MattK Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 'Meaningless' is a stupid concept and is corrosive to the sport. It's only one small step for people to decide the whole sport is without meaning. The only thing more stupid would be running league meetings after the play-offs have been completed and the league winner's trophy given to the victors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Thought end-of-season shindigs had seen their day, to be honest. Aren't they from a bygone time where we all sat at the table to eat our meals? Are they from an era when riders actually cared who had been supporting them all that summer? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) Whether these fixtures are meaningless or not, is a matter of opinion, for any of us. And we, here, are free to express it publicly. However for a licenced promoter to believe it is very revealing. Of their bizarre mentality, if nothing else. But for the same person, in that position, to express it publicly. That could be seen as 'Bringing the Sport into Disrepute. People have been fined or banned for less. . Edited October 24, 2017 by Grand Central 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) It seems more and more common these days to see clubs putting very amutuerish statements out on their websites which are not-very-thinly veiled criticisms of riders and/or supporters. This one is a classic example. If they want people to attend their end-of-season event then make it an event people want to attend. Having said that, riders wanting payment to attend does seem a bit odd, but I don't think putting these type of statements out on websites make a club look professinal. Edited October 24, 2017 by grachan 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Jones Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 It seems more and more common these days to see clubs putting very amutuerish statements out on their websites which are not-very-thinly veiled criticisms of riders and/or supporters. This one is a classic example. If they want people to attend their end-of-season event then make it an event people want to attend. Having said that, riders wanting payment to attend does seem a bit odd, but I don't think putting these type of statements out on websites make a club look professinal. Edit -having just been to look at the Somerset website, I notice that this is not what is written there, so perhaps a link to the article might be worthwhile so we know where it came from. On the website, http://somersetrebels.co/news.php?extend.2107 “Then, for one reason or another, you get riders who either do not want to attend, want to be paid to attend, or cannot attend due having to ride in to meaningless fixtures which are still being run at this late in the season!” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 On the website, http://somersetrebels.co/news.php?extend.2107 “Then, for one reason or another, you get riders who either do not want to attend, want to be paid to attend, or cannot attend due having to ride in to meaningless fixtures which are still being run at this late in the season!” Thanks. I did later find it and edit my comment. I originally found a different article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) While I sympathise with Somerset here, the main track where I was involved over the years avoided such clashes by staging their event in November. But then, we weren't full of overseas riders who have better things to do in November. (Mind you, most seem to have better things to do between March and October). Where I do not sympathise is the comment that there are 'meaningless fixtures' taking place on Friday. All three are league matches and if they are now 'meaningless' then god help the sport. Okay the titles have been decided but that does not make completing the season 'meaningless'. - it's completing the season. Almost any other team sport I know would find it laughable that league seasons could not be completed. Only in speedway is it accepted, which is one more small reason why it lacks respect in the outside world. Okay, so if these three matches are 'meaningless' and should not be run, where exactly do we draw the line? Once it's mathematically impossible for a team to make the play-offs should they cancel all remaining fixtures since they are now 'meaningless'? During a meeting, once a side cannot mathematically win do we abandon the match and cancel the 'meaningless' heats? Do fans get refunds on their season tickets? 'Meaningless' is a stupid concept and is corrosive to the sport. It's only one small step for people to decide the whole sport is without meaning. Why can't we just enjoy speedway - and complete the season without these damaging comments? A speedway meeting is worth a thousand booze-ups Understand your sentiments Rob but the reality is that many, many meetings through the year are actually 'meaningless' given the often 'random' make up of the teams... People already do decide the Sport has no meaning in this country with many now who still attend, just going along to watch the 'racing spectacle' rather than having any 'emotional attachment' as invariably 'their team' is seldom made up of 'their riders'... For many more others? Well, they simply have just given up attending... My team won a Cup against a team with THREE of their own riders, the Final itself had SEVEN guests... You really would have to go some to get a wider sporting public (and even many fans of the sport too) to believe that any National Trophy won under those circumstances isn't anything other than 'meaningless'... And if an actual National Final has no credibilty what chance attracting a crowd for the previous rounds? Maybe there is no actual way of running the Sport in Britain with credibility? If so, what we have now is all we will get in future and many more 'meaningless meetings' will take place so maybe we should just get used to it..(?) As you say, its just one step away from saying the whole sport (in this country) has no meaning.. Pretty close to that now I would say particularly after the past five years or so... Edited October 24, 2017 by mikebv 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 People attending nowadays are there because of habit and social outing for the evening.There is entertainment supplied by the riders that turn up on the evening.( sometimes good). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) People attending nowadays are there because of habit and social outing for the evening.There is entertainment supplied by the riders that turn up on the evening.( sometimes good).Spot on... It can still be a great night out watching four riders of similar ability racing four laps of Speedway... The problem is 'shoe horning' that into a Team Sport concept with too many teams and team places to fill and/(or) not enough riders..... Many fans now go and "just watch the racing" with a view of "If we win, we win. If we don't, we dont".. Not because they don't want their club to be succesful, far from it, its just simply because they no longer have that emotional attachment they once did.. Lets face it, winning with a team of ringers is hollow as they are not really your riders, and getting beat by a team full of ringers isn't painful as they weren't really your opponents anyway.. Unfortunately there are only so many fans willing to follow a team Sport under those parameters... Edited October 24, 2017 by mikebv 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Sums me up spot on,trouble is I'm not that bothered if I miss meetings these days. On the slippery slope? