Berwick V Workington (lc) Saturday, May 2

[Hamster00]

 

I'm sorry Taffy, but it is actually the case. They just got so sick of it.

Don't mis-represent me by suggesting that I am saying it is the only reason, just a few people I know got worn down with it.

If you like, I can ask for their permission to post their names

You get people moaning in all walks of life though every single place you go you will find that and I find it astonishing that people would not turn up because of that I've never heard anything like it.

 

I know plenty of people who have stopped coming recently but for the more obvious reasons as stated above entertainment, poor results and so on.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Hamster00

[bigeddiechek]

Bit of denial going on here.

[Hamster00]

Bit of denial going on here.

I'm astonished more than anything.

 

You normally seem to be in denial about how poor the meetings have been so far this season.

[screm]

I'm astonished more than anything.

 

You normally seem to be in denial about how poor the meetings have been so far this season.

 

I agree, I would be surprised if one or two stopped going just because a few fans next to them were moaning, would it be to much to ask to move to another part of Shielfield, still enjoy your speedway and get away from the moaners.

 

Must admit I didn't hear this shouting last Saturday, though to be fair I sit amongst more exclusive clientele.

[Goodiepatchie]

Could be down to a number of things:

 

Barker getting injured in the first meeting.

 

The weather being so shockingly bad

 

The team losing virtually every week at home.

 

The ongoing rift between the VIP club and supporters club. (rift possibly not being the right word).

 

Lack of entertainment maybe so, but is the track really that bad? or is it just being used as a scapegoat?

 

All the negativity towards the club can do a lot of harm, as people will constantly hear bad things through the grapevine which in result will simply turn fans away.

 

And to top it all of we are in the month of May! and already people saying this will be the last season we will see Berwick Speedway operate.

 

How can you fix it.....i simply have no idea.

 

Well get behind the club instead of constantly moaning and being negative towards it,

reverse psychology hopefully will get through to the people it's aimed at

[Hamster00]

Must admit I didn't hear this shouting last Saturday, though to be fair I sit amongst more exclusive clientele.

Neither did I but I left as soon as Alex crashed as I guessed that would be the end of the meeting.

[Goodiepatchie]

 

On a second point, it is more than apparent there is unease with the customer base at Berwick Speedway, it shows in the ever decreasing attendance and also from a very vocal group of fans, who are willing to air their views. If I had not satisfied any of my customers, I would much rather they told me, than never to return. Every one of those very vocal fans bleed Berwick Bandits Speedway, not one single person among them want speedway to fold, so it is unfair to deny a paying customer of their opinion, whether it is welcomed or not.

 

am sure if someone was unhappy with anything they had purchased or the service you have gave them am sure they would come into the shop they wouldn't stand at the O2 shop shouting their disapproval through a megaphone Edited May 5, 2015 by Goodiepatchie

[BigRackBandit]

You get people moaning in all walks of life though every single place you go you will find that and I find it astonishing that people would not turn up because of that I've never heard anything like it.

 

I know plenty of people who have stopped coming recently but for the more obvious reasons as stated above entertainment, poor results and so on.

Moaning in all walks of life?.

 

I think you'll find its usually the bottom feeders of society that are critics ....

[Hamster00]

Moaning in all walks of life?.

 

I think you'll find its usually the bottom feeders of society that are critics ....

 

You've taken the words right out of Scotts mouth

[bigeddiechek]

You get people moaning in all walks of life though every single place you go you will find that and I find it astonishing that people would not turn up because of that I've never heard anything like it.

 

I know plenty of people who have stopped coming recently but for the more obvious reasons as stated above entertainment, poor results and so on.

 

I know it might seem daft, but they did just get absolutely scunnered by some constant nipping in their ear.

It's a real shame. Anyway, the fact is it has happened, accept it or not.

 

Moaning is fine, of course it happens, but when the same things get repeated every week then I defy anyone to tolerate it.

Different people react differently, I tell folk when I am fed up with them, others are more discreet: which isn't hard!

 

It is also normal to balance any criticism with praise.

 

I shall give an example.

 

Last season the Promotion were given a hard time on here for not being ruthless enough and giving Liam Carr too much of a chance.

So, this season, similar position and they act pretty quickly. An experienced rider too who could potentially score well.

Furthermore, the change has added a lot more strength in depth.

 

Both things that have been suggested on here: and both very fair points.

So, the Promotion have acted and done things differently this season.

 

Not a peep from the critics to even acknowledge that.

