Reading Speedway - Smallmead.

[a4poster]

I have just been looking at Google Earth at the old Smallmead site and you can still see the outlines of both the main track and training track - but unsure if this an updated image or not.

If the site is still in place and the current financial climate regarding development post COVID has anyone explored the idea of trying to re-open at the current site.  With this in mind I am only suggesting what would basically be relaying the track with a couple of portacabins for changing facilities and portable toilets.  Fans facilities would be basic - but it would be a chance to get the sport back - even if even on a short-term lease and would also allow would be prospective promotors the chance to gauge the desire for a full-time return.

Just and idea and no doubt someone has already thought of it but I would just throw the idea out there.

 

[racers and royals]

19 minutes ago, a4poster said:

I have just been looking at Google Earth at the old Smallmead site and you can still see the outlines of both the main track and training track - but unsure if this an updated image or not.

If the site is still in place and the current financial climate regarding development post COVID has anyone explored the idea of trying to re-open at the current site.  With this in mind I am only suggesting what would basically be relaying the track with a couple of portacabins for changing facilities and portable toilets.  Fans facilities would be basic - but it would be a chance to get the sport back - even if even on a short-term lease and would also allow would be prospective promotors the chance to gauge the desire for a full-time return.

Just and idea and no doubt someone has already thought of it but I would just throw the idea out there.

 

Council wouldn`t allow it- as it`s right on a major road into Reading- you are right , nothing has happened to it - it is used for parking for Reading fc matches. It would have to be a proper stadium built or it would be a non- runner.

[steve roberts]

53 minutes ago, a4poster said:

I have just been looking at Google Earth at the old Smallmead site and you can still see the outlines of both the main track and training track - but unsure if this an updated image or not.

If the site is still in place and the current financial climate regarding development post COVID has anyone explored the idea of trying to re-open at the current site.  With this in mind I am only suggesting what would basically be relaying the track with a couple of portacabins for changing facilities and portable toilets.  Fans facilities would be basic - but it would be a chance to get the sport back - even if even on a short-term lease and would also allow would be prospective promotors the chance to gauge the desire for a full-time return.

Just and idea and no doubt someone has already thought of it but I would just throw the idea out there.

 

Another tragic loss to speedway. Stadium that has apparently not been developed and the site laying dormant. Where have we read that before?

[25yearfan]

Yes a tragedy when one considers when Smallmead was originally built in 1975 Reg Fearman got a 90 something year lease on the land which obviously got changed and apart from a new main stand needed the stadium was still in a decent state. Although for the last 20  years of its existence at least, the greyhounds subsidised the mostly poorly attended speedway meetings.

 

The idea when Smallmead stadium got demolished was for a new stadium elsewhere in Reading featuring speedway, greyhounds and incorporating a casino.

 

Could this type of set up be built at Smallmead?

 

I've always felt that a Somerset type of set up could be built on the Smallmead site, with the facilities slowly being improved as time goes on. - Multi use would be necessary to give it any chance of being viable. - stock cars, greyhounds, all weather pitches, speedway training track?    

Edited June 21, 2020 by 25yearfan

[racers and royals]

41 minutes ago, 25yearfan said:

Yes a tragedy when one considers when Smallmead was originally built in 1975 Reg Fearman got a 90 something year lease on the land which obviously got changed and apart from a new main stand needed the stadium was still in a decent state. Although for the last 20  years of its existence at least, the greyhounds subsidised the mostly poorly attended speedway meetings.

 

The idea when Smallmead stadium got demolished was for a new stadium elsewhere in Reading featuring speedway, greyhounds and incorporating a casino.

 

Could this type of set up be built at Smallmead?

 

I've always felt that a Somerset type of set up could be built on the Smallmead site, with the facilities slowly being improved as time goes on. - Multi use would be necessary to give it any chance of being viable. - stock cars, greyhounds, all weather pitches, speedway training track?    

How could the Greyhounds Subsidy the Speedway when for a lot of the 20 years the Speedway promotion was paying rent to the landlords ?

[25yearfan]

Bill Dore and his daughter Pat Bliss ran both the speedway and the greyhounds at Smallmead. It doesn't take a genius to work which one of the two sports was the only profitable one!

 

Therefore I'd say that greyhounds did subsidise the speedway.

 

Subsequent speedway promotions after who didn't run the greyhounds as well, lost money!

Edited June 21, 2020 by 25yearfan

[steve roberts]

47 minutes ago, 25yearfan said:

Yes a tragedy when one considers when Smallmead was originally built in 1975 Reg Fearman got a 90 something year lease on the land which obviously got changed and apart from a new main stand needed the stadium was still in a decent state. Although for the last 20  years of its existence at least, the greyhounds subsidised the mostly poorly attended speedway meetings.

 

The idea when Smallmead stadium got demolished was for a new stadium elsewhere in Reading featuring speedway, greyhounds and incorporating a casino.

 

Could this type of set up be built at Smallmead?

 

I've always felt that a Somerset type of set up could be built on the Smallmead site, with the facilities slowly being improved as time goes on. - Multi use would be necessary to give it any chance of being viable. - stock cars, greyhounds, all weather pitches, speedway training track?    

Interesting reading Reg Fearman's book where he felt that the incumbent promotion after his departure re-structured the lease hence the eventual closure of the stadium.

Edited June 21, 2020 by steve roberts

[racers and royals]

4 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Interesting reading Reg Fearman's book where he felt that the incumbent promotion after his departure re-structured the lease hence the eventual closure of the stadium.

