Kent Kings 2020?

[blueherb777]

23 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:

Whats the alternate day for NL? Can't be enough Bank Holidays to cover the fixtures and inevitable rain offs?

As things stand there is six teams in the NL....Kents fixture list has five spaces for home NL fixtures???

I thought there was talk of a couple of teams joining League?

 

Edited February 18, 2021 by blueherb777

[arnieg]

1 hour ago, Richard Weston said:

Nothing been decided as yet...dont think they have had the meeting.

Although in practice most of the major matters are discussed beforehand and everyone knows what is likely to happen. (Why otherwise would Spooner and Hume have been released).

So I am guessing there are six declared starters, although hopefully there are a couple more waiting in the wings that could still be accommodated.

[Sings4Speedway]

1 hour ago, blueherb777 said:

As things stand there is six teams in the NL....Kents fixture list has five spaces for home NL fixtures???

I thought there was talk of a couple of teams joining League?

 

No idea whats going on with the NL although riders are being released due to team building averages changing. As ever things are happening behind the scenes. 5 vacant fixtures suggests no KO cup/Shield meetings? im not sure if the NDL will become an easier or harder sell to riders with only 10 fixtures a season?

[East End Fan]

17 minutes ago, Sings4Speedway said:

No idea whats going on with the NL although riders are being released due to team building averages changing. As ever things are happening behind the scenes. 5 vacant fixtures suggests no KO cup/Shield meetings? im not sure if the NDL will become an easier or harder sell to riders with only 10 fixtures a season?

Thinking about that, I suppose Belle Vue and Leicester had a similar problem in previous seasons ?

[East End Fan]

On 2/17/2021 at 9:52 PM, East End Fan said:

Having a fixture list to study will make a pleasant change.   Just hope it becomes a reality.  2nd jabs will come 1st I think.

Fixture list I have seen shows Kent v Birmingham on Tuesday May 11.   How does that stack up with the announcements today about the opening up

of our activities by Boris Johnson ?  It seemed a bit vague about when stadiums are likely to be allowed to open. Maybe there is someone on the forum

who has better information ?

[NeilWatson]

1 minute ago, East End Fan said:

Fixture list I have seen shows Kent v Birmingham on Tuesday May 11.   How does that stack up with the announcements today about the opening up

of our activities by Boris Johnson ?  It seemed a bit vague about when stadiums are likely to be allowed to open. Maybe there is someone on the forum

who has better information ?

The relevant date appears to be 17th May

[HGould]

Wonder if NL can start sooner as classed grass roots and not Elite? 

[East End Fan]

1 hour ago, NeilWatson said:

The relevant date appears to be 17th May

Yes, I picked that up, from TV myself.  But still not a certainty. But it is really good news whatever the date. We ARE going to see some action

this year after all.  LOL

[stevebrum]

20 hours ago, HGould said:

Wonder if NL can start sooner as classed grass roots and not Elite? 

I don’t know how professional speedway can be classed as ‘elite’ given that the sport received nothing from the government whilst other sports that ARE elite did.

Speedway  appears to be classed as semi professional so should be fighting their corner to start earlier with crowds. 

Edited February 23, 2021 by stevebrum
Spelling

[mikebv]

18 hours ago, stevebrum said:

I don’t know how professional speedway can be classed as ‘elite’ given that the sport received nothing from the government whilst other sports that ARE elite did.

Speedway  appears to be classed as semi professional so should be fighting their corner to start earlier with crowds. 

Wasn't that down to fact Speedway was an "Elite Summer Sport' and those who got offered a grant were classed as 'Winter'?..

Either way, I think the fact it wasn't "free money" was possibly the reason it wasn't pursued. Paying it back might have dissuaded them from going down that particular avenue..

Ironically, a year out for some tracks may have actually been beneficial given we hear so many "lose money" regularly.. 

And that year out has also, for me, put the standard to where it should have been in relation to its crowd levels a good many years ago. Which must reduce costs going forward..

A 'reset' was long, long, overdue, so maybe this season, with the TV money to add in also, could be a start of something more positive for the sport in the UK?

[stevebrum]

8 hours ago, mikebv said:

Wasn't that down to fact Speedway was an "Elite Summer Sport' and those who got offered a grant were classed as 'Winter'?..

Either way, I think the fact it wasn't "free money" was possibly the reason it wasn't pursued. Paying it back might have dissuaded them from going down that particular avenue..

Ironically, a year out for some tracks may have actually been beneficial given we hear so many "lose money" regularly.. 

And that year out has also, for me, put the standard to where it should have been in relation to its crowd levels a good many years ago. Which must reduce costs going forward..

