marko Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 I no longer have a club to support but if I did I would welcome a league of 16-18 clubs, maybe its rose tinted glasses but I used to really enjoy the old National League back in the late 80s, so many teams and a lot of variety, that said though, they were the days when you had a lot of those clubs within reasonable distance, us Hammers had at various times, Hackney, Ipswich, Rye House, Mildenhall, Milton Keynes & Wimbledon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 16 hours ago, keepturningleft said: Years ago I remember when someone like Barry Briggs came to Halifax for a league meeting, there was a special buzz and an obvious spike in attendance because this, apart from a possible international, was likely to be his one and only appearance at the track for the year. Those special times are gone. As world champion, I doubt if the presence of Jason Doyle attracted a single extra person through the turnstile, with all due respect to Jason. When the same teams and faces are appearing week in and week out, meetings become less meaningful and the sense of anticipation is diluted. The formation of one big league was the salvation of speedway in the 60's, maybe it could be again. And it was such a disaster in the mid 90's that the then PL have to be created to keep clubs in business. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 12 minutes ago, Tsunami said: And it was such a disaster in the mid 90's that the then PL have to be created to keep clubs in business. That was mainly because the " Haves " refused to help the "have nots" with riders making it a really unbalanced league.- The promoters talked a good game but failed to implement it properly !!!! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 2 hours ago, Trees said: Use em or lose em, nah I think their ought to be a huge summit of all league speedway promoters to thrash out some ideas for the future of the sport ...... if things are rosy anywhere then something has to be done? They try that every year ,and come with nothing. ,what’s going to change.Self interest rules . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortythirtyeight Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 What's going to change?.....either nothing or the end of speedway as we currently know it. The 'One league format'  was agreed in the winter , with a number of tracks refusing to join it but then a member of the board , who didn't like that decision led a revolt and had it overturned. Then when it was stalemate as not enough teams to continue with a Premiership and Championship his adversary buys two more clubs to keep the Premiership going. Rules were ignored and individuals requirements came first. They who had the most money and loudest voices got what they required. Nothing new to speedway. This will only change when there's a revolution or a total collapse of the sport. There has to be new leadership, unattached to any club, to try to save the sport we all love ( well most of us on this forum !) will it ever happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 6 hours ago, Bavarian said: AUSTRALIA ? With no EU law restricting You in the future, You can call on the Aussie boys, who are eager to come over, and unliek many of the Europeans they are loyal to British speedway, not having to ride in their home country every other week durign the European season  This is nonsense on stilts.  The UK Government and ONLY the UK govt determines immigration policy (outwith the EU) - and there is no reason whatsoever to think the current restrictive policy with regard to speedway riders will be relaxed regardless of whether or not we do finally manage to leave the EU.  Only a General Election resulting in the election of a more pro- immigration party will do that and I can't see that happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 It has got to the point now where the Promoters' Conference is more eagerly awaited than the new season. We hear they will listen, but has anything changed this season to last? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, racers and royals said: That was mainly because the " Haves " refused to help the "have nots" with riders making it a really unbalanced league.- The promoters talked a good game but failed to implement it properly !!!! The tradition for speedway clubs is to look after their own business and not realise that a strong league is vastly more important than becoming the last man standing and having no one to race against.  Poole, after all the trophies they have won the last 15 years, and scoffing a lot of calories in riding talent to serve their purpose, are perhaps realising that winning isn't the be all and end all and can leave fans feeling bloated. Edited June 1, 2019 by moxey63 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted June 1, 2019 Report Share Posted June 1, 2019 36 minutes ago, moxey63 said: The tradition for speedway clubs is to look after their own business and not realise that a strong league is vastly more important than becoming the last man standing and having no one to race against.  Poole, after all the trophies they have won the last 15 years, and scoffing a lot of calories in riding talent to serve their purpose, are perhaps realising that winning isn't the be all and end all and can leave fans feeling bloated. And all that success is seemingly worthless as MF has something which no-one wants to buy ( except possibly Buster Chapman at a knockdown price ). As he has taken so much cash out of the club over the years, when the terraces were heaving, he turned out to be another who never bothered to at least maintain his track reasonably. As for saying how much you lost on a recent match - how is that going to attract a buyer ( except the aforementioned Buster with £10k in his pocket)? Do UK speedway clubs have any value except to a gambler like Buster? But when the New Dawn era finally arrives all will be well - do you think? