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Birmingham Future In Doubt ? Alan Phillips Has Had Enough!


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One of the main problems with Speedway in general and Birmingham in particular is that no one seems to learn from History! Many years ago Birmingham were doing very nicely thank you in the then National League but one of the Directors of the company had ambitions of taking the Brummies into the British League . It happened, the costs rocketed, the attendances went down and eventually Birmingham Speedway was no more.

 

Prior to the elevation, on Monday Evenings , Green and white, Black and Old Gold and Black and Yellow were were evident -the Brummies were their second division team but once they moved up Birmingham were their deadly enemies and the only time they arrived in any quantity was for local derbies.

 

It would appear that history has repeated its self .

 

I would disagree on a couple of points that you have made.

You are quite right that Birmingham were doing OK in the NEW National League (as it was in 1975) BUT crowds were certainly down from the fantastic 1974 season. This was probably due to the Brummies being far too strong at Perry Barr for the vast majority of visiting teams.

Secondly, the reason why the Brummies left the Ladbroke Stadium in 1983 was due to the land being sold for redevelopment (now One Stop Shopping Centre.

Of course, the move to the Wheels Project for part 1984 and full seasons in 85 and 86 failed, IMO, for very similiar reasons to the Phillips regime - no money, poor support and sadly poor racing (due to Stock Car damage and Stadium owners that weren't prepared to help ensure the track was upto scratch), on what I feel was the best racing track the Brummies have had.

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BeoBrummie and Graham C

I think you are out of your depth argueing against what Cornishfisherman has said. Go back and read what his says again and then retire from this debate as he certainly knows what he is talking about

:D

 

 

Birmingham were certainly not wanted in the BL, that's for sure. The way they were treated in the first year was scandalous, what little help they got from the powers-that-be was frankly not worth the effort.Having said that though I think the novelty of a new league and proper local derbies, kept the crowd levels up. At least when it was sold it went to someone who knew what was what..

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BeoBrummie and Graham C

I think you are out of your depth argueing against what Cornishfisherman has said. Go back and read what his says again and then retire from this debate as he certainly knows what he is talking about

Why tell a person to quit a debate? That's what debates are supposed to be about - different points of view. Although not necessarily the case on the BSF!!!

:::::

Did the Graham Drury interview appear in the 'Birmingham Mail" over the weekend? If it did, is there a Link to it please.

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BeoBrummie and Graham C

I think you are out of your depth argueing against what Cornishfisherman has said. Go back and read what his says again and then retire from this debate as he certainly knows what he is talking about

Actually they are spot on in what the say.

And to add its worth noting that when the Brummies finally gave up the ghost they were NOT in the top division but in the second division.

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Latest News from the Bham mail today is potential new promoters have been in talks with the GRA yesterday afternoon and evening about taking it over. Although the Mail states there are several complications for a take over this season, a decision is expected within the next 48 hours. It talks about £8,000 needed to pay off the GRA and also new shale would have to bought in for racing to take place again.

 

Fingers Crossed this works out!!

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No Idea, but thats what Nigel Pearson has wrote in his article today. Perhaps the GRA have sold it to raise some of he money they are owed.

I doubt it - it wouldn't be theirs to sell, debts or no debts. In any case it would be easier to sell the plant if they were of that mind.

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Latest News from the Bham mail today is potential new promoters have been in talks with the GRA yesterday afternoon and evening about taking it over. Although the Mail states there are several complications for a take over this season, a decision is expected within the next 48 hours. It talks about £8,000 needed to pay off the GRA and also new shale would have to bought in for racing to take place again.

 

Fingers Crossed this works out!!

Is there a Link to this 'Birmingham Mail' story please. Sadly, it does not appear that there was/is one for the recent Graham Drury interview with the newspaper.

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New shale whatever for? I must admit my first thought was...... has Moley nicked it lol

. Was told that the track guys have had no shale to work with for the last few meetings that was at pb so new shale would be needed?............
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Latest News from the Bham mail today is potential new promoters have been in talks with the GRA yesterday afternoon and evening about taking it over. Although the Mail states there are several complications for a take over this season, a decision is expected within the next 48 hours. It talks about £8,000 needed to pay off the GRA and also new shale would have to bought in for racing to take place again.

 

Fingers Crossed this works out!!

Is there a Link to the 'Birmingham Mail' in regard to this please. I have tried to find one - no luck. Plenty of football there!

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Can someone help please, I went to both the Poole and Swindon rain offs at Birmingham, I have my admission tickets to both meetings, If a new promotor comes in( hopefully they will) will I be able to use my tickets for the re staging of the meetings?

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Can someone help please, I went to both the Poole and Swindon rain offs at Birmingham, I have my admission tickets to both meetings, If a new promotor comes in( hopefully they will) will I be able to use my tickets for the re staging of the meetings?

That's surely unlikely. The new promotion have to pay for back rent and apparently shale as well, it would be pretty terrible if they had to allow the crowd in free for two meetings as well, unless that is somehow built in to the takeover terms.

 

All clubs need rich men who don't mind losing a packet, let's hope the Brummies have found someone like that.

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Can someone help please, I went to both the Poole and Swindon rain offs at Birmingham, I have my admission tickets to both meetings, If a new promotor comes in( hopefully they will) will I be able to use my tickets for the re staging of the meetings?

I'd imagine that these would only be honoured as a goodwill gesture by any incoming promotion. Hopefully any reasonable promoter would do so....

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I'd imagine that these would only be honoured as a goodwill gesture by any incoming promotion. Hopefully any reasonable promoter would do so....

Surely it depends how many of these tickets are outstanding? It could be a huge expense and Phillips has already had the money, not any new promoter.

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Surely it depends how many of these tickets are outstanding? It could be a huge expense and Phillips has already had the money, not any new promoter.

I guess the same could be said of season ticket holders. I agree that it is perhaps unlikely but I guess it's a case of balancing the short-term loss against potential longer-term loss from out of pocket fans.

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