KevH Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 This idea has been tried before, but apart from a couple of 'shock' results, notably from Workington, failed owing to the 'top league' teams being far superior to the 'second league'. We now have evolved into two leagues which are arguably separated by one 'international class' rider, so is the time right to re-introduce this competition? Potentially we could have Plymouth v Poole, Somerset v Swindon or Workington v Belle Vue.......clearly doubling up riders could cause an issue, but it could also pave the way to abolishing that crazy rule (in my opinion). Thoughts......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 I reckon E.L. teams would still be far too strong even riding on the P.L. tracks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 yep, think that could work with a bit of tweaking.....would add something fresh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveEvans Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 I think something needs to be done to freshen up the UK league format and this could be it. It would only work though if the EL teams conformed to a PL points limit for this competition. Given that the bigger name riders seem to not want more fixtures, that in itself would essentially be the first step. I think a competition like this would be a great way to inject some fun and life into UK speedway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Nah keep EL teams as they are, many fans think they're on a par so put them to the test! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 I still get shivers when I remember the atmosphere going into heat 15 at Shawfield in 1992 when Glasgow beat Cradley . Would love to see this competition back , but with all the doubling up there would undoubtably be clashes where there are riders who ride for both clubs . So for that reason I cant see it ever happening again . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Wasn't there something like the British League Cup (?) some ten years or so ago that involved teams from both leagues? I recall that it caused some confusion regarding riders assessed averages and died a death after one year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Wasn't there something like the British League Cup (?) some ten years or so ago that involved teams from both leagues? I recall that it caused some confusion regarding riders assessed averages and died a death after one year. It was a pointless load of excrement. The PL already has too many added competitions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Last competitive fixtures between EL and PL were the promotion/relegation playoffs in 2008 thru 2010.By definition these were worst in EL v best in PL contests. All six matches were won by the EL teams including a 68-21 thumping of Edinburgh by Belle Vue at armadale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 I just don't see what's in it for the EL clubs. And it's ok saying things are closer these but are they? Garrity could be Coventry number 6 yet a PL number 1. That means Coventry have 5 riders stronger that the PL teams best rider, 1 who's equal and a number 7 capable of blitzing the reserves he's going to meet in the PL team. It'd be 65-25 even at the PL track! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiseguy Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 I like the idea, would like to see national league teams as well would need to be seeded so that the first round would be national league teams at their home tracks against the bottom half of the premier league teams, and the top half of the premier league to be drawn at their home tracks v the elite league, all done over 1 leg only, unless its a draw and a replay the lower league side will always get home advantage unless teams draw each other from the same league the lower league side will always get use of and "shared" riders Whilst their might not be massive interest from the elite league sides, how about giving something back to the rest of the speedway supporting public, nothing I would like to see more than some of the big boys coming down to kent, win lose or draw, would be good just to see them why can't there be upsets? happens in every other sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkafag Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 The gap between sides is massive, utterly massive. It can happen in a sport like football because sides can get a goal and hang on in there, in Speedway, even a decent PL side gaining a heat advantage would be a decent achievement. If it extended to NL it would be 60+ scores to PL sides, to put context on it, one of the standout riders in the NL was dropped from the worst side in the PL last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiseguy Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 If it extended to NL it would be 60+ scores to PL sides It is possible, but that is just an opinion and not a fact, I don't think Redcar would go to Eastbourne and beat them with over 60 points, but again it's just my opinion When I was growing up watching Exeter, not many sides, even the mighty Poole, would come to Exeter and dish out a thrashing and that is a fact, Exeter used to ride annually against Poole and Swindon and they were always tight, class riders like Phil Crump, Steve Schofield or Craig Boyce always done well, but were still on the losing side sometimes even if the home side do lose, its nice to see different riders, I would rather see Kent lose at home to Poole than I would watch Kent lose at home to Mildenhall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Wasn't there something like the British League Cup (?) some ten years or so ago that involved teams from both leagues? I recall that it caused some confusion regarding riders assessed averages and died a death after one year. If I recall correctly the Elite teams had an unfair advantage regarding averages, which rendered the competition a tad worthless. Pretty sure it was this competition where Antonio Lindback was brought in on a daft average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Wasn't there something like the British League Cup (?) some ten years or so ago that involved teams from both leagues? I recall that it caused some confusion regarding riders assessed averages and died a death after one year. The issue is that EL clubs were allowed to build to 46 EL points at a time the conversion was 50% (rather than todays 60%) which meant every EL team seem to be using Scott Peglar and Graham Jones in reserve and they'd have been 6.5 rider for PL teams. It also didn't help that the rules were no R/R for EL teams and Poole turned up at Coventry using R/R for Lukas Dryml who was riding in the Polish league!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Leslie Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 The issue is that EL clubs were allowed to build to 46 EL points at a time the conversion was 50% (rather than todays 60%) Think the Elite League actually had to reduce to 36 points. But at the 1.5 conversion rate at the time this equated to approx 54 PL points against PL teams with averages of 42ish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Downes Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 It will never work - in didn't when I supported Crayford in the 70's/80's and it wouldn't work now. The odd (let's face it) freak result every few years has clouded memories and the regular thumping's have been forgotten - the gap was too big then and it still is today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 I meant 36. Fat fingers and phones don't work too well! It was heavily biased towards the EL. Oxford got screwed over too as Craig Boyce (think it was him) signed for Poole in the BLC despite being in their (Oxfords) EL team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Whilst I like the romance of this idea and the giant killing possibility as with all speedway money would kill this idea off. To cover the wage demands of EL riders NL clubs would have to charge EL prices or run at a loss if the competition was run as a one leg affair. Would be interesting to see if any teams fancy putting on any inter division challenge matches during the pre season to gauge interest / results? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 Whilst I like the romance of this idea and the giant killing possibility as with all speedway money would kill this idea off. To cover the wage demands of EL riders NL clubs would have to charge EL prices or run at a loss if the competition was run as a one leg affair. Would be interesting to see if any teams fancy putting on any inter division challenge matches during the pre season to gauge interest / results? It would be good if it could happen - but it won't. I would imagine, as you say, Costs could be a big issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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