 

It's all one way traffic and it is damaging.

 

I feel it is a pity that I spend most of my time on here trying to balance up the case rather than discussing speedway.

It was the same in the days of Peter Waite, and it was the same people castigating him.

 

I can't understand this incessant attacking of the club, I don't understand what the ultimate aim of it is.

I'm completely open to being given an explanation of this.

[Hamster00]

 

I know it might seem daft, but they did just get absolutely scunnered by some constant nipping in their ear.

It's a real shame. Anyway, the fact is it has happened, accept it or not.

 

Moaning is fine, of course it happens, but when the same things get repeated every week then I defy anyone to tolerate it.

Different people react differently, I tell folk when I am fed up with them, others are more discreet: which isn't hard!

 

It is also normal to balance any criticism with praise.

 

I shall give an example.

 

Last season the Promotion were given a hard time on here for not being ruthless enough and giving Liam Carr too much of a chance.

So, this season, similar position and they act pretty quickly. An experienced rider too who could potentially score well.

Furthermore, the change has added a lot more strength in depth.

 

Both things that have been suggested on here: and both very fair points.

So, the Promotion have acted and done things differently this season.

 

Not a peep from the critics to even acknowledge that.

 

It's all one way traffic and it is damaging.

 

I feel it is a pity that I spend most of my time on here trying to balance up the case rather than discussing speedway.

It was the same in the days of Peter Waite, and it was the same people castigating him.

 

I can't understand this incessant attacking of the club, I don't understand what the ultimate aim of it is.

I'm completely open to being given an explanation of this.

 

If you look in the Berwick 2015 thread everyone on there is agreeing it was a good move replacing Luke with Richard and I agree something had to be done and Richard is an experienced rider who will add a bit more depth.

 

Personally the reason I have a moan about certain things isn't because I want the club to fold it's because I want the club I support to be the best it possibly can be.

 

I'm not saying I know all the answers or I could fix it all I just want to try and improve things where I feel we could do better and come up with some suggestions.

 

Surely you can see that so far this season has been nothing short of a disaster for the club.

 

A string of home defeats, some unfortunate injuries, an inconsistent track and dwindling crowd numbers have all resulted in us all fearing the worst for our club.

 

I am one of the biggest critics out there but it's through nothing more than wanting the club I support to be the best it can be and be able to compete with the likes of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Somerset and Ipswich.

 

The few people that I do know that criticise are very similar and only have the best interests of the club at heart.

 

Nobody wants the club to close but I think everyone's different views on the matter have made people perceive what I would view as constructive criticism as a scathing attack on the club and promotion.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Hamster00

[Shadders]

You can guarantee that if the Bandits don't run next year the promotion will blame the Supporters Club

[bigeddiechek]

 

If you look in the Berwick 2015 thread everyone on there is agreeing it was a good move replacing Luke with Richard and I agree something had to be done and Richard is an experienced rider who will add a bit more depth.

 

Personally the reason I have a moan about certain things isn't because I want the club to fold it's because I want the club I support to be the best it possibly can be.

 

I'm not saying I know all the answers or I could fix it all I just want to try and improve things where I feel we could do better and come up with some suggestions.

 

Surely you can see that so far this season has been nothing short of a disaster for the club.

 

A string of home defeats, some unfortunate injuries, an inconsistent track and dwindling crowd numbers have all resulted in us all fearing the worst for our club.

 

I am one of the biggest critics out there but it's through nothing more than wanting the club I support to be the best it can be and be able to compete with the likes of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Somerset and Ipswich.

 

The few people that I do know that criticise are very similar and only have the best interests of the club at heart.

 

Nobody wants the club to close but I think everyone's different views on the matter have made people perceive what I would view as constructive criticism as a scathing attack on the club and promotion.

 

I think it would be fair to say that last season we competed with the above four, although not quite to the heights of Edinburgh and Somerset!

 

I don't think anyone wants the club to close, but there are only two things that will stop that.

Either wealthy individuals putting the hands in their pockets, or more people coming through the turnstiles.

 

What I am really saying is you don't know what you have until it is gone.

 

Look at what is happening around other tracks, the sport is not in good shape, but it needs paying punters to get it liquid again.

Only then will there be any point in pushing for changes.

If we focus on complaining at this point in time, then it will just drive things further into the ground.

 

I would say that everyone involved since Peter stepped aside has done a hell of lot to try and address as many issues as possible.

