BigRackBandit Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, DSC67 said: You can't be relegated from of the Lowland League . I don't see what difference it makes what League they're in the pitch dimensions will still have be much the same Yes, you can; its a real possibility too within in the next few years. Edited September 24, 2019 by Cloggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 (edited) You really can't knock the good speedway folk in Berwick, I've been to Shielfield Park just once or twice, I forget exactly. The Bandits (hopefully) come to the tapes each season, (hopefully) survive and compete in each season and the sport survives in a town with a relatively small population (120,000?). Berrington Lough didn't really work for a variety of reasons but the Bandits do what they are able, ground-sharing with Berwick FC, in what really is their spiritual home anyway, did what they needed to be granted an 'FIM ticket' and staged some FIM events. 'It is what it is', as they say, the track being slotted around the footie pitch so space is inevitably tight and unless the footie club are willing, or even able, to shave a few feet off the pitch things will stay as they are. At Hull, Boulevard the track around Hull FC's pitch measured 415yds / 379m and the pitch was apparently the minimum width, yet at Hull, Craven Park the track around Hull KR's pitch (and also originally inside a dog track) measured 379 yds / 346m. Go figure. Bit of a shame as while losing even a metre or off any playing area wouldn't change things much so I'm told (my knowlege and interest in footie & rugby is nil) it would make a great difference to any speedway track. Someone mentioned artificial turf outside the touchline and there needs to be this 'border' not only to keep linesmen off the track (!) but also to help prevent flying shale landing on the pitch, particularly on the home straight off gate 1, and especially when it's wet. Unless one of the stands is demolished, really don't see Berwick FC going for that why should they, and local residents wouldn't be too impressed either, the only solution I can see to alter the track would be to widen the straights into the 2m 'safety zone' and build a high mesh fence on top of the safety fence, smiliar to what they have at Scunny to prevent errant stock cars joining the crowd, which Brewick FC / BSPA / SCB / FiM almost certainly wouldn't agree to. So 'it (still) is what it is' in all likelyhood but either way, very good luck to the Bandits.... [Sorry if this appears twice, text editor issues.] Edited September 24, 2019 by martinmauger spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Dodds Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, martinmauger said: You really can't knock the good speedway folk in Berwick, I've been to Shielfield Park just once or twice, I forget exactly. The Bandits (hopefully) come to the tapes each season, (hopefully) survive and compete each season and the sport survives in a town with a relatively small population (120,000?). If only!!! Population 12,050 at the last census ... around 35,000 if you throw a 30-mile radius north, south and west . Biggest problems is that population is relatively lowly paid and largely in hourly/seasonal work which means their disposable income is limited and not guaranteed. There are few national companies and those that are here have little or no interest in backing professional sport in the town. Shielfield has always been fast and tight - it used to be considerably longer - but one of the problems is that a lot of riders are beaten before they arrive - or just can't be bothered to try if they miss the gate. Sheffield, Leicester, Craig Cook, Stevie Worrall, Ben Barker have all shown this year that it is possible to both race and pass here - Rory Schlein, Edinburgh and many others have shown that they either haven't got the ability or can't be bothered to compete. Edited September 24, 2019 by George Dodds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balderdash&piffle Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 40 minutes ago, George Dodds said: If only!!! Population 12,050 at the last census ... around 35,000 if you throw a 30-mile radius north, south and west . Biggest problems is that population is relatively lowly paid and largely in hourly/seasonal work which means their disposable income is limited and not guaranteed. There are few national companies and those that are here have little or no interest in backing professional sport in the town. Shielfield has always been fast and tight - it used to be considerably longer - but one of the problems is that a lot of riders are beaten before they arrive - or just can't be bothered to try if they miss the gate. Sheffield, Leicester, Craig Cook, Stevie Worrall, Ben Barker have all shown this year that it is possible to both race and pass here - Rory Schlein, Edinburgh and many others have shown that they either haven't got the ability or can't be bothered to compete. 12,050 population is only for Berwick upon Tweed, does not include Tweedmouth, Spittal and East Ord. When combined population is 16,500 approx, catchment area ax far down as Seahouses is approx 26,000, does not include Eastern Borders, estimated both combined 37,000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 A neighbourly-ish 37,000 or so pop. then, even more impressive in drawing a viable speedway crowd. The track is defo better these days (post 1997?) when the bends were widened to the max and also banked.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leander Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 11 minutes ago, martinmauger said: A neighbourly-ish 37,000 or so pop. then, even more impressive in drawing a viable speedway crowd. The track is defo better these days (post 1997?) when the bends were widened to the max and also banked.... Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the racing definitely isn't! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catch Me If You Can Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 On 9/24/2019 at 11:29 AM, Cloggy said: Yes, you can; its a real possibility too within in the next few years. Yes, sure Whitehill were relegated from Lowland at end last season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crescent girl Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 26 minutes ago, Catch Me If You Can said: Yes, sure Whitehill were relegated from Lowland at end last season So, where do Whitehill play now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 1 hour ago, crescent girl said: So, where do Whitehill play now? They still play At Ferguson Park Rosewell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthegearbutnaeidea Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 I thought they didn’t go down because Selkirk went bust in the lowland league at the start of last season so there was a spare place? Might be wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scampispeedway Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 (edited) To answer the question you can be relegated from the Scottish Lowland League and you end up in the East of Scotland League Premier Division and one former Club member of this latter league was Berwick Rangers. Edited September 25, 2019 by scampispeedway Altering the wording in my post to read clearer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSC67 Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 36 minutes ago, scampispeedway said: To answer the question you can be relegated from the Scottish Lowland League and you end up in the East of Scotland League Premier Division and one former Club member of this latter league was Berwick Rangers. The EOS league was split into conferences last year after a large percentage of the Scottish Junior football clubs decided to become full members of the SFA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjcol Posted September 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2019 17 hours ago, DSC67 said: The EOS league was split into conferences last year after a large percentage of the Scottish Junior football clubs decided to become full members of the SFA not a football forum please note Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted September 26, 2019 Report Share Posted September 26, 2019 3 hours ago, bjcol said: not a football forum please note Smarter than the average bear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsoil Posted September 26, 2019 Report Share Posted September 26, 2019 He's no as daft as he looks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjcol Posted September 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 15 hours ago, Fromafar said: Smarter than the average bear mmmmmmm lollollol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catch Me If You Can Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 On 9/25/2019 at 3:25 PM, crescent girl said: So, where do Whitehill play now? Pretty sure in East of Scotland top league Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normski Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 Tonight will see the 2nd 5-1 draw, take place at Berwick Bandits S.C Committee meeting. Through the wonders of technology, it will be videoed and posted on social media. Good luck to everyone who is in the draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjcol Posted September 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 6 hours ago, Normski said: Tonight will see the 2nd 5-1 draw, take place at Berwick Bandits S.C Committee meeting. Through the wonders of technology, it will be videoed and posted on social media. Good luck to everyone who is in the draw. you have got to be in to win it come and support the lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSC67 Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 On 9/25/2019 at 3:25 PM, crescent girl said: So, where do Whitehill play now? they were one of the founder members of the Lowland League, currently in EOS premier league There are , two conferences below that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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