a lifetime ago!

i beat you by two days!. September 26th 1968 the laurels at Wimbledon, won by Barry Briggs.

As an Arlington regular, but not an eagles fan, I would say this eastbourne side needs a couple of exciting riders that are going to progress, like Ayres and Shanes at kent. It's going to be a hard sell trying to convince some fans used to a diet of EL racing to attend Arlington next season. I will be there, I just hope enough people are willing to give NL a try.

you and me both. My first meeting was September 1968.

why, it's a good topic. When I think back to sitting on those hard wooden seats in the main stand at custom house, it brings a tear to my eye!

as a kid I cut my teeth at Wimbledon, wembley and west ham in the early 70's. Although I was a Wimbledon fan I was still taken to plenty of meetings in the south east that didn't involve the dons. I started going further afield on the supporters club coaches in 1975, and by 1981 I had visited every track in the country. The rest they say is history!

the nearest I got, was seeing the gladiators ride at rye house in 1974!

48 for me Belle vue (Hyde road) Berwick (berrington lough) Birmingham (perry Barr 1) Birmingham (wheels) Boston Bristol Buxton (stadium) Crayford Edinburgh (powderhall) Glasgow (Blantyre) Glasgow (craighead park) Glasgow (shawfield) Isle of Wight Leicester (blackbird road) Newport (somerton park) Newport (queensway meadows) Oxford Plymouth (pennycross) Scunthorpe (ashby ville) Sittingbourne Barrow (park road) Bradford Canterbury Carmarthen Cradley Heath Ellesmere Port Exeter Hackney Halifax Hull (boulevard) Hull (craven park) Linlithgow Long eaton Middlesbrough Milton Keynes (groveway) Milton Keynes (Enfield park) Rayleigh Reading (tilehurst) Reading (smallmead) Skegness Trelawny Weymouth (Wessex 1) Weymouth (Wessex 2) Romford Wembley West ham White city Wimbledon

God I feel old, I went to all three!

No lakeside or leicester in the trophy next season, which is a shame. The hammers have gone from running in the league to nothing at all.

Great news, a really exciting up and coming rider. I saw him on the shale and the grass last season and he was very impressive.

This sort of thing has been going on for years. Silver ran rayleigh, Sunderland and Crewe in the same league in the 1970's . One night at the weir he was team manager for the kings against the rockets!

a real disappointment not to see greenwood back with the rockets next year, he made real progress as the season wore on. If nelson fails to turn up again, maybe bunners will get a recall!

and football players!

Totally agree, well done Charlie. Some of these footballers think they are above the law.