Mr Ore

Matcham's Park held speedway style "Mini Longtrack" meetings from the late 80s to 1993. We went to the first meeting of 1993 (IIRC Ringwood v Rye House) only to be turned away at the entrance. Never got inside, although I'd seen F1 stocks there previously, but it seemed they had put a speedway type track around the outside of the stock car one but leaving the fixed car fence in place on the inside. Sadly a sidecar passenger had been killed hitting that fence during afternoon practice, causing the cancellation and I assume, an end to the whole project, as no bikes seen there since. In later years the complex was subject to a Great British Rip Off with people being charged up to £40 to enter a "Lapland Wonderland" leading up to Christmas. This included seeing 2 plastic polar bear models, several chained up huskies, labelled as wolves, and a "magic tunnel of light" made up of a few "Poundland" Christmas Tree lights, thrown over some garden netting. Santa was seen having a smoke next to the "state of the art" Portaloos before handing out potentially hazardous plastic toys to children who had queued for a couple of hours for the privilege. To top it all a naturally irate parent was seen punching an "elf" in frustration. Like at speedway tracks I assume they had an "Elf Warning" on display at the entrance. Regarding the possible return of speedway to Southampton, the stadium/track plans produced are amazing and professionally drafted, so it would be great if it happened. Good luck to all involved.

A great ambassador and total professional yet humble at the same time. We were very recently discussing catching up with him, in a couple of weeks, not realising, at the same time, he was being rushed to hospital. A tragic loss. Condolences to Kerrie and family.

I received this information from Russia. Toloknov has a rather shredded foot and he had to have 2 toes amputated. Kuzhin has torn open an artery in which there was a cardiac arrest as a result of 3 litres of blood loss. However, both have been successfully operated on and are doing well according to the circumstances. Not the best of news, but could have been far worse. Best wishes to both.

Please don't ask for a link, as I had a computer crash, when I was checking possible ice racing options for this winter. Subject to there being no or limited restrictions on attending events the Finnish final is proposed at Varkaus on 26th February. Sadly the airport closed a few years ago to passenger flights so would be a difficult journey from UK for us. Not asked for but Weissenbach, which we have done by public transport, are similarly awaiting details from the Austrian government but seemingly have a plan in place to run if they are allowed the crowd level. I can find no info regarding potential events in Czechia.

In his heyday he was possibly the most exciting rider I've seen. His full throttle blasts round the bends were truly sensational.

Interesting. I went to the England Training Centre at St George's Park, just over the road, before lockdown and went to have a look but it was all barricaded off with concrete blocks preventing access. Looking at Street View in January of this year though it seems accessible again. I literally passed through just a few villages en route, but that was from the M1 so maybe a bigger potential fan base to the west.

I appreciate your Scunthorpe links but, being present as a 100% neutral , agree fully with your assessments. I really don't get races being called back when someone who has remained stationary is immediately assumed to have cheated because they have fast reflexes. To be discluded too rubbed more salt in the wounds. We had the scenario at Cardiff where riders were penalised by being called back only to have replays showing no movement. Bach clearly was first to move in heat 15 and amazingly got away with the same in the rerun. Overall it was probably the best racing I have seen at Central Park so, as a neutral it was a good evenings entertainment but Scunthorpe have every right to feel aggrieved. Lots of roadside posters advertising the grass-track at Swingfield Minnis this weekend. Still won't be going.

Sorry to ruin a good conspiracy theory but the M1 at Sheffield is inches deep in water; having left a wake on a hill top, a few miles away, owing to the marquee also flooding. Two mourners from Brigg turned in boots owing to conditions there this morning. Disappointed as I was looking to continue a further 100 mile round trip for this match. But rubbish happens so well done to the much maligned Mr Godfrey for an early postponement.

Sunday 30th May 2021Bradford Bulls 37 York 18 Attendance 3,742Admission £22 seats £20 standing Prog £3.00 Seemingly 4000 current crowd limit for rugby.

All Premiership teams are racing that night.

I reckon you are correct. On in London today, with some irony being the second half of a double header. The series was produced by Anglia TV so Peterborough would have been in their catchment area. Definitely looks like the old at EoESG grass-banking on the back straight.

He moved to the Herefordshire area but, I hear, still has a love affair, with the Blades. I was unaware of the company link, but sounds logical. On a cottage holiday last year in that area, I wore my Tigers hoodie to a local non league football game and was greeted by a regular home fan who is also an exiled Tiger, and still goes to Owlerton on a regular basis. Small World.

A friend of mine is one of the question writers (researchers) for this and several other quiz programmes and often throws speedway questions in. He has never seen a live match, owing to distance to the nearest tracks and having a young family, but loves it on TV and will speak with me about it when we meet . He had an action photo of Franky Zorn on his office walls at the BBC in Wood Lane and Ellstree studios so does his bit. Bradley and Mark (The Beast) both are also big, albeit similarly distant, admirers of the sport. As a huge Blades fan maybe the Tigers could look to get Mark along to Owlerton one week when all is up and running again, although I believe he has now moved from the immediate area. He'd love the buffet.

