Shame on Sheffield

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

3 top flight competitions all of which risk not being completed as should be a given

The common theme Sheffield potentially not fulfilling a home fixture in each one

Hang you heads in shame Sheffield 

 

[tigerman]

Even as a Sheffield supporter I have to agree with the OP. Over thirty weeks since the first meeting it now seems we may not finish the season. Another nail in the speedway coffin. 

[Flappy]

36 minutes ago, tigerman said:

Even as a Sheffield supporter I have to agree with the OP. Over thirty weeks since the first meeting it now seems we may not finish the season. Another nail in the speedway coffin. 

Should hit them with a points deduction  for every unfulfilled fixture.

[psycho3a]

34 minutes ago, Flappy said:

Should hit them with a points deduction  for every unfulfilled fixture.

HeHe

Award the points to Ipswich for the unfulfilled league meeting, could be crucial at the end of the season and defines who makes the play off !!

Edited October 21, 2022 by psycho3a

[Chris116]

I fully agree that teams who do not complete their fixtures should be penalised but I don't think you can always blame the home team. There have been a number of times this season when it appeared that the visiting team refused dates, often due to rider availability. 

There needs to be a central, independent office that compiles the fixture list. Teams should have to confirm dates they can run home meetings and any dates they do not want to travel. This would have to be done before the end of February so the fixture list could be issued before the end of March.

[Fromafar]

2 minutes ago, Chris116 said:

I fully agree that teams who do not complete their fixtures should be penalised but I don't think you can always blame the home team. There have been a number of times this season when it appeared that the visiting team refused dates, often due to rider availability. 

There needs to be a central, independent office that compiles the fixture list. Teams should have to confirm dates they can run home meetings and any dates they do not want to travel. This would have to be done before the end of February so the fixture list could be issued before the end of March.

How many years have we been saying that,if the BSPA can’t control Teams to run a fixture list they need to step in and put there foot down.But as we all known it’s just a Jolly Boys Outing Sport these days for riders.

[JoeW436]

A two month heatwave in summer and a chance of people actually going to watch and there was hardly any meetings at my club. As far as I’m aware that was the same at other clubs in the league as well, it just screams of amateur now when are in this situation in late October 

[RoundTheBoards]

How can it be that of the two clubs contesting the League Championship play--off:-

Belle Vue have staged   10 Premiership matches, 7 National League matches, 2 League Cup matches, 2 play-off ties, The Peter Craven Trophy, The British Final, (and a half of a British Final),  and will still be staging a Premiership Pairs round. 

but Shefiield have only staged 9 premiership matches, 2 League Cup matches and 2 play-off ties?

 

 

[Wolfie456]

2 hours ago, RoundTheBoards said:

How can it be that of the two clubs contesting the League Championship play--off:-

Belle Vue have staged   10 Premiership matches, 7 National League matches, 2 League Cup matches, 2 play-off ties, The Peter Craven Trophy, The British Final, (and a half of a British Final),  and will still be staging a Premiership Pairs round. 

but Shefiield have only staged 9 premiership matches, 2 League Cup matches and 2 play-off ties?

 

 

Maybe it doesn't rain as much in Manchester 

[Andrew]

3 hours ago, RoundTheBoards said:

How can it be that of the two clubs contesting the League Championship play--off:-

Belle Vue have staged   10 Premiership matches, 7 National League matches, 2 League Cup matches, 2 play-off ties, The Peter Craven Trophy, The British Final, (and a half of a British Final),  and will still be staging a Premiership Pairs round. 

but Shefiield have only staged 9 premiership matches, 2 League Cup matches and 2 play-off ties?

 

 

The Colts meetings were on Fridays,the British Final restaged on the Sunday,so that takes care of 8 meetings.