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWC Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 (edited) Eastbourne postponed their meeting yesterday due to the threat of the Champions league final. The loss of a few hundred spectators would be crippling financially. Can see this continuing so the sport must reduce costs like it or not. Probably the area to consider and one which gets overlooked is rider equipment and how costs can be significantly reduced. Edited June 2, 2019 by GWC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dog Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 I don't recall MF mentioning the bumpy dustbowl on offer. Surely the best promotor in recent history can see that a poor stage for the riders to perform will end in fans not turning up. Probably another reason why they can't attract top riders too like they used to. Personally, I'd like to see the average banged up to around 50 points to accommodate top riders if clubs can afford them. No 11 point rider is going to want to ride with 6 4pointers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 11 minutes ago, GWC said: Eastbourne postponed their meeting yesterday due to the threat of the Champions league final. The loss of a few hundred spectators would be crippling financially. Can see this continuing so the sport must reduce costs like it or not. Probably the area to consider and one which gets overlooked is rider equipment and how costs can be significantly reduced. It is a phenomenal operating model they use isn't it? All trying to win competitions that because of the way they operate them, via a ridiculous set of rules, are rendered virtually worthless... All expecting riders to have the best kit they can get, and paying out sums far in excess of the sports true standing to assist them to purchase it... Fortunes being paid out by riders and promoters resulting in admission costs that are set at the level they are to try and cover that outlay rather than reflect what is actually on offer.. And all ultimately to win competitions hardly anyone gives a monkeys about...? It is truly a race to the bottom isn't it? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HGould Posted June 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 1 hour ago, GWC said: Eastbourne postponed their meeting yesterday due to the threat of the Champions league final. The loss of a few hundred spectators would be crippling financially. Can see this continuing so the sport must reduce costs like it or not. Probably the area to consider and one which gets overlooked is rider equipment and how costs can be significantly reduced. Ford moaning he lost a five figure sum v Ipswich in the Speedway Star and admitting he has tried every marketing trick he can. Eastbourne admitting they might miss out on a five figure sum if they went toe to toe with Speedway GP and Champions League Final and actually explaining the logic behind it. I'd say one Club with it's head in the sand and clueless what to do next; and one Club with it's finger on the pulse and the balls to admit they won't run knowing they will lose money but not trying to con anyone with a stupid excuse but telling it straight.  3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloom89 Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 Surely part of the problem here is clubs in the elite league in the past with the sky money just throwing the money towards the top guys and once the money has ran out most of the top boys are on there way because they no longer want to ride for peanuts and in half empty run down stadiums. Surely the promoters must've seen the crowds diminishing year on year and should of cut there cloth accordingly instead of continuing to give the top guys all the money. They must have realized they can't pay top wages if you can't afford it. Ideally you need a pay limit introduced which everyone would stick too but that's easier said than done. Then you wouldn't get riders holding clubs to ransom they would have no choice but to take the deal on the table. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted June 2, 2019 Report Share Posted June 2, 2019 Quote Ford moaning he lost a five figure sum v Ipswich in the Speedway Star and admitting he has tried every marketing trick he can Did he indeed ... hmph! I remain at a loss that he didn't stand by one of the riders who brought Poole such success ....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 On ‎6‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 9:12 AM, Bavarian said: AUSTRALIA ? With no EU law restricting You in the future, You can call on the Aussie boys, who are eager to come over, and unliek many of the Europeans they are loyal to British speedway, not having to ride in their home country every other week durign the European season  The amount of likes you got for this post just shows how delusional the UK is about Brexit. How is EU law affecting immigration to the UK from Australia? Or are you expecting freedom of movement between the UK and Australia after we leave? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruckerroo Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 Its got to the stage where one league can only be round the corner. Once sky turned it up it told you all you needed to know. Ford is a lot of things but hes a very good promoter and lets face it,there are a hell of lot of championship riders in the prem anyway. I don't know if its the fix but if ford cant make it pay on his crowds, somerset must have done plenty coz they couldn't wait to drop, eastie were doing plenty 5 yr ago so they dropped down , Leicester prob got a bung last yr but they've quickly dropped, 3 eastern sides held up by one bloke, must be worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWC Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 3 hours ago, Grachan said: The amount of likes you got for this post just shows how delusional the UK is about Brexit. How is EU law affecting immigration to the UK from Australia? Or are you expecting freedom of movement between the UK and Australia after we leave? It’s to do with quota share. If 10 EU passport holders come here then that’s 10 less for other countries as the EU gets first pick. The governments policy is to cut immigration year on year but this isn’t happening (whilst we remain in the eu). Prior to us being in the EU Aussies and NZ were free to come here pretty much as they pleased but it’s unlikely those days will return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 Totally agree with Fordy, the lack of different opposition at The Abbey is tedious. The same 6 teams, Belle Vue, Wolves, Poole, Peterborough, Lynn, Ippers, up to 3 times a year. Was much better years ago with 18/19 teams, and 30 meetings a year. Only seen speedway on one Thursday so far, and it's June. Let the top boys go. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted June 3, 2019 Report Share Posted June 3, 2019 8 minutes ago, Richard Weston said: The top boys went years ago. None left to go, bar Doyle Luckily I watch Swindon. But I would still support them without a top boy. Just need regular speedway to stop the interest waning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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