Ray Stadia Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Eastbourne have been in this position before, as I recall and there has been a solution in the past. The Dugard family have owned the stadium for several years and the family are a speedway dynasty. I would be surprised if this was the end of speedway at Eastbourne, unless the family really have had enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellevueace Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Eight or nine home matches a season really wouldnt be worth the bother, i know the days of 36 league matches, ko cup fixtures, world championship qualifiers plus numerous open meeting are long gone but on the other hand whats being muted by Bob Dugard is the other extreme. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Apart from the financial issues, I think bob's health is a major factor in all of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Speedway nearly died in the 50's and it's looking like the 50's all over again...here in Britain at least. It needs people with guts, gumption and foresight to rescue the situation. Is there another Mike Parker out there?. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussex bulldog Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I think Bob has 8 EL fixtures in mind and then lower level meetings on other dates. Possibly NL ? Let us hope some agreement is reached.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 thursday nights were tried about five years ago, they were a disaster.What do people do different in Sussex than Norfolk then, hopefully Connor will inject some much needed enthusiasm and positiveness into the club and find some new fans, if Lynn can, Eastbourne can?My mate reckons they should target the grey brigade in Eastbourne, offer them entry, prog, cuppa and chips/burger or whatever for £10, for a night of excitement and mouth dropping motorbike skill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 What do people do different in Sussex than Norfolk then, hopefully Connor will inject some much needed enthusiasm and positiveness into the club and find some new fans, if Lynn can, Eastbourne can? My mate reckons they should target the grey brigade in Eastbourne, offer them entry, prog, cuppa and chips/burger or whatever for £10, for a night of excitement and mouth dropping motorbike skill! I'd go if they included a pint of Old Speckled Hen. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Oh dear, that is very sad to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Is it the 100 club they have at Eastbourne where fans put in money? If so could they extend that or get fans to increase any stake they have in the club. Hopefully someone will come in and save the club if they did I bet Bob would still do the track for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbuck Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Like most supporters, I'm really sorry to see Eastbourne in this not unfamiliar situation,but I just don't see the suggested 8 home match season being workable. I know this might suit the so-called International stars, but it would financially cripple the lesser riders,and in my opinion, there is already too much pandering to the top riders, most of whom I suspect would expect to be paid the same for taking part in 7 meetings as they would for a full season. Such a scheme would be just an excuse for picking and choosing the meetings they ride in, and would serve only as an encouragement to other riders to try and get away with doing the same. Perhaps Eastbourne could consider running in the National League in which there are fewer teams and in which the week-end programme is far less disrupted by what goes on in the continent. Many of their supporters would see this as a retrograde step and attendances would inevitably fall, but with the reduced costs and by continuing the development of new riders for which the club has for long been famous, the management would be able to work gradually for a return to a higher division in the fullness of time? Come what may though, it would be sad to see Eastbourne founder and I wish the club and their fans, well for the future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I do see the signs of mega-problems ahead. I worked in speedway through from late 1952 for the next 10 years. The years between 1955 and 1958 were especially critical but the the sport had visionaries like Ronnie Greene, Charles Ochiltree, Charlie Knott and Johnnie Hoskins to guide it through. Who are the men of that calibre these days? I could not agree more. They were the saviours of British speedway. I can't even name anyone that could match them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy jimmy Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 (edited) These days, unless you are viable to be able to race midweek, the EL is not the league for you. I don't think Eastbourne have the catchment area really for top flight speedway do they?? EL should include Dudley and Ipswich IMO. Race once at home and once away to get a regular season winner, then split the league in two, top 5 race home and away for the Championship, bottom five do the same for the plate or something. That gives you 13 home fixtures and competitive matches. You can have your number 1 as a job share and the bottom 3 positions (1 second string plus 2 reserves) in the team should all be UK riders as a minimum. Edited September 20, 2014 by jimmy jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 These days, unless you are viable to be able to race midweek, the EL is not the league for you. I don't think Eastbourne have the catchment area really for top flight speedway do they?? EL should include Dudley and Ipswich IMO. Race once at home and once away to get a regular season winner, then split the league in two, top 5 race home and away for the Championship, bottom five do the same for the plate or something. That gives you 13 home fixtures and competitive matches. You can have your number 1 as a job share and the bottom 3 positions (1 second string plus 2 reserves) in the team should all be UK riders as a minimum. Firstly I hope that the Eagles can carry on in some form. A neat little track that I have enjoyed travelling to a number of times. Secondly and the reason for selecting the quote - why woukd Ipswich want to join a league as you set out?? This year we have completed 14 league 4 League cup and our rounds of the KOC and had blank weeks where no opposition could be brought forward. I certainly dont want to see my club reduce its fixture list by a third to suit propping up the league you propose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherwatcher Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 When they showed the meeting on Sky Bob was saying he could not see himself keep going on with the club after this season due to health problems and that he was thinking of calling it a day and slowing down. What a shame because the name Duggard it self is I lasrge mile stone in speedways history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 When they showed the meeting on Sky Bob was saying he could not see himself keep going on with the club after this season due to health problems and that he was thinking of calling it a day and slowing down. What a shame because the name Duggard it self is I lasrge mile stone in speedways history. All us old West Ham regulars remember Bob Dugard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Firstly I hope that the Eagles can carry on in some form. A neat little track that I have enjoyed travelling to a number of times. Secondly and the reason for selecting the quote - why woukd Ipswich want to join a league as you set out?? This year we have completed 14 league 4 League cup and our rounds of the KOC and had blank weeks where no opposition could be brought forward. I certainly dont want to see my club reduce its fixture list by a third to suit propping up the league you propose. Think Ipswich would be quite happy to see Lakeside joining the PL along with Birmingham, both of which must be on the cards surely THE Dugards have been very loyal to speedway over many, many years. If, as rumoured, the Arlington site is worth several millions for housing development, no one can begrudge them taking the money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Think Ipswich would be quite happy to see Lakeside joining the PL along with Birmingham, both of which must be on the cards surely . cant argue with the fact that some tracks closer to home would be desirable but not at the expense of a full fixture list. Personally I dont see a 9-12 home fixture season as right for my team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 cant argue with the fact that some tracks closer to home would be desirable but not at the expense of a full fixture list. Personally I dont see a 9-12 home fixture season as right for my team. WHICH team is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Ipswich are my team Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I could not agree more. They were the saviours of British speedway. I can't even name anyone that could match them. Different times now, they had relatively easy jobs, speedway was new and exciting and people couldn't get enough of it, when the crowds started going down they didn't hang about did they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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