Berwick 2014?

[Shadders]

think it's down to money people ain't got it

It's the same practically everywhere sadly

[sparkafag]

The conference league was cheap and there wasn’t as much to do back then, you are talking the best part of 20 years ago! When compared to now (not just at Berwick) the mid to late 90s was still a boom period for the sport in this country.

 

Where have the crowds gone is a question that could be asked at any track in the UK sadly.

You can look at every track, sides who win, sides who loose, tracks that are seen as entertaining and very few attract the crowds that they used to. A sustainable business model is something of a win for a speedway club just now.

[screm]

I would look at last weeks Speedway Star and the interview with the recently retired Chris Schramm about his views on where speedway is going.

[neil]

I would look at last weeks Speedway Star and the interview with the recently retired Chris Schramm about his views on where speedway is going.

 

Unfortunately he is right too, you can go to any big city club like Chris's last club Newcastle and you would hardly know speedway exists, with the population of Newcastle they should have crowds way in excess of Berwick. its one thing Berwick do try hard at, they are represented well at most local events and have banners out in town, as well as coverage in the local press. Probably most if not all local people know what speedway is and where its at, unfortunately for whatever reason just not enough people go every week like they used to.

[Catch Me If You Can]

He was only signed last year cos his dad paid for the team kevlars and if rumours were to believed contributed significantly to the bonus points the riders earned. Looks a little injury prone to me.

Nothing wrong with sponsorship Clubs probably wish there was more of it. People forget Alex was critically injured at Berwick in a crash if my mind serves me correct a year or two ago. He has done well to come back from that.

Edited August 5, 2014 by Catch Me If You Can

[smod]

Gives the local tarts that hang around the pits after the meeting another target for the weekly "drop the knickers" contest. I suspect Edberg will score more in the back of his van than on the track.

What an incredible post!

 

Shades of Operation Yewtree.

 

Girls have liked boys who pursue danger since the dawn of time, and speedway riders certainly do that.

 

Doesn't the same thing happen at every track, and probably has since 1928?

 

But not at Rye House, from the nature of the post.

 

Just the usual stabbings and thuggery there?

[spittalbandit]

Maybe i am in minority however i feel this is positive move. Liam has not let himself down but imo it was maybe a year too early. This now gives him a chance to build up his confidence and look to improve his equipment. If he isnt scoring at PL level its just a black hole money wise. Now he will be able to ride for his NL team with what is probably good equipment at that level and hopefully try to get sponsorship for next year . I hope he is again in the team next year and gets some guest bookings at pl level in remainder of this year. As to alex . If he hadnt had the injuries i honestly think he would have been a decent rider for berwick . He is easily capable of banging in decent scores and hopefully does. The one thing it doesnt do is weaken us. I am more worried about the hot n cold form of matty amd david at present. Steen and kevin seems to have sorted their initial probs in main team. Claus solid and matej not an enigma anymore.

[Shadders]

What an incredible post!

 

Shades of Operation Yewtree.

 

Girls have liked boys who pursue danger since the dawn of time, and speedway riders certainly do that.

 

Doesn't the same thing happen at every track, and probably has since 1928?

 

But not at Rye House, from the nature of the post.

 

Just the usual stabbings and thuggery there?

You're really taking this seriously aren't you

[Ben91]

What an incredible post!

 

Shades of Operation Yewtree.

 

Girls have liked boys who pursue danger since the dawn of time, and speedway riders certainly do that.

 

Doesn't the same thing happen at every track, and probably has since 1928?

 

But not at Rye House, from the nature of the post.

 

Just the usual stabbings and thuggery there?

Yes let's all applaud the speedway slags as they are an upstanding pillar of the sport's community.

[Robinh88]

You get groupies everywhere....

I always remember Leigh Adams being asked if he was going to the Grove after the Bordernapolis 2003

He replied, "Not for me going to find the nearest chippy and off to Poland tomorrow"

 

He double figured for Leszno the following day

[Goodiepatchie]

You get groupies everywhere....

