Once Your Team Has Closed Down

[Shadders]

It is possible to completely change support to another team once your own track closes down, even in my case to the deadly rivals of the Leicester Lions. I'm now so committed to the Coventry Bees that I'm not even that bothered about Leicester re-opening....if it happens.

Perhaps I should get help.

I was shocked when I read this .... you are a sick sick woman.

[MartynP]

Mind u, i still go 2 Odsal 2 watch the rugby & just back from there 2nite & it still saddens me that such a great track & stadium has been seemingly lost forever to the sport. Great great tragedy as 13 yrs have passed & the stadium hasnt even been touched!!!

 

You're not the Bulls fan that wears a Kenny Carter Racing Jacket are you??

 

From the Exiled Pirates Bulls Fan

[Bradford Ace]

You're not the Bulls fan that wears a Kenny Carter Racing Jacket are you??

 

From the Exiled Pirates Bulls Fan

 

 

No, i was 13 when KC had his moment of madness so even tho i had one of his jackets i doubt it'd fit me now as i've probably trebled my bodyweight since then!!!

 

I do still regularly attend Odsal tho & last week went to sit with my mate & his kids in the main stand for the 1st time in yrs & it brought back a lot of memories from when i sat in there for the Dukes meetings.

 

Still truly gutted that there isnt racing there but if it did come back (cant ever see it sadly) then i still couldnt miss the Aces now. Love my trips over there to see my mates & it'll be even better if (fingers x'd!!!) we get a new spanking stadium and track in the not 2 distant!!!

 

Now that would make the 90 minute round trip well and truly worthwhile!!!

[harleynut]

reading the recent post from Wembley Lion was like looking at something I could have written - very spooky. As a teenager living in Wembley my grandparents introduced me to the first two seasons at the old stadium and I can still see those old favourites of Bert Harkins, Gote Nordin, Tony Clarke and a very young Christer Lofqvist - those were the days!!

 

I too have then been a wandering nomad by going across to see the Hackney Hawks, and another couple of great seasons with the White City Rebels - remembering the first sighting of Kai Niemi, the talent of Steve weatherley and of course the master Mr Kennett. Then ,when the Rebels shut up shop it was off to see the Dons followed by a long period of disillusionment with speeedway. In the last 6 or 7 years I got back to it following the Racers and the odd trip to Oxford.

 

looking at my speedway history one thing seems to stand out - all of the clubs I have followed have all shut down and now there is no track in striking distance of Heathrow for me to regulalry visit.

 

So to all those supporters on the forum who can sometimes have a right old whinge and moan and groan about 'thier riders, track or management' I say........... just be grateful you have a team to support and enjoy it

[Gemini]

I was shocked when I read this .... you are a sick sick woman.

 

So I do need help then. To be honest I'll no doubt be more interested when it gets off the ground but in the meantime I'm not getting too excited. It will probably take me as long to get across to Beaumont Leys as it does to zip up the M69 to Coventry.

For those ex-Leicester fans who since 1983 have not changed their support to either Long Eaton, Peterborough or Coventry it's no doubt the greatest news ever that Leicester are re-opening but as I have been supporting the Bees for the past 27 years it's not such a big deal for me.

I've probably not explained myself very well but I know what I mean.

 

Edited March 19, 2010 by Gemini

[clunsey]

I've seen the Dons close twice now I follow Swindon now but it isn't my team, even now if anyone asks I support Wimbledon but cheer the Robins as they are my local club. It is not so bad, I can get really behind Swindon and made loads of friends there, but I would exchange all the good times I have had at Blunsdon for a return to plough lane.

 

Up the Dons

[Blazeaway]

After Wimbledon closed the first time I drifted away from the sport completely. Although this period coincided with my "raving days" so whether I would have been going every week is debateable anyway!

 

Got back into the sport when SKY started broadcasting and my first meeting back was at Brandon where I think Crump and Sullivan were riding for Peterborough against Cov. Wimbledon came back a few years later and I missed all but a handful of home meetings and done a few aways.

 

I mainly follow Nicki in the GP's now but despite living 20 mins from Rye I can rarely muster up the enthusiasm to go, even gto cheer on the opposition.

 

 

I will never be able to "support" another team it just wouldn't feel right.

[norbold]

reading the recent post from Wembley Lion was like looking at something I could have written - very spooky. As a teenager living in Wembley my grandparents introduced me to the first two seasons at the old stadium and I can still see those old favourites of Bert Harkins, Gote Nordin, Tony Clarke and a very young Christer Lofqvist - those were the days!!

Do you mean Christer Lofqvist as i) he didn't ride for Wembley and ii) he was 26 when Wembley returned in 1970?

 

Christer Sjosten maybe?

Edited March 20, 2010 by norbold

[harleynut]

Norbold - you are right; I did mean Sjosten in terms of a few occasions with the Lions but remember seeing Lofqvist in the second halves and he also cleaned up with a 15pt maximum when West Ham visited in 1970

 

Also a very young Tommy Jansson had a couple of second half outings I think??

