June

Rest assured these youngsters are in good hands under the guidence of Stuart Parnanby. He's brill with them. Have no fear Adam and Tom are looking very impressive at the AM meetings! Its been done before. leave it up to the Scunny crew! Its worked in the past. At least we've got young brits on the ladder to the upper leagues!.

Your right Halifax disagreement is only marginal.....As far as I'm concerned all I'd like to see achieved is more brits capable of representing our country in the international competions, like it was in the 70's. I long to see a british World Champ again! Only then I believe we will get the atmospheere and crowds back. Probably wont happen in my lifetime, but I would love my grandson to experience the thrills and spills of those times when we had so many great riders.

After my last post I wasn't going to post anymore on this subject as we keep going round in circles. However after catching up and reading the last couple of pages I must say there are little bits I agree with but mosty I disagree. I am a paying supporter , love the NL because these youngsters never give up and provide us with some dammed good racing at Scunny. So no way do I think I should go to these meetings free. I detect some jealousy of how Scunthorpe go about training the brits. All I can say is that we should all be thankfull that Scunny have a track that can be used 24/7 ,( most tracks its not possible ) and that Mr Godfrey, Richard any others have the energy and desire to help these kids get a chance. They all have regular day jobs and I know for a fact that they put many hours in to do this. I cannot for the life of me think why Richie and Stevie Worrall should be quoted as too good for the NL. These lads are only a couple of years into training for their chosen sport. Crickey most apprenticeships go for 4/5 years. Some of you out there want the best riders for their stand alone club because they want to win every time. now I'm not saying I disagree with that but Richie was one of the first to be snapped up by standalone Stoke. ( good luck to him ) yet some are saying he shouldn't be taking a place up. In the days that Scunny was a standalone club, we had the best 2 years ever. I have absolutely nothing against these clubs but would say that riders whos had their apprenticeship time of say 5 years are the ones who should be making way for the youngsters, however I would make an exception of an older rider to act as a coach, even a 2nd one would be acceptable. Just one other point. Not all supporters go to speedway to see the "stars" I for one don't, have never been to an Elite meeting ( Internationals yes ). I'm very happy to support whatever my club provides. lucky at Scunny because we have 2 of the 3 leagues. Sorry for the rant!

Couldn't agree more Albert. Richard is some guy, great asset to the club. never ceases to amaze me how he controls the AM meetings, of course with the help of others. Every week the meetings run to schedual ( apart from the odd fall which neccessitates replacing a panel of the safety fence.) cannot irradicate that. 66 races in just over 4 hours yesterday. Another great afternoon out, just a pity it was so bloody cold! even so still enjoyed it. well done Rich and co.

We keep going round and round with this subject. I don't think we'll ever get everyone of us to agree. because clubs have different needs. Team Sport in general always have a starting competative league and whatever its called, bottom, 3rd, N/L, or C/L its where riders start making a name for themselves,changing the existing format I dont think would make any difference. Its all about getting the youngsters into that first competative league, onto the ladder and climbing to the next level.

Whos Scott Allen? not being funny but its not a name Ive come across and don't recall the name from the Am meetings. I see his name is down for the Saints.

feelthebuzz....I see you are connected to Newport.....You'll be pleased to know Tom Young is flying around the EWR In the Am meetings, looking an excellent prospect for the Saints this year.

Scunny's latest developement.....A newly built building to house an office, track shop and programme kiosk, just about completed. Mr Godfrey & Co has been busy since the season ended and I must say everything down at the EWR is looking pretty good.

My opinion on a name change for N/L is; Whatever name you'd like to call it will never change the fact that...... It is the first rung to the ladder of climbing the leagues for a rider.You cannot fool supporters nor should you. I cannot for the life of me see why fans won't/don't get behind our british lads. Call the leagues 1st, 2nd and 3rd will change nothing. The point is a lot of brits are not patriotic, like they used to be in the 70s when the terraces used to be packed. I remember going to Belle Vue for International meetings to get behind Peter Collins and Chris Morton and to Halifax for K Carter. The atmosphere was brilliant everybody cheering OUR lads on. Now I go to Cardiff and the crowds cheer on for foreign riders who race for their team. OK. that brings us back to people saying " well the brits aren't good enough".....back to square one because we will not see further than our nose. We need a first league for the youngsters like we've never needed it before! Don't come back and say I'm racist because I'm not, I love the foreign riders in my team, BUT we must give our young brits a chance to get onto that first rung of that ladder and support them. For those who don't know what the racing is like, I can tell you that it is more competative and exciting than E/L these kids are fighting to break through and never give up. I love it!

Brill news montie! I'm so excited at having Stevie back as a Saint. Looking forward to some superb racing when Richie, Ashley and Gary come to visit. Welcome back Stevie and good luck for 2012. .

However much a promoter wants to filter riders to his senior league, It is the rider themselves who decide where they want to ride. Don't you think Scunny would have loved to have kept Tai, Josh etc.( I know I would ) I imagine its Promoters who tempt them away from their club by offering better deals. The point is that Scunny give these lads their first opportunity to get onto the ladder and thats something which no one can deny. Other NL league teams are quick to sign our riders so as far as I see it.....Its job done! and Mr Godfrey gets his just rewards in loan fees. I say keep this going Mr Godfrey its a system which has proved to be successful .At least we have a flow of youngsters on the climb up!

