Newcastle V Plymouth Ko Cup 2nd Leg Sunday 28th April 2013

[StevePark]

Dave made the point that it's a great stadium. It is, but anything but great at the moment especially in the cold weather. We have the crazy situation where none of the terracing can be used, but even a quick look shows at least 90% of it could be used. Corden off the worst bits and allow some shelter.

I know it's not the promotion's fault, but I feel we could be in serious trouble if as its suggested, William Hill aren't planning on doing any repairs this speedway season. I don't suspect it affects the dogs as it does the speedway.

Crazy situation last night when the meeting was held up by the sun (again), and started again without any apparent change in conditions. Most likely the last three heats could have been ridden before the shower. Of course as soon as it was called off the rain stopped and the sun was out again.

Was impressed with Plymouth's attitude, they really gave it a go. Nice to see Lemo getting among the points, and for my money he was inched out in the "dead heat".

 

I don't think this is William Hill's doing.

 

I believe the blame for that one lies at the Council/Health & Safety's lots door.

[The White Knight]

Hi Tsunami, How to get more fans through the turnstiles? The age old question and despite my past involvement with the Diamond Geezers I still don't know how that can be achieved apart from one obvious thing lower the admission charge, I know that is a no brainer. Advertising is the main tool. Adverts in local press, radio and TV. If only we could attract the fans that have stopped coming but how....We tackled this back in 2004/2005 but whatever success we had then appears to have been blown in the wind. Do you know how the tracks that are well supported treat their fans someone must be getting things right and when we find the track that is bucking the trend we need to copy everything they do. However, the Newcastle Plymouth match is a bad one to compare as there were no visiting fans in the stadium and who could blame them, Plymouth is almost a foreign country

 

 

I enjoyed the Meeting last night. Shame about the rain though. Right decision was made by the two Captains and Team Managers to call it off - we don't need to see anyone hurt and Heat 12 did look decidedly dicey.

 

What a great pleasure it was too to see, once again, a Brave Band of Plymouth Supporters who had made their way up to watch the Meeting. I made some friends from Plymouth last year and it was GREAT to see them again. I am determined to make the effort to get down and visit them at the SBA. For me, this is what Speedway is about.

 

Best wishes to Plymouth for the rest of the Season - they have a pretty decent side this year - pity Ben Barker wasn't still riding for them - that would change a decent side in to a formidable one.

 

Thank you for your company Plymouth Supporters - we had some fun.

 

Read my earlier Posting Dantodan.

Edited April 29, 2013 by The White Knight

[jackofdiamonds]

I don't think this is William Hill's doing.

 

I believe the blame for that one lies at the Council/Health & Safety's lots door.

Common sense out of the window as usual with H+S then.

[The White Knight]

Common sense out of the window as usual with H+S then.

 

EXACTLY!!!

 

It appears, on checking the Steps that there are only a couple of places that could actually be construed as dangerous. Those bits ought to be blocked off - however - there appears to be absolutely NOTHING wrong with the rest of the Stand. H&S overkill as usual. :mad:

[toontrader]

Very worrying

I remember the old Middlesbrough track under Tim Swales and Ken Knott saying that they lost 500 fans when the grandstand burnt down at Cleveland Park.

The worry is that unless urgent action is taken the same could happen at Newcastle. Many familiar faces who stood on the high steps are missing this season.

It is obviously not the Newcastle promotions fault and for the council safety people to close the steps is a farce. Most of the pavements in the city which the council are responsible for repairing are in a far worse condition.

Newcastle speedway and William Hill need to challenge the councils safety people and get at least some of the high steps re-opened.

The local MP and councillors and indeed many former Lord Mayors are great supporters of the speedway and should be encouraged to fight the council on the speedways behalf.

Leaving the steps closed for the season will be a financial disaster for Newcastle speedway

[Tsunami]

Very worrying

I remember the old Middlesbrough track under Tim Swales and Ken Knott saying that they lost 500 fans when the grandstand burnt down at Cleveland Park.

The worry is that unless urgent action is taken the same could happen at Newcastle. Many familiar faces who stood on the high steps are missing this season.

It is obviously not the Newcastle promotions fault and for the council safety people to close the steps is a farce. Most of the pavements in the city which the council are responsible for repairing are in a far worse condition.

Newcastle speedway and William Hill need to challenge the councils safety people and get at least some of the high steps re-opened.

The local MP and councillors and indeed many former Lord Mayors are great supporters of the speedway and should be encouraged to fight the council on the speedways behalf.

Leaving the steps closed for the season will be a financial disaster for Newcastle speedway

 

I said in an earlier post when the H & S council officers made their judgement, that the steps should be treat as three different areas. The worst area, the middle section, should have had a prohibition order to be repaired in say 6 months, and the outside flanks repaired with 6 months each to repair them. Their total ban on all the three sections is totally over the top, and shows a complete disregard that businesses have to be treat sympathetically and kept in business. It only affects the speedway really as the dogs punters are all behind the glass having meals, whilst the handful of oncourse backers lurk on the lower steps to keep in touch with the oncourse bookies at the front fence.

I believe specifications have been prepared and tenders are being invited by suitable builders to repair the steps. How long it will take, I don't know.

[The White Knight]

I said in an earlier post when the H & S council officers made their judgement, that the steps should be treat as three different areas. The worst area, the middle section, should have had a prohibition order to be repaired in say 6 months, and the outside flanks repaired with 6 months each to repair them. Their total ban on all the three sections is totally over the top, and shows a complete disregard that businesses have to be treat sympathetically and kept in business. It only affects the speedway really as the dogs punters are all behind the glass having meals, whilst the handful of oncourse backers lurk on the lower steps to keep in touch with the oncourse bookies at the front fence.

I believe specifications have been prepared and tenders are being invited by suitable builders to repair the steps. How long it will take, I don't know.

 

Thanks for that Dave.

 

It really does need sorting out though. What toontrader says is perfectly valid as was evident on Sunday when lots of folk got wet. A bit of rain doesn't bother me (it only goes as far as the skin) but others don't feel the same way. They may well be put off in the future if rain is in the offing. :sad:

[robbieblackadder fan club]

i have to say i havnt been to many meetings over the last few years down to changes in my family circumstances not anything else but i do agreee with other posts in that the longer i stay away the easier it is not to go again and theres probably more just like me,i did attend a meeting earlier in the season against redcar and with the stand being closed there was absolutely no atmosphere,the other thing putting me off is the same teams seem to be there a lot.,not sure how many times workington have been there and that put me ff a bit,i do appreciate the travel costs ect and the away fans support but variety is the spice of life so they say........will try and get to a few more before e end of the season

[GLSDiamond]

Can we not have another meeting with the HS people to discuss the problems further ? At present no one is winning and everyone is loosing apart from the HSE. Surely they could use the fencing that goes along the bottom to create pens for where the steps have crumbled ? Or is it structurally under the stairs that is the problem?

Something needs to be sorted because on track we have a great team which is sadly not being supported like it should through no fault of our own in the main.