A 'reset' was long, long, overdue, so maybe this season, with the TV money to add in also, could be a start of something more positive for the sport in the UK?

I’m not sure what it was based in, but I know the bosses were disappointed at being ignored by the government when grants were handed out. 

[East End Fan]

3 hours ago, stevebrum said:

I’m not sure what it was based in, but I know the bosses were disappointed at being ignored by the government when grants were handed out. 

What grants were they ?  Did some sports receive government money ? I have seen nothing to indicate that. Businesses outside of sport HAVE had

grants, some lucky, some not so.  I don't know how the assessments for eligibility are made.  I suppose there are some Speedways that have

ongoing costs whether they run meetings or not. Staff payments etc....are these covered by the furlough scheme ? Other clubs would have a

"no run....no costs" situation so hardly likely to qualify for grants.  Very complex situation.  No One Size Fits All.  Can anyone throw more light on this subject ?

[stevebrum]

13 hours ago, East End Fan said:

What grants were they ?  Did some sports receive government money ? I have seen nothing to indicate that. Businesses outside of sport HAVE had

grants, some lucky, some not so.  I don't know how the assessments for eligibility are made.  I suppose there are some Speedways that have

ongoing costs whether they run meetings or not. Staff payments etc....are these covered by the furlough scheme ? Other clubs would have a

"no run....no costs" situation so hardly likely to qualify for grants.  Very complex situation.  No One Size Fits All.  Can anyone throw more light on this subject ?

I can’t remember the total amount but I know certain sports received money, the bigger amounts to the usual suspects.

edithttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-300-million-sport-winter-survival-package-to-help-spectator-sports-in-england

 

Edited February 25, 2021 by stevebrum
Added quote

[screm]

Press release coming up at 6pm on the Kent site regarding team news.

[Dandelion]

30 minutes ago, screm said:

Press release coming up at 6pm on the Kent site regarding team news.

Are they not already confirmed???

[SteveLyric2]

5 hours ago, stevebrum said:

I can’t remember the total amount but I know certain sports received money, the bigger amounts to the usual suspects.

edithttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-300-million-sport-winter-survival-package-to-help-spectator-sports-in-england

 

The clue is in 'winter survival'!!

[East End Fan]

On 2/25/2021 at 6:06 PM, Dandelion said:

Are they not already confirmed???

Kent web site naming team. No surprises and it looks a team that will provide plenty of excitement and will do better, I think, than their

"on paper" form would suggest.  A lot depends on just how fit Paul Hurry. ( a favourite of mine) can get.  I hear that the is in training with Scott

Nichols.  Two very good reserves in Ben Morley and Danny Gilkes. They could swing matches at home.  Don't know much about Cameron Heeps

or Paul Starke and those two are the vital key to winning things.  But, so far as I am concerned, the fact of seeing action is way more important

than winning things.  So save my seat for the opener !

[marko]

On 1/21/2021 at 1:31 PM, East End Fan said:

Where did that info come from ? I've seen nothing about it.  Must say that when Paul Hurry rode for Arena he was one of my favourites

He was very unlucky to suffer some serious injuries, but when fit, he was a great racer who never gave up.

Hope it works out for Paul, I can still recall him making his debut as a 16 year old for Arena Essex.

Shrewd move by Len who may attract some ex Hammers fans to attend?

[East End Fan]

3 hours ago, marko said:

Hope it works out for Paul, I can still recall him making his debut as a 16 year old for Arena Essex.

Shrewd move by Len who may attract some ex Hammers fans to attend?

Never thought of that aspect, but you may be right.  But Paul and his father have been icons of GrassTrack in. Kent for dozens of years.

He wa always very popular at Arena, a real racer.  I have my fingers crossed for him.

[Dandelion]

11 hours ago, East End Fan said:

Kent web site naming team. No surprises and it looks a team that will provide plenty of excitement and will do better, I think, than their

"on paper" form would suggest.  A lot depends on just how fit Paul Hurry. ( a favourite of mine) can get.  I hear that the is in training with Scott

Nichols.  Two very good reserves in Ben Morley and Danny Gilkes. They could swing matches at home.  Don't know much about Cameron Heeps

or Paul Starke and those two are the vital key to winning things.  But, so far as I am concerned, the fact of seeing action is way more important

than winning things.  So save my seat for the opener !

Yes I am aware the team was announced on the website, but that was weeks ago  It's a very nice looking side and I look forward to them visiting Brough Park. I may even try and get down to Central Park this season as it's a track I've never got to visit yet.