If many of the speedway supporters who post on this thread was at Scunny to watch these youngsters progress I'm sure they would have different attitudes. Seeing is believing. Yes they may wobble at some stage. But lap after lap they soon get going and to watch how determined they are gives great pleasure. For those of you that support teams in the prem just spare a thought, check I'll bet you've got a team member who had sessions at Scunny and was wobblers for a short time. Surely this has to be the way to go. In junior leagues competing against riders of the same level won't be as good a system as the Scunny one! though I do agree it is a good start, its the competative edge of the N/L that spears the riders on. I predict both Oliver Greenwood and Dan Phillips to be Scunnies next Worralls!

bw.........No No No! The National league must remain just that. Its where the youngsters start to grow, racing against older more experienced riders. Scunny have twice proved that the system works. I doubt the junior league will be as competative. I love NL and the best thing about it is to watch these youngsters progress to the likes of Tai, Josh, Tully. Joe and the Saints of last year. I think some of our NL teams should be in the prem with some of last years riders. You'd think that with 3 leagues riders could and should progress upwards.

Thank goodness for Scunny who have operated a system for british youngsters to progress in their chosen sport. These lads deserve this opportunity. Scunny have the facilities and for about 5 years we've seen riders come through this system which has been successful. There is now a good band of british riders coming through in all leagues. The N/L was a development league, not sure what it is now? I watched the young new Saints in last weeks Amateur meeting race against 4 of our last years Saints. I was impressed so dont write them off!

Montie......Brill post. Good meeting, but didn't see you there. we were in the 2nd stand. ( out of the cold ) Really impressed with the new Saints and it was good to see them all racing together with the old Saints.

Montie....I agree with you, money is always the decider once a rider feels he's in a position to negoiate a deal. Iv'e accepted the fact (sad for us supporters though) Scunny will give a start to the youngsters only to loose them. Our consolation is that we have a Prem team and this year is a brill one!. However I still think this is the way to go to get young British kids onto the ladder. I just hope that at some stage in the riders career they will return and race for us.

Well done Mr Godfrey/Mr Parnaby!....way to go and a pity other clubs can't/won't do likewise. Good luck to all our british kids. message to them; "Go out there, show them you want to do it and need the chance"

Kev. Thanks for your reply. Firstly , I'm not on here to quarrel with you or any speedway fan. Were all in it together! You are talking in a different manner regarding the NL. though. No way could I and others get away with calling it a developement league last year, you just wouldn't have it. so you've softened a little . We at Scunny do nothing different to other clubs, excepting that, Rob Godfrey goes along doing his best to bring british youngsters on. That doesn't mean to say that as a club we have to use all british riders. Our Premier team has got to be competative like others. Rob is doing a great job trying to satisfy us fans who want the best of both worlds. can't be easy for him! As for your comment referring to the Aussies and we have one next year ( Tom Armstrong ) for the Prem team, come on, the difference in J Jacobs and the 5 or 6 others out there now compared to about 30ish to come into our leagues isn't exactly two way traffic. Befor everyone says I'm against foreigners, I'm not, just dont want our sport over-run with them. Just call me Patriotic! Would I go to watch an all foreign team of riders. Definately not!

Kev. You do seem to have changed from last year. All you seemed to want then was riders who could put bums on seats. being a ^ stand alone club " Suddenly your talk is all of bringing on the british youngsters, your talkng more of my language now!......you converted?

Gosh this thread has excited me (Haven't been able to get down to practice).....Things looking good for the Saints......I like the look of your team bullet-some good youngsters whos names I recognise and I think is well capable of making the grade with plenty of practice and encouragement from the Scunny crew of helpers.

Good on ya Mr Silver for giving the youngsters a go this year. If you, along with Mr Godfrey can do it so can others.... way to go !!!! It can be done this way Scunny has proved it. Our british kids should be first and foremost in the minds of promoters....rant over!

Got to have a say on this subject seeing as its one closest to my heart. It cannot be easy to run 2 teams, as not many clubs do. Thanks to Mr godfrey we've had 4 years with both N/L and P/L racing. Ever increasing costs plus the Stock cars, weekend practice sessions. all take loads of effort. I will miss watching NL but I felt as though I'd lost my team when it was announced we'd see only 5 meetings at Scunny. so this comes as no surprise. Cannot agree with some of the comments though; When we come back to speedway in the C/L we only ever had the odd elder rider. As already mentioned Wayne & Buzz acting as coaches to very young riders. Iv'e hardly missed a meeting ( only for hols ) and have to say that mainly our teams were always very young riders. and looking back at those days I have to say they were some of the best days of watching speedway, be it at Quibel Park, Ashbyville and EWR. The years of 2006/2007 will never be forgotten. As a family we still watch these DVDs over and over again. If a certain Richie Dennis reads this. " you are still as popular in this household now as you was then " Thanks to Mr Godfrey a lot of youngsters have been given a good start. I shudder to think where the young ones will get similar chances now. COME ON YOU SAINTS YOU STILL HAVE THE JOB TO FINISH.!

Forgot about the track record.....Stevie got it first, didn't keep it long before Ashley got it. goes to show how good the track was! congratulations Ashley. Which brings me to ask " who held it before?"

A huge well done to both teams who gave us a brilliant meeting, tooth and nail stuff all the way through the match. By releasing Stevie and Richie ( thanks for that ) we had our proper play off. Shame some of the riders missed out through injury, I would have liked to see Byron riding, as it was good to see Scott and Kyle back on the EWR track again. Congratulations Saints.....You have done us proud to have come so far in such a short time. may it continue and you win the final. GOOD LUCK! Just a mention for Graham & Co. the track was good and fast ( heat times don't lie ) No falls WELL DONE!

Got to agree with your choice montie. that would have to be my favourite race of recent times at Scunny. I said at the time it was worth the entrance fee alone.brill meeting!