Did he conveniently forget to mention that under his stewardship they should have landscaped a vast area of the land, which they never did which resulted in the lease being cut. 

[steve roberts]

21 minutes ago, racers and royals said:

Did he conveniently forget to mention that under his stewardship they should have landscaped a vast area of the land, which they never did which resulted in the lease being cut. 

It's a while since I read the book. I'm struggling remembering when he vacated Smallmead. Was it prior to the commencement of 1979 season which would make his presence there only four seasons? I recall reading that there was much animosity at the time which led to him selling his share to the remaining members of the consortium. Whoever was to blame it was a massive blow to have a lease reduced so significantly.

[racers and royals]

4 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

It's a while since I read the book. I'm struggling remembering when he vacated Smallmead. Was it prior to the commencement of 1979 season which would make his presence there only four seasons? I recall reading that there was much animosity at the time which led to him selling his share to the remaining members of the consortium. Whoever was to blame it was a massive blow to have a lease reduced so significantly.

He left at the beginning of 1978 and yes there was plenty of animosity between the directors at that time. Even if the lease hadn`t been shortened the place was falling down after 25 years and i dread to think what money it would have needed to have been spent to keep it running. 

[iris123]

The place was pretty poor even in the 80s from memory. Unfortunately I esnted to visit in the 2000s v Peterborough from

memory but the meeting was called off

[25yearfan]

My abiding memory of Smallmead in its latter days was that it was a decent stadium apart from the ageing main stand and the car park that needed resurfacing.

 

Replace the main stand and sort out the car park and you would of had a very good speedway stadium!

[cityrebel]

Smallmead was a bit of a dump, but i preferred it to Tilehurst, which was a cramped stadium with poor viewing. The injury to Per Jonsson knocked the stuffing out of the place, and the club never recovered. One of my most enjoyable seasons at Smallmead, was the the last one. Ulrich Ostergaard's swoops from the back, were worth the admission money alone.

[steve roberts]

Personally I felt that the stadium when it opened was a credit to those involved during a struggle getting the place ready (remember that the 3 day week delayed construction) but it seemed to go down hill very quickly. General upkeep and maintenance appeared to be disregarded and it showed pretty well early on during its short existance. I actually preferred Tilehurst personally. Reminded me of Cowley Stadium!

Edited June 22, 2020 by steve roberts

[Grachan]

I regularly go past the stadium site on my way to get my noodles at See Woo. It still feels strange that it's no longer there, and it is still sign posted,  which must confuse away football supporters!

When it was first built it was hidden away at the end of an industrial estate, but the new road system put it at the side of a major route. 

I believe the stadium was never even finished. The portacabins on the home straight were supposed to be temporary but were never replaced.

When it first opened, the place was packed and the atmosphere there was amazing - particularly on the back straight. It was definitely neglected over the years, though. The back straight was eventually closed off, and the terracing around the stadium eventually collapsed and became grass banking.

Smallmead had the best pits view in the UK. You could see both home and away pits clearly from the top of the third bend. People would stand there to watch races, then all make a dash to the back to get a good view of what was going on between races.

[Grachan]

1 hour ago, steve roberts said:

Personally I felt that the stadium when it opened was a credit to those involved during a struggle getting the place ready (remember that the 3 day week delayed construction) but it seemed to go down hill very quickly. General upkeep and maintenance appeared to be disregarded and it showed pretty well early on during its short existance. I actually preferred Tilehurst personally. Reminded me of Cowley Stadium!

I would have loved to have gone to Tilehurst, but was a year too late as I started watching speedway in 1974. I've even gone on a pilgrimage to the old site and tried to imagine what it aws like when the stadium was there.

I've seen pictures and can see what you mean about Cowley - the big scoreboard, the same white fencing and a railway track running along the back!

[steve roberts]

9 minutes ago, Grachan said:

I would have loved to have gone to Tilehurst, but was a year too late as I started watching speedway in 1974. I've even gone on a pilgrimage to the old site and tried to imagine what it aws like when the stadium was there.

I've seen pictures and can see what you mean about Cowley - the big scoreboard, the same white fencing and a railway track running along the back!

If I recall there was a Post Office complex adjacent to the site? We used to travel to it from Oxford via Pangbourne I remember.

[Grachan]

Just now, steve roberts said:

If I recall there was a Post Office complex adjacent to the site? We used to travel to it from Oxford via Pangbourne I remember.

I'd love to see some pictures of the stadium from a bit further back to get an idea of how the whole are looked. I've seen many from inside and of the entrance but some shots from further back would give a nice perspective of how the area looked in those days.

[racers and royals]

14 minutes ago, Grachan said:

I'd love to see some pictures of the stadium from a bit further back to get an idea of how the whole are looked. I've seen many from inside and of the entrance but some shots from further back would give a nice perspective of how the area looked in those days.

Not too many pictures here unfortunately http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/reading Tilehurst.htm

Interesting info/pictures here https://greyhoundracingtimes.co.uk/2019/01/30/reading-tilehurst/

Edited June 22, 2020 by racers and royals

[Grachan]

18 minutes ago, racers and royals said:

Not too many pictures here unfortunately http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/reading Tilehurst.htm

Interesting info/pictures here https://greyhoundracingtimes.co.uk/2019/01/30/reading-tilehurst/

Thanks for those. I haven't seen the aerial shot before, which gives an interesting perspective.