cityrebel

There is no guarantee that some tracks haven't already spent the money. I'm not optimistic that my 10 meeting ticket will be honoured. The sport will be in a very different place than it was pre Covid and brexit. When speedway starts again, Some clubs will not survive this worldwide crisis, it's inevitable.

The Lakeside meetings staged at Rye were a disaster for both clubs. Those six matches could have easily put me off of speedway for life. The stadium was a dump by then with awful facilities. Power cuts, rain offs, curfews and no variety in the opposition. These events virtually finished the track off. I'm glad i attended the amateur meeting last December, for old times sake.

Last night was my 31st non league football match since August 30th. Add that to the 4 speedway meetings i attended, means i definitely haven't been hiding. I haven't been taking unnecessary risks either. Being a key worker has probably helped.

I always thought that Rye House was a purpose built designated speedway stadium. That's how Len managed to shunt the cars out of there back in 2000. Wether that carries any weight nowadays is another matter.

For me, speedway alongside Premier league football will have to remain on the back burner for the foreseeable future. No one expects the vaccine to lead to a quick fix to end the pandemic. Many experts are predicting it will be next Autumn before things start to return to normal. For now, i will continue to attend lower league football matches to help retain my sanity!

Moneyfields v Truro City in the FA trophy.

As a neutral, i enjoyed both the Shay and Odsal. It will need a brave man with deep pockets to bring professional speedway back to Bradford. It's an iconic venue for sure, but i can't see it being financially viable.

A lot of fans will be thinking about their future as well. The big enforced break has impacted upon everyone. For me personally, do i want to pay big money to watch premiership football anymore, probably not. Do i want to travel long distances to watch speedway anymore, maybe occasionally. All the time i still have local tracks to attend, i will still go, but their future is not guaranteed, and nothing lasts forever.

No ones knows what impact Covid will have on speedway attendances, once it resumes. Health and finance are bound to have a big influence on peoples ability to attend. I don't envy the promoters, trying to assemble a team to run at a level, that might not be viable anymore.

Sold West Ham as well, to the dreaded GRA, to help fund the new grandstand at Brandon stadium.

When speedway was allowed back into Wimbledon in 2002, the sport was given the keys to the crown jewels. A famous London club, in a stadium with corporate facilitates. What did the BSPA do to back the venture, absolutely nothing. Yet another opportunity was missed by the selfish bufoons that run British speedway.

I'm suprised at that. I was just thankful that grassroots football was starting up again.

Because it's crap and poor value for money. This comes from a fan of 50 years, that when it's running, still goes twice a week!

You like him then!

I'm not a fan of the dynamic duo in any shape or form. He also had a big part to play in Lakeside's troubled last season. This year however, he did try to keep the sport in the public eye, by running a few meetings.

Sorry, it's back in fourth now. Its just been overtaken by tiddlywinks.

The sport was knackered long before Covid. At least Godfrey tried to keep the flag flying, when the vast majority did nothing.

It's barely alive now.

I've been to quite a few non league games recently where the attendance was around the 600 mark. Amateur sport has different rules to so called Elite sports like speedway, where a 600 turn out would be classed as a good crowd at some venues.

I totally agree with you. I saw 4 live speedway meetings last season, compared to 24 non league football matches in the same period. I had the will, but very few tracks wanted my money.

Speedway is more invisible than Elite. How many people actually know what it is.

I always enjoyed looking in the pits at the Groveway, Milton Keynes. There was a glass viewing area in the cafeteria, so you could eat and watch at the same time. The pits was situated next to the Greyhound kennels.

Why should any rider wait to see if British speedway runs next year. If the other European leagues can guarantee them an income, who can blame them for accepting their offers.

When i attended the Dragons amateur meeting at Rye last December, it felt like a farewell to the old place. The writing was on the wall when i saw the partly demolished grandstand. Plenty of happy memories at a convenient and user friendly track. RIP the launch pad.

Wasn't West Ham the same Steve. Both had Imposing wooden stands, great race tracks and wreaked of History. In my eyes, Custom House was the Hyde Road of the South.