Dudley Heath Or Cradley Heath?

[The Dudley Heathen]

Why do some people call Dudley 'Cradley'?

I have been a Heathens fan since 1976, and since my beloved Cradley ended in 96

i have been waiting for them to return paciently. Now Dudley have taken over the

name of the mighty Heathens which i support, but there's one thing that confuses

me...Why do some Dudley fans call them Cradley?, when it is clear that Dudley arn't

Cradley,and they are only using the name.

Like i said, i support Dudley under the Heathens banner,and have been to a few meetings,

but when some fans shout " come on Cradley, lets ommer them wolves" its wrong,

we (Dudley) are in the National league, and Wolves in the Elite, how can this happen

when they are two leagues above? come on fans get it right.

Dudley are Dudley...Cradley are Cradley, simply that.

Untill Cradley get their own track and riders, i will continue to support the National

league side.

[greyhoundp]

Simple i live in Dudley or Netherton to be exact, Dudley Council have NEVER done anything for Speedway, or any other sports Team for that matter, so they dont deserve any recognition, I refuse to use the word Dudley when related to the speedway, my team are "The Heathens" if they wish to use my local Councils name in front of it,then so be it. IMO we would be far better off using the name Sandwell Heathens as i think if we are to have our own Track locally that is probably where we have the best chance, albeit a slim one.

 

I respect your opinion, but until such time as we have our OWN Track, I will continue to refer to my Team as The Heathens and i am sure we are ALL in agreement with that, and all the people behind the scenes who have put us back on Track albeit, Perry Barr and Monmore deserve credit for that, and the riders have earned my respect for there efforts this season.

Edited August 3, 2010 by greyhoundp

[Brummie Kev]

IMO we would be far better off using the name Sandwell Heathens as i think if we are to have our own Track locally that is probably where we have the best chance, albeit a slim one.

 

 

Its certaintly worth a shot for the Heathens to approach Sandwell Borough Council, there seems to be more open spaces on the outskirts of West Bromwich that could be used for Speedway. Of Coruse theres an RSPB nature reserve in Sandwell and some of the land may be unpractical for speedway due to wildlife concerns.

 

The area to look at is off Newton Road. There is a country park and an RSPB reserve and although its slim its worth a slot. You dont have a vast amount of land like that in the Cradley/Dudley area.

Edited August 4, 2010 by Brummie Kev

[JPH]

Surely you can see the link between Dudley and Cradley! the vast majority

of people watching Dudley were Cradley fans.Fair play to the people involved

in keeping the Heathens name alive but if they think Dudley council care a

toss about what we,re called now they,re more optimistic than me.

While i,ve very much enjoyed the Dudley meetings i,ve been to i do worry

about the future of the whole thing. Will people still have the same enthusiasm 2/3

years down the line if no site is found closer to Cradley and they,ve seen talented

kids such as Perry hoovered up by Wolves and Brum.

Like i say whatever happens this season it has been a huge success but ultimatly the

"project" needs a definate purpose for any longevity.

Edited August 4, 2010 by Ommered

[SarahLapworth]

Just call them the "Dudley but should be Cradley Heathens" then everyone will be happy

[Deano]

Like i say whatever happens this season it has been a huge success but ultimatly the

"project" needs a definate purpose for any longevity.

 

Keep the faith... who'd have thought Birmingham would be back on track with our previously negative council. While there is still a fan base there is a way and this attempt by Nigel Pearson is to give it national exposure and hit the message home to Dudley MBC..... "YOU ARE NOT GOING AWAY!".

[JPH]

Keep the faith... who'd have thought Birmingham would be back on track with our previously negative council. While there is still a fan base there is a way and this attempt by Nigel Pearson is to give it national exposure and hit the message home to Dudley MBC..... "YOU ARE NOT GOING AWAY!".

 

If only i,d got faith in Dudley Council! and a greyhound stadium to move into would be nice. Fair play to you Brummies,

i enjoyed my first visit to Perry Bar for god knows how long earlier in the season. You really have to admire the people

in the thick of getting clubs such as yourselves going again after so long.

