uk_martin Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Lets hope ..., that the historic name of Cadrley will carry on for generations to come. Indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secsy1 Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Probably more down to the Goose that paid with golden eggs has become barren and now needs culling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aroundtheboards Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 From a Speedway Fan that happens to live in Somerset and support the Rebels, I sincerely hope the Heathens rally and find new management, I have fond memories of my Leicester days in the 70s and when the Heathens in the old British League came a calling !!! Good luck Cradley !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmet Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Probably more down to the Goose that paid with golden eggs has become barren and now needs culling! . Been said on the Fans Forum a few years ago. If you've only got Variable costs to pay out, why burden the operation with a large Fixed Cost outlay of building your own site when some other operation will host you and carry the overheads of a stadium? . Over the decades the likes of Parker, Mole, Thomas, etc. have known and shown that its the first couple of seasons that they (might) make money, and after that attendances usually fall as the novelty wears off, (though a run of successes can prolong it.) That's when they sell off the operation to another new, keen but green promotion/association. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee jay Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 . Been said on the Fans Forum a few years ago. If you've only got Variable costs to pay out, why burden the operation with a large Fixed Cost outlay of building your own site when some other operation will host you and carry the overheads of a stadium? . Over the decades the likes of Parker, Mole, Thomas, etc. have known and shown that its the first couple of seasons that they (might) make money, and after that attendances usually fall as the novelty wears off, (though a run of successes can prolong it.) That's when they sell off the operation to another new, keen but green promotion/association. . you are right of course but it can go both ways. rent to a landlord can be crippling, once the stadium is yours the running costs are much lower and everything you take in is yours. also your future is in your own hands and not at the whim of a dog track,football club or whatever. from my own experience the wasps have been lost to the sport not once but both times for this reason and there's plenty of others who would still be here if they had owned their own stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevec Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I really hope something happens and for the fans sake I wish the Heathens all the best. Must be difficult to find new owners when they dont even have a proper home track! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaboy279 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Tbf they have massive crowds, a track to ride on (albiet not there own), and a good selection of club assets. Surely it must be a dream opportunity for any local businessman or a group of wealthy fans to take over. Love or hate the Heathens british Speedway needs these famous big name clubs with a proper fan base. Hopefully it all falls into place quickly and fans don't have to worry all weekend about the future. On getting back in the local borough perhaps a "March" through Dudley town centre to the council buildings could help raise more awareness. I am sure if you could get 1000 or so people marching in green red and white local TV radio and papers would be all over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countershaftcounter Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 The problem is if you were a local businessman who may be interested in investing, you look at social media ( where most advertising is done these days ), look at the kind of aggressive rubbish a few of the Cradley followers come out with, then decide you wouldn't want your business associated with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catinthehat Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 The problem is if you were a local businessman who may be interested in investing, you look at social media ( where most advertising is done these days ), look at the kind of aggressive rubbish a few of the Cradley followers come out with, then decide you wouldn't want your business associated with it. Your right Countershaft, at the start of the year the cradley fans were rude and very aggressive towards me and the family when we was there, I kept my cool and let them get on with it but it was if the speedway world owed them a club and a track. Not to say that speedway does not need Cradley as it does but the supporters need to realise that being rude wont help them in there time of need. Like countershaft said if i was a business man and read what was going on face book at the start of the year, sorry guys not for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificentseven Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Your right Countershaft, at the start of the year the cradley fans were rude and very aggressive towards me and the family when we was there, I kept my cool and let them get on with it but it was if the speedway world owed them a club and a track. Not to say that speedway does not need Cradley as it does but the supporters need to realise that being rude wont help them in there time of need. Like countershaft said if i was a business man and read what was going on face book at the start of the year, sorry guys not for me. A minority of Cradley fans have always been like that dating right back to the 1970s. Unfortunately it is always the minority that tar the majority with a bad reputation but they don't help the situation of the club. Wolfie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) Your right Countershaft, at the start of the year the cradley fans were rude and very aggressive towards me and the family when we was there, I kept my cool and let them get on with it but it was if the speedway world owed them a club and a track. Not to say that speedway does not need Cradley as it does but the supporters need to realise that being rude wont help them in there time of need. Like countershaft said if i was a business man and read what was going on face book at the start of the year, sorry guys not for me. And they love being talked about so the best thing to do is ignore them. A whole thread about them will just fuel thr fire. I've faultered a couple of times. Which niggles me Edited October 9, 2015 by TMW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete cc Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Please don't tar us all with the same brush. All clubs will have their idiots, ours are just a little louder & on social media. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ommer Mon Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I also agree that there are a few hot heads amongst the ranks but just remenmber what the mainstream Cradley fans achieved since Dudley Wood closed in 1995. They kept the name of the Club going, via Club CH mainly, organised loads of social functions to keep everyione involved and kept the plight of the Club in the public eye. Then in 2009, fourteen years after Dudley Wood closed over 400 of them attended a 'filler' four team tournament at Swindon which persuaded Gary Patchett that there may still be plenty of life in the fan base. The Club made it back on track in 2010 and the home and away support has been amongst the best in the country (in spite of having to drive miles for a home fixture on a school night). There aren't too many who can point to that kind of track record. Hopefully a buyer can be found. Fingers crossed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunty Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 I'm just not sure now where I'm going to watch speedway! I just think we have run our course and it's over again. It's great to support Cradley still but come October every year we have this happens and to be honest to plan for next year on when my shifts need to be changed cause the day changes and how we have to travel to meeting changes just gives the club no consistency for the fans but we never have had this option because the club rolls through year contracts instead of signing deals which last 3-5 years! At least then we would know we were OK for 3-5 and then we have more time to find somewhere of our own! I think the reason we left Monmore was down to the Wolves and nothing else, we could offer speedway at a lower price and it was hindering the Van Strachens commitments to them! His full focus will be on them next year which some Wolves fans have mentioned on these boards. As for the future regarding a track, I just don't think the club have let the supporters know what we can do to help. They have just kept quiet to keep us quiet, maybe that is what's needed so nobody know nothing but the fans get right behind the club on the track but off it we are not able to. The fans have never attended meetings for land, never been able to put forward a pledge to the council or collected signatures of support for a track. One thing that annoys me more than anything is they only seem to try to find a track near cradley! We've traveled 10-12 miles for 5 years to watch them so why not look for a track in Wednesbury Oldbury West Brom Walsall why dose it have to be in Cradley or Near to it it makes no sence. Id love to pledge £200-£500 to be a parts of a supporters owned club! Not to make money but to be fully part of it and I think this is why the supporters trust have got to look at. Thing is it will take a lot of people's time up which I ultimately don't have! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brummies_Ste Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 HEATHENS IN FAN PLEA Saturday October 10, 2015 CRADLEY Heathens Speedway chiefs are urging fans to turn out in force at Perry Barr this Wednesday - to help convince potential buyers there is a future for the club. The three-man consortium, who revived the Heathens in 2010 after a 15-year gap in league racing, cannot continue running the club at Perry Barr in 2016 and are looking for new owners. Heathens face King's Lynn in the second leg of their Knockout Cup semi-final with a handy 51-39 lead from the first leg in Norfolk last Wednesday. Club Director Nigel Pearson said: "All three of us totally understand this is a worrying time for the club and we don't want to be remembered as the three people who brought the Heathens back - but then closed them down again. "A combination of issues means there is no alternative but to stand down and as a consortium we are desperate to see the Heathens continue in league racing in 2016. The best chance we have of achieving that is for the wonderful band of loyal fans to get across to Perry Barr on Wednesday, get right behind the boys and show what this club means to everyone. "The fan base is the reason why we carried on this year after losing the use of Wolverhampton. That was the only reason. Now it's time for us to move on and, personally, I hope there is a Heathens team on track next year for me to go and support when my diary allows. We cannot offer any guarantees, but that is our hope. "We look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday for what should be a big night with a cup final spot on the line." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Think they have become exasperated with Dudley council in trying to find them a site(or not trying to find them a site, is more to the point). No doubt if it had been houses or industrial units,their outlook would have been quite different. Really sorry if this is the end for the Heathens,they have given us so much pleasure(and heartache if youre a Wolves fan)over the past years. Hope you can find someone to carry on the fight,and keep this wonderful old club alive. Agree think the current owners have come to the conclusion that a new track is not going to be forthcoming.The issues stated by the owners are issues that have existed for the last 5 years ,( Pearson working on Sky, CVS involved with Wolves, etc ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunty Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Well there goes the Merry Hill chance of a track! Another peice of land that will lie dormant for another 10 years because Dudley Coucil are only interested in building Hotels! I think it's over for the track search, don't see how we will ever get one now they have left us! They have done a lot for the club and we've had the best we could for 6 seasons but I don't see now how it can continue! Unless Nigel will still give involvement to the track search then we are back at square one and it's taken ages even to get Dudley council to talk and now the person who is involved could no longer be! We should genuinely just scrap Dudley and try Sandwell again, weve traveled 10 miles every fortnight for 6 years so why does the track have to be in cradley! Euromillions for me tonight and I'll build it with that! Only way I see it happening with a sugar daddy! Don't know who I'll follow, if they do close I will support another team and couldn't ever go back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brummies_Ste Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 THE management of Cradley Heathens have held positive talks with the newly formed Heathens Speedway Supporters Trust regarding the short and long term future of the club.The current situation is obviously a major concern with Gary Patchett, Chris Van Straaten and Nigel Pearson unable to commit to next season at Perry Barr Stadium.Said Pearson: “Naturally there is a lot of work ahead over the next few weeks and try and secure the immediate future of the club and get the Heathens to the tapes in 2016.“The Trust once again underlined their support, not only for the work we have done over the last six seasons, but also to try and enable the club to continue racing next year with new people running it.“Our meeting once again underlined the passion there is for this great club and we can only repeat our message that we are not looking to close the club down, far from it, we want someone else to take it into 2016.“At this stage we cannot offer any guarantees on that, we have until the end of November to try and get everything in place.“But we were very encouraged by the positive nature of our meeting with the Trust and we thank them for their support along with the Ollie Ommer Children’s Club which, I believe, is the most successful club of that nature in British Speedway.”Meanwhile, Pearson has confirmed one piece of land which had been worked on for the past three years has finally fallen through.The site, close to the Merry Hill Centre, is reserved for another project which Dudley MBC have advised the club has every chance of going ahead.Said Pearson: “We were advised of this land some time ago, we have had drawings made up and consulted the planning department as well as having dialogue with the land owners.“Our consultant also spoke to the agents handling part of the land but unfortunately we have now been told it won’t be possible.“The council have, however, agreed to revisit previous sites which have been looked at to establish whether a change of circumstances gives us a better chance.“This process will continue behind the scenes whether the club races next season or not.”Cradley host Eastbourne in the Knockout Cup Final at Perry Barr next Wednesday, which is the final home meeting of 2015 and, unless a deal is struck with new promoters, the last of the modern era.The club have confirmed normal admission prices will apply for this meeting and season tickets are valid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathen1984 Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Cradley are finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunty Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 No point carrying on...its been good! Not sure what I'm going to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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