I would also say that Peter did an incredible job of keeping speedway alive and ensuring that it was passed on into good hands.

 

Let's face it, there are not many people around capable financially or with the expertise to run a speedway club: much as many of us like to thing we are.

 

Sometimes it's important to step back and think.

[jenga]

fans get yourselves there 7pm on satnight...back john andersonto leadthe banditsto victory over the devils on Saturday night

devils at Workington Saturday night. could be the watches you have to watch out for. support that bandits team ..

Edited May 5, 2015 by jenga

[Hamster00]

 

I think it would be fair to say that last season we competed with the above four, although not quite to the heights of Edinburgh and Somerset!

 

I don't think anyone wants the club to close, but there are only two things that will stop that.

Either wealthy individuals putting the hands in their pockets, or more people coming through the turnstiles.

 

What I am really saying is you don't know what you have until it is gone.

 

Look at what is happening around other tracks, the sport is not in good shape, but it needs paying punters to get it liquid again.

Only then will there be any point in pushing for changes.

If we focus on complaining at this point in time, then it will just drive things further into the ground.

 

I would say that everyone involved since Peter stepped aside has done a hell of lot to try and address as many issues as possible.

I would also say that Peter did an incredible job of keeping speedway alive and ensuring that it was passed on into good hands.

 

Let's face it, there are not many people around capable financially or with the expertise to run a speedway club: much as many of us like to thing we are.

 

Sometimes it's important to step back and think.

 

I would agree we did very well last season and exceeded most peoples expectations.

 

Currently though we have a struggling team and dwindling crowds which is what the promotion need to address.

 

The addition of Richard Hall should sure up the team and add some depth but they need to address the crowd issue.

 

You say we need to all turn up to help this and I agree but you can't as a promotion expect people to turn up and spend there hard earned money if they feel that it is not worth the money

 

The promotion can't wait till everybody comes and then start making changes that's just not how it works.

 

You need to make changes and improve things to entice people back through the door its a pretty simple business strategy.

 

If you owned a shop and people stopped coming in to buy things from you, you wouldn't just sit around and wait for them to come back because they wouldn't, you would find out why they weren't coming, address the issue and try to entice them back which is what the promotion needs to do.

[bigeddiechek]

If you owned a shop and people stopped coming in to buy things from you, you wouldn't just sit around and wait for them to come back because they wouldn't, you would find out why they weren't coming, address the issue and try to entice them back which is what the promotion needs to do.

 

There has been a lot of improvement.

So, we have last season's results. Pretty good for a club our size.

 

The track is immeasurably better than it was several years ago. It's lunacy to say otherwise. It's maybe not perfect, but it is far from bad.

We signed Ben Barker, pretty good, no?

We have Vissing and Doolan back, good?

We have competitive pricing, good or not?

We have the best deal for kids entry in the UK.

We have a well kept stadium that has been improved over recent years.

We get a regular newsletter that is packed with plenty info. It's maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but that is why it is subscription, so the people who want it, get it.

The programme is of consistently high quality, and has been changed this season after supporter's suggestions.

Posters are put out every month with upcoming fixtures.

We get additional national and international meetings that we never used to get.

We've now had two visits from Sky.

 

The results this season have not been great so far - for various reasons - but, this has been before the league campaign gets fully underway. The promotion have acted quickly and decisively with the team to give us a decent shot at the league (well, I can hope for the time being at least). So I wouldn't say that is sitting back and waiting for things to happen.

 

It is plainly not the case.

 

Nobody on here will believe me, and I think it is just because they do not want to, but there are several people I know that have either returned or become new regulars over the past 2 - 3 years. I only know of the people who have stopped coming because of the aforementioned reasons. I've also had a fair few people along who have just said it is not their cup of tea. Nothing that can be done about that.

 

I heard someone complain last week that Vissing and TJ missing this Saturday had not been announced.

It was: both at the track, and also on Radio Borders.

 

There are some people that there will be no pleasing, and they will drag others down with them.

I really just do not get the point of it?

[Hamster00]

 

 

The track is immeasurably better than it was several years ago. It's lunacy to say otherwise. It's maybe not perfect, but it is far from bad.

We signed Ben Barker, pretty good, no?

We have Vissing and Doolan back, good?

We have competitive pricing, good or not?

We have the best deal for kids entry in the UK.

We have a well kept stadium that has been improved over recent years.

We get a regular newsletter that is packed with plenty info. It's maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but that is why it is subscription, so the people who want it, get it.