[Deano]

You really have to admire the people in the thick of getting clubs such as yourselves going again after so long.

 

Yes, I have a lot of time for both Brian Buck and Brian Bott, you'll find at the top of the Cradley Heath supporters club you have the equivalent.

[JPH]

Yes, I have a lot of time for both Brian Buck and Brian Bott, you'll find at the top of the Cradley Heath supporters club you have the equivalent.

 

Absolutly mate, i know a couple personally, my only fear is disheartened fans drifting away from Dudley 2/3 yrs down the line

and our friends at Dudley council using it against us ie "no interest in speedway return" if you know what i mean.

[tayls1973]

Absolutly mate, i know a couple personally, my only fear is disheartened fans drifting away from Dudley 2/3 yrs down the line

and our friends at Dudley council using it against us ie "no interest in speedway return" if you know what i mean.

 

I struggled with the whole "dudley" thing for a while and was even more put off when i saw Ashley Morris pictured signing a contract for Wolves. It just didn't sit comfortable with me and i know that may seem shallow and negative, but when you grew up seeing Cradley at its best and see something like that happen it still hurts. I just wish the young lads could go back in time for one Saturday eve at the wood in its hey day and experience what it was like with the likes of Bruce and Erik and realise what the Heathens name means to us. But beggers can't be choosers and i have started to go along to the Dudley meetings of late and have enjoyed it. Some good talent such as Perry who like someone said earlier in this thread are destined for the Auld enemies.

[TonyOfBrum]

...my only fear is disheartened fans drifting away from Dudley 2/3 yrs down the line

and our friends at Dudley council using it against us ie "no interest in speedway return" if you know what i mean.

 

Anything's possible I guess. Even with the "security" of a stadium the Brummies crowds have more than halved in that same space of time. Recession, rain-offs, familiarity etc may all have played a part in that. I was told how many people attended our recent home match with Redcar and it was a figure that worried me.

 

Having said that, Cradley were always well supported and while there is the glimmer of hope I don't think too many of your lot will ever become disheartened, even if it takes a while. Having seen some of the get-togethers that the supporters club have organised you still have a fan base, even after all those years of hibernation, that is bigger and more enthusiastic than any other I've come across.

[SuddenSam15]

I think unless you can find somewhere in Cradley to ride then the name has probs gone forever .... which is a great shame. But a start has been made and that can only be a good thing. I think to many years were spent after 1995 trying to stop the inevitable .. its rare that a sport like speedway beats the housebuilders.

 

Good luck to the many people still trying to find you a new home ... I am sure you will support "The Heathens" whatever name they stick in front of it.

[martin_t]

Just call them the "Dudley but should be Cradley Heathens" then everyone will be happy

 

 

Or `The BLACK COUNTRY HEATHENS`

[21st century heathen]

I understand the arguments for and against the various suggestions of names. As long as we maintain the Heathens nickname I think the fans will accept the club as their own.

 

As for the particular point raised at the start of the thread - Meh, old habits die hard. For many it's simply an obvious connection and all too easy to say Cradley but you're right that it's actually Dudley. The bottom line is that after more than a decade we have a team to call our own and to go out and actively support rather than just watching other clubs. I'll take that for now, even if one of 'our' riders wears Wolves kevs.

[bruno]

if you had asked me this at the start of the season i would have said this is purely to get cradley going again.however i have had a great 5 months following dudley and to be honest on a tuesday monmore becomes our track.its not ideal i agree but if it means us carrying on i have no problem with it.i would rather have dudley racing at monmore than cradley not in existance.i dont like us using the name dudley cuz they obviously couldnt give a monkeys but its understandable why nigel decided to give this a try.if they dont back us after this season maybe just call us the heathens.whatever happens tho im happy to carry on at monmore and pb

Edited August 7, 2010 by bruno