[cardrew]

I will always be a Hackney Hawks fan, however once they closed I went to Oxford as they were the easiest track to reach by public transport from Central London. You guessed it, now they have closed as well.

 

I am glad Uncle Len re-opened Rye House, and kept his policy of encouraging young talent, they have been an interesting side to watch.

 

It was sad to see Wimbledon close again, but the recent period just wasn't the same as watching them in the 60's, 70's and 80's.

 

I have never understood why Arena Essex did not Capitalise on their position as the only Elite Track near London, there were many Hackney and Wimbledon supporters they could have captured! There is a station (Chafford Hundred) nearby, if the pits gate turnstiles are open it is a 15 minute walk, if not (as usual) then it is a 30-45 min. walk. They could have run a bus service from the station.

 

Let's hope the Olympic Stadium (or vecinity) has a Speedway track, even if it only stages a Grand Prix, Grand Prix Challenge or World Cup events.

[Shadders]

I have never understood why Arena Essex did not Capitalise on their position as the only Elite Track near London, there were many Hackney and Wimbledon supporters they could have captured! There is a station (Chafford Hundred) nearby, if the pits gate turnstiles are open it is a 15 minute walk, if not (as usual) then it is a 30-45 min. walk. They could have run a bus service from the station.

Didn't they used to run a bus from Upminster Station?

 

[cityrebel]

Didn't they used to run a bus from Upminster Station?

the bus service was too unreliable. in the end very few people used it.

[Lestrade1983]

When Oxford Cowley closed it took me a while before i started wondering off each week to find my fix of speedway.

 

I now go to Cardiff each year and when i have the spare cash i go up to Coventry, So far 6 times this year and 3 trips to Wolves.

 

This month i will go to Coventry on the 08/08/2014 and then to Swindon on the 28/08/2014.

[van wolfswinkel]

A few Reading fans go to Swindon especially when Zagar rode. With no love lost between Oxford-Swindon couldn't imagine any Ox fans cheering for Swindon!

When New Cross closed in 63 we went to Ackney West Am and Wimbledon, all more or less the same distance from Peckham, but followed the Dons more as they were the only club south of the river.

If Swindon closed would only go to Cardiff. Nearest tracks would be Cov and Poole, about 70 miles away!

Edited September 7, 2014 by keef van cross

[YerRopes]

Strangely enough Keef, the only person I know who is willing to 'go to the speedway' these days was initially a Reading fan, then an Oxford fan and now lives in one of the surrounding Swindon villages and supports the Robins..

 

Can't be the same though can it..

[stratton]

Strangely enough Keef, the only person I know who is willing to 'go to the speedway' these days was initially a Reading fan, then an Oxford fan and now lives in one of the surrounding Swindon villages and supports the Robins..

 

Can't be the same though can it..

I am sure he supported Newport and Bristol as well , both had Crumpy!! god how could you be a supporter at Cowley what a s...hole.

[rhchris]

Used to support the Cheetahs as I was growing up.. was handy only living a 10 minute walk from Cowley Stadium. Stuck by after the demise of the Elite League side and the (albeit short) rebranded Conference League side which lasted a season.. but things were never really right there for a few years. A massive loss to the sport, some great memories there as a kid.

Now live in Bedfordshire and go and see Rye House whenever I can, but it isn't the same.. particularly in their current form, feels as though it's Oxford all over again haha!

Would be good to see Milton Keynes back in a new home over here though...

[van wolfswinkel]

I am sure he supported Newport and Bristol as well , both had Crumpy!! god how could you be a supporter at Cowley what a s...hole.

Is The Shabbey any better...hope they get that new stadium next year. Shows the demise of this once great sport when they used to average 4-5000 in the 60s/70s/early 80s with the likes of Reading, Oxford, Bristol, Newport nearby, and now struggle to get 1500!

[customhouseregular]

As an old West Ham follower I was devastated after Lokeren and not long after, the closure of Custom House. I could not bring myself to support Hackney so I limited myself to big meetings, Tests, World Championships etc. until 1985. Until the British GP this year I had not attended a meeting in 30 years but had West Ham never closed, I'm sure I would have remained an avid follower. I know technically Lakeside/Arena Essex are the Hammers, but after Custom House and McKinlay, Harrfeldt, Hunter, Simmons, Knutsson et al (yes i know, not all at the same time), Purfleet did not appeal.

During the 60's/70's I attended meetings at West Ham, Hackney, Wimbledon, White City, Harringay and Wembley...now all gone. A couple of days ago a poster said we are a minority sport amongst minority sports. When I think of how many teams London once boasted I have to agree.

[le sorcier]

I am still lost in the wilderness and find it virtually impossible to attend matches these days

 

Not a track within about an hour away and with racing on a week night, there is no chance of getting anywhere.

 

I still hope this MK thing will get off the ground but I still think there is next to no chance of it happening