The programme is of consistently high quality, and has been changed this season after supporter's suggestions.

Posters are put out every month with upcoming fixtures.

We get additional national and international meetings that we never used to get.

We've now had two visits from Sky.

 

The Track - It is safer than it was a few years ago yes and I agree that that is the most important thing but is the track good for racing not really mainly down to shape I think but I'm not a track curator so that's just my guess.

 

Ben Barker - A good signing and probably could get a few faces along that aren't massive speedway fans as most people with a passing knowledge of speedway know who he is and it is nice to have a big name number one.

 

Vissing and Doolan - Two key riders this season and I was pleased to have them back.

 

Pricing - Very much on a par with most of the Premier League but I personally think speedway in general is over priced.

 

Kids Entry - I don't have kids so I'm not exactly sure of the deal and it would be interesting to see how many families it enticed along.

 

Stadium - Has been improved I do believe a lot of this has more to do with Berwick Rangers to make sure they keep up with SPFL standards as a speedway venue it is streets ahead of a lot of other stadiums.

 

Newsletter - I don't subscribe to so I can't comment I wait until Crescent Girl spreads the news from the centre green on here.

 

Programme - I personally think it is one of the poorest in the league and always seems to contain mistakes its streets behind the one you get at Newcastle so I only really buy it to keep the scores it is cheap enough at £2 though.

 

Posters - I haven't personally seen them just the banners in the town centre I know Berwick Rangers do them and put them in local shops I did not know we did.

 

Additional Meetings - It has been fantastic to see these meetings on our doorstep and a lot of that has to do with how good our stadium is compared to other speedway stadiums, they are always well attended and provide a nice break from the usual league meetings.

 

Sky - As above well attended and enjoyable to see the show come to Berwick.

 

Apart from Ben Barker, Claus Vissing and Kevin Doolan though what out of the above will attract people along every week?

 

It's not me that they need to win around though it's your speedway fans of old who have stopped coming and your new faces that you need to get along.

 

I will come to as many meetings as I can but how do you get Joe Bloggs, his wife and two kids to decide to have a night out at the speedway.

 

They probably aren't interested in Newsletters or Programmes, what they are interested in is if they spend £30 are they getting a good night out, good value for money, good entertainment we need something to create a buzz like a sky meeting does.

 

It's like a conveyor belt if 100 fans fall off each year and don't come back for one reason or another you need at least another 100 fans to start coming and Speedway in general needs to start coming up with ideas to get the fans along.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Hamster00

[Fromafar]

I know it might seem daft, but they did just get absolutely scunnered by some constant nipping in their ear.

It's a real shame. Anyway, the fact is it has happened, accept it or not.

 

Moaning is fine, of course it happens, but when the same things get repeated every week then I defy anyone to tolerate it.

Different people react differently, I tell folk when I am fed up with them, others are more discreet: which isn't hard!

 

It is also normal to balance any criticism with praise.

 

I shall give an example.

 

Last season the Promotion were given a hard time on here for not being ruthless enough and giving Liam Carr too much of a chance.

So, this season, similar position and they act pretty quickly. An experienced rider too who could potentially score well.

Furthermore, the change has added a lot more strength in depth.

 

Both things that have been suggested on here: and both very fair points.

So, the Promotion have acted and done things differently this season.

 

Not a peep from the critics to even acknowledge that.

 

It's all one way traffic and it is damaging.

 

I feel it is a pity that I spend most of my time on here trying to balance up the case rather than discussing speedway.

It was the same in the days of Peter Waite, and it was the same people castigating him.

 

I can't understand this incessant attacking of the club, I don't understand what the ultimate aim of it is.

I'm completely open to being given an explanation of this.

Why don't these fans who can't stand the nipping in the ear just stand beside you,problem solved great night at the speedway.

[Black Angus]

Why don't these fans who can't stand the nipping in the ear just stand beside you,problem solved great night at the speedway.

 

Why don't you stop the nipping, driving people around you away?

[Hamster00]

 

Nobody on here will believe me, and I think it is just because they do not want to, but there are several people I know that have either returned or become new regulars over the past 2 - 3 years. I only know of the people who have stopped coming because of the aforementioned reasons. I've also had a fair few people along who have just said it is not their cup of tea. Nothing that can be done about that.

 

Why then if there are so many people returning and becoming new regulars was the crowd on Saturday the smallest I think I've seen it since the Andersons took over?