I always remember Leigh Adams being asked if he was going to the Grove after the Bordernapolis 2003

He replied, "Not for me going to find the nearest chippy and off to Poland tomorrow"

 

He double figured for Leszno the following day

as most of our groupies seem to be a sandwich short of a picnic basket am sure Leigh wasn't the slightest bit tempted

[Robinh88]

Rob Smiths was pretty decent back then... I used to go everyday

[screm]

What an incredible post!

 

Shades of Operation Yewtree.

 

Girls have liked boys who pursue danger since the dawn of time, and speedway riders certainly do that.

 

Doesn't the same thing happen at every track, and probably has since 1928?

 

But not at Rye House, from the nature of the post.

 

Just the usual stabbings and thuggery there?

 

I thought you would've got tired of making a fool of yourself on here, but looking at this post it appears not.

[StevePark]

 

Unfortunately he is right too, you can go to any big city club like Chris's last club Newcastle and you would hardly know speedway exists, with the population of Newcastle they should have crowds way in excess of Berwick. its one thing Berwick do try hard at, they are represented well at most local events and have banners out in town, as well as coverage in the local press. Probably most if not all local people know what speedway is and where its at, unfortunately for whatever reason just not enough people go every week like they used to.

 

The trouble is though, there are many alternatives in a big city like Newcastle, where people can spend their available income.

 

Football, Rugby, Basketball and just down the road, Cricket, to name just 4 sporting alternatives, all vying for punters hard earned and that is just the sporting ones.

[bigeddiechek]

 

The trouble is though, there are many alternatives in a big city like Newcastle, where people can spend their available income.

 

Football, Rugby, Basketball and just down the road, Cricket, to name just 4 sporting alternatives, all vying for punters hard earned and that is just the sporting ones.

 

At the last count, in Berwick alone: Football, Rugby, Golf, Cricket.

Worse for Berwick is that Football and Rugby are on the same day, whereas Newcastle less so affected.

 

Big successful theatre in Berwick, which is also competing on Saturdays.

 

I think the point Neil was making, however, was the visibility of the sport in the clubs' surrounding areas.

Unless I have misunderstood his post.

 

Berwick excels at this, the sport has great local visibility.

 

One wonders how the city teams would do with such visibility?

[Goodiepatchie]

 

At the last count, in Berwick alone: Football, Rugby, Golf, Cricket.

 

 

golfs not a sport

[Fromafar]

At the last count, in Berwick alone: Football, Rugby, Golf, Cricket.

Worse for Berwick is that Football and Rugby are on the same day, whereas Newcastle less so affected.

Big successful theatre in Berwick, which is also competing on Saturdays.

I think the point Neil was making, however, was the visibility of the sport in the clubs' surrounding areas.

Unless I have misunderstood his post.

Berwick excels at this, the sport has great local visibility.

One wonders how the city teams would do with such visibility?

All these counter attractions have been around as long as the Speedway.

[YAMYAMBANDIT]

golfs not a sport

Apart from the oval ball game, nowt's a sport unless it has an engine

[crescent girl]

It really all comes down to population. Berwick achieve miracles in attracting support from their catchment area, by far the least-populated (given a 40-mile radius) of any speedway club in Britain.

[Fromafar]

It really all comes down to population. Berwick achieve miracles in attracting support from their catchment area, by far the least-populated (given a 40-mile radius) of any speedway club in Britain.

While the club has done well to survive since it's out set,particularly during recent times when the sport of speedway in General is in decline,it is still the same catchment area that seen the Club well supported through its initial years in the 60/s 70/s .it is interesting that the Taylor's who brought the Sport to Berwick actually came from Jedburgh,having supported Berwick since the Opening of the club I think in the early years and even up to the end of the Fairbairn era a majority of the fans came from the Borders Area andSouthern Scotland in particular.I read the Ken Taylor was going to be a guest of the Promotion he would be a great guy to tell the history of the early years of the club and it's support .I my self have memories of the Christmas Dances that were run by the BorderBranch Swinton which were sell outs without fail every year.It would be interesting to know how many Branches of the there were in the Borders in these days . The club is having good season but unfortunately the support is still just the hardcore,think most clubs are in the same boat.Will these heady days ever return for speedway.?