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) Sums me up spot on,trouble is I'm not that bothered if I miss meetings these days. On the slippery slope?Think so Bruno... For me Speedway in Britain is caught between two stools... If say the NSS ran three BIG individual meetings a year whereby the World's top riders were in attendance I would pay £35 - £40 for me and my 14 year old lad to attend and know we would see great racing with real value for money. And I am sure around 4000 - 5000 others (at least) would join me.. I gladly spend circa £200 notes to attend Cardiff... I balk though at paying £25 or so weekly for me and the lad to watch 'made up teams' in a competition with no credibility... So much so I actually attended more Colts matches this year than Aces matches as for just £10 for me and the lad combined (in the posh seats too) you could see some fantastic action... However it didn't bother me who won the Colts matches as I saw them as very much a "reserve team" to the main one, therefore I could just sit back and enjoy Bewley, Bickley, Smith, Ayres, Armstrong, Royton et al riding as if it were a GP they were competing in... How it sorts the many Premiership and the Championship issues out I don't know, what I do know though is that if it's more of the same next year my visits to Premiership matches will remain as well spread out as this year's. ,, Edited October 24, 2017 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topaz325 Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Fans have been saying these words for years now but many promoters seem intent on burying their heads in the sand and blaming fans for not attending to watch a inferior product Do promoters not realise the strength of feeling that many have towards the sport! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) Fans have been saying these words for years now but many promoters seem intent on burying their heads in the sand and blaming fans for not attending to watch a inferior product Do promoters not realise the strength of feeling that many have towards the sport! I think they probably do - but they don't know what to do about it or, how to improve things. Edited October 24, 2017 by The White Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris116 Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 I am glad that the team who I watch most often has not put out a statement like the one by the Somerset promotion as I would be writing to them to point out that I support SPEEDWAY not buffets and booze ups. My support for those at Oaktree Arena is now NIL and I have always had a high opinion of that promotion. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 I am glad that the team who I watch most often has not put out a statement like the one by the Somerset promotion as I would be writing to them to point out that I support SPEEDWAY not buffets and booze ups. My support for those at Oaktree Arena is now NIL and I have always had a high opinion of that promotion. Do you support Somerset 'Rebels'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry1603 Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Why dont they book some guests to come instead ? Surely rider replacment would be better so less riders have to turn up - but each eat / drink a bit more 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) Must admit, I do find it odd that a speedway promoter considers a speedway meeting more pointless than an end of season party.Next time she complains about fans not turning up just tell her that everyone has gone out for a meal. Edited October 25, 2017 by SCB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drew2 Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Last season the Rebels Presentation Night was considered too expensive by some, even to celebrate the PL Trophy winning season. This year a 'cheaper' option was planned, as some had requested, but the support was low once again. One difficulty in any club situation, whatever the sport, is pleasing everyone with these type of functions as I well know. Sometimes you just can win! I will openly admit I wasn't planning on attending this event originally due to my work commitments I have over the weekend but that all changed to assist the club as mentioned below. Coupled with the lack of current riders available/fit//willing to attend it was always going to be difficult. If we had stayed with the same one to seven we started the year with, I guess a few more riders (Starkey and Jan) might have also been available to attend (although Rohan is now a SGP reserve on Sat). The usual announcer and his stand in were also unavailable for the re-arranged date so I was actually lined up to stand in for them, (so even that role was requiring a 'NL guest', quite apt really with how the rest of the speedway season has gone!! ) I was actually looking forward to compering it though but was also thinking it might not be an easy 'baptism' for me on the mike. (BTW the way I am just a fan of the club but have plenty of experience of this type of event through my work as a professional golfer) People have said what about holding the event in November but for those of you maybe not that local to Somerset the first Saturday in November is Bridgwater Carnival followed by the Burnham and Highbridge event on the Monday evening. The rest of the Guy Fawkes circuit then follows at various Somerset towns over the next 2 weeks. Trying to run it that weekend would have been very difficult as so many local people are involved in that huge event in some way or another. Travelling around Somerset that weekend isn't easy either. Some of our Aussies would have already returned home as well so wouldn't have been able to attend either by then, especially if they wished to return home in time for their home SGP. Somerset's first year in the top league has been a struggle. The inconsistent fixture list with massive gaps is a joke and I am not sure how that came about to be as bad as it was with all fixtures crammed into the end of August it seems. Somerset almost HAD to move up due to the geographical nature of the setup of the two leagues, which I completely understand, but that brought with it the issues of the weekend of SGP's accounting for certain riders missing more often than they appeared at the OTA. Add that to other rider availability issues of doubling up etc it was a complete mess. Other teams also tried to bully the 'new boys' into fulfilling fixtures at certain times to suit them it seemed to me. I don't think one match all season happened at the OTA without a guest or R/R on one or both sides which is wrong for everyone. I know the Hancock family love their speedway, and along with Garry May, put their heart and soul into running that club but this year has been extremely trying on so many fronts within the sport for them. The frustration maybe boiled over in the statement but that is probably because they love it so much. Whatever the outcome over the winter months within the sport I will certainly be back supporting the club next season along with my family though. I will also now try to support other functions within the club when I possibly can. What happens next as a whole for this sport in GB, who knows though?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted October 24, 2017 Report Share Posted October 24, 2017 Thought end-of-season shindigs had seen their day, to be honest. Aren't they from a bygone time where we all sat at the table to eat our meals? Are they from an era when riders actually cared who had been supporting them all that summer? i think that sums up the situation in a way .. look at the average age of speedway supporters now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris116 Posted October 25, 2017 Report Share Posted October 25, 2017 Do you support Somerset 'Rebels'? No, but I have always thought the promotion was one of the better ones. That view has now changed sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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