Alton v Ringwood Town in Wessex League, last night. Two teams intent on playing good football and providing great entertainment. Free hot drink with every programme. One more to go before lockdown.

Yes, they did a programme at (deep breath) £3 for 24 pages, but sold out shortly after I got mine, around 25 minutes before kick off. Seemed to have done a lot too, but had their biggest crowd since moving to the Hub. Unsure if it will be regular hard copy production, but I'd seen it advertised on their Twitter during the day. They had been doing on line only last season and earlier this, but the format didn't seem to print off correctly in booklet format. On line only at Maldon (and Cheshunt the week before) so other half printing them off for me at her work today.

Very much my attitude, with season ticket duty on Wednesday no doubt seeing my final game for some time, after about 25 non league matches during lockdown hiatus. With surgery scheduled for December putting me out of commission until next February, I had an impressive diary of intended games scheduled, until going under the knife, too. Walton and Hersham v Peacehaven and Telscombe (at the impressive new sports hub) in the "and" derby on Friday and Maldon and Tiptree v Kingstonian in Trophy yesterday being 2 new grounds for me, although only being able to buy a takeaway container at the Maldon micropub, as unbelievably real ale sample trays do not constitute a substantial meal. In whose language ? Forlorn hope that there may be some ice speedway when I am mobile again.

One of my interests but haven't been to as many games as I usually would this season, although I still have a season ticket for my local team. It costs around £80 to watch my main league team at home at level 3 to just get there and in, and around £20 all in including post match ales for my Isthmian team. My other half will go with me too, as it is far cheaper and can be as entertaining, often more so . Crowds are definitely up all round so more are turning to this level. Great to see how much you are watching on here. I never did their old ground although worked fairly close so had seen it many times. I did a memorial game at the current ground last week and since my last visit, last season, they have fully fenced it in as dog walkers could get in for free from Wimbledon Rugby ground just through the woods, or foul the pitch when nobody was there. Also floodlit, with hard standing on 3sides and 2 seated stands, although one is especially small with a few loose seats. No idea if they have the freehold but are developing to remain there Given the current location and Raynes Park already having a team at the same level I doubt a name change to reflect their current area would generate any extra support so keeping the original name going isn't so bad . They currently share with Westside FC in the same league who started as a church team from Wandsworth so they are even further from their roots, Their own ground though is in this area, the other side of the rugby club but also couldn't be developed to Combined Counties League requirements..

Frightening. It seems so recent when they moved but obviously was that long ago. Been in the Comb Cos League since the early noughties. Not 100% sure but probably in Surrey South East Combination when they moved to Wibbandune. In the late 90s they merged with Vandyke becoming Vandyke Colliers United around 97; and taking their place in the then Surrey Premier / County League. Reverted to their own name before promotion to their current level. Vandyke previously played at the Fire Brigade ground in Ewell, but had to leave. CWU had the ground and Vandyke the more senior status so a merger suited both .

Same level, different league; Lydd Town 1 v 3 Forest Hill Park. # birthday treat. Thought we could hear the sound of bikes from the speedway during 2nd half but turned out to be a plane taxiing at the airport next door.

A long story, but spoke with "my" John, and he never made it in the end. All very curious that 2 medical people, with the same forename were miles from home, in the same area and could have both been in a group of 80+. Would have been incredible had they met,. He is not really a football fan but seemed interested in taking a look, when the Lancaster game, we had spoken about as something to do on his hols, was postponed. A walk and meal were a better deal in the end. He owes me. Very weird coincidence. Ironically in a past job I received a, shall I say, intimate gift in the post, through head office with an apology and love letter. I had no idea who it was from, other than a first name, or what it was about but thought I’d better not hide from my other half, at the same time denying any idea of why I had received it. I have an unusual combination of first and surname , but incredibly received a call the next day from “my namesake” who was working as a temp in head office for a few weeks so not in the staff directory. That was an embarrassing meeting.

That is very strange.

Was worried in case you thought my first comment was some sort of bad joke, but a total coincidence you mentioning it on here and him Emailing me on Friday to say that was where he was going. Has to be one of the same; late 60s with spectacles and a squint. Has a distinctive laugh too. The comment about him being a neurosurgeon is true too, as well as allowing the punchline. .

Must stop feeding you the ammo to shoot me down with. . Damn predictive text, with a visit to Bishopstoke nr Eastleigh, 10 days ago not helping. I'll accept I've been outpedanted, but not reluctantly. .

Including my friend Dr John, a retired neurosurgeon from Edinburgh. . A very interesting job but hardly brain surgery.

Hey; I'm supposed to be from the land of the pedants, not you . Based on their website, I'll give you the address, showing as Bishopstoke, although, as per Microsoft map here, and in real life, the ground entrance is actually beyond Wandle Road . Of course The National Trust are no help either putting Watermeads address as Bishopstoke; #membership refund request in the post. And as for Jeff !!!!