BV Home Meetings on Mondays

Peter Craven Ind

2 League Cup 

10 Premiership

1 Play Off Semi

1 Play Off Final

+ 1 Pairs Round (Next Thursday)

Meetings postponed/Abandoned.British Final,Pairs R6 (Put back)

------------------------------------

SH Home Meetings Thursday/Monday

Todd Kurtz Ind

2 League Cup

9 Premiership + Ipswich (Next Monday)

1 Play Off Semi

1 Play Off Final

1 League Cup Final (TBA)

- 1 Pairs Round (Leicester)

Meetings Postponed.Pairs,Belle Vue,Kings Lynn (Rain) Wolves (Damaged Fence) Ipswich (Queens Funeral) Kings Lynn (Police closed off the area around the Stadium)

Plus 5 Thursdays used for visits to Ipswich (1),Kings Lynn (2) and 2 rounds of the Pairs.

 

 

[tocha]

14 minutes ago, Andrew said:

The Colts meetings were on Fridays,the British Final restaged on the Sunday,so that takes care of 8 meetings.

BV Home Meetings on Mondays

Peter Craven Ind

2 League Cup 

10 Premiership

1 Play Off Semi

1 Play Off Final

+ 1 Pairs Round (Next Thursday)

Meetings postponed/Abandoned.British Final,Pairs R6 (Put back)

------------------------------------

SH Home Meetings Thursday/Monday

Todd Kurtz Ind

2 League Cup

9 Premiership + Ipswich (Next Monday)

1 Play Off Semi

1 Play Off Final

1 League Cup Final (TBA)

- 1 Pairs Round (Leicester)

Meetings Postponed.Pairs,Belle Vue,Kings Lynn (Rain) Wolves (Damaged Fence) Ipswich (Queens Funeral) Kings Lynn (Police closed off the area around the Stadium)

Plus 5 Thursdays used for visits to Ipswich (1),Kings Lynn (2) and 2 rounds of the Pairs.

 

 

You can add another Thursday lost due to the SON.

[Hawk127]

Even if the season ran from January to December the way the sport is managed, fixture lists compiled and the book of excuses called rules are used, you would still have clubs who could not complete a fixture list. Time to run one home one away league fixture with play offs in August and fill the rest other forms of meaningless meetings and an individual  British championship given that most of the riders are only interested in riding for themselves and would need to ride well to make a living rather than rely on clubs to finance what in effect is the riders business. Failing all that just let the riders and clubs pick and chose the meetings and days they want to race. Forgot they already do this!

[ouch]

On 10/21/2022 at 3:44 PM, RoundTheBoards said:

How can it be that of the two clubs contesting the League Championship play--off:-

Belle Vue have staged   10 Premiership matches, 7 National League matches, 2 League Cup matches, 2 play-off ties, The Peter Craven Trophy, The British Final, (and a half of a British Final),  and will still be staging a Premiership Pairs round. 

but Shefiield have only staged 9 premiership matches, 2 League Cup matches and 2 play-off ties?

 

 

Chalk & cheese promotions.

[Steve55]

On 10/21/2022 at 1:44 PM, RoundTheBoards said:

How can it be that of the two clubs contesting the League Championship play--off:-

Belle Vue have staged   10 Premiership matches, 7 National League matches, 2 League Cup matches, 2 play-off ties, The Peter Craven Trophy, The British Final, (and a half of a British Final),  and will still be staging a Premiership Pairs round. 

but Shefiield have only staged 9 premiership matches, 2 League Cup matches and 2 play-off ties?

 

 

The main thing is Belle Vue (in a way) have their own stadium, Sheffield are dependant on their landlords for the use of their stadium, which unfortunately has multi uses.

[ouch]

Refreshing to hear several Sheffield fans on this and other threads detailing the lack of availability at Owlerton. Shame Bates couldn’t have been more honest pre season. At least now we know it’s impossible to get all top flight competitions completed at Sheffield and second division speedway is the only option for them as it affords greater scope for rider availability. I can’t see Bates putting the league through this again even with his immense self interest, the integrity of the sport should, you’d hope be uppermost in his mind. 

[foreverblue]

I don't know how you can cmpare Belle Vue to Sheffield, completely different, Sheffield is a multi use stadium not owned by the club and that causes many issues with the running of the team. Slagging off the promotion doesn't help anyone. 

[topsoil]

21 hours ago, Hawk127 said:

Even if the season ran from January to December the way the sport is managed, fixture lists compiled and the book of excuses called rules are used, you would still have clubs who could not complete a fixture list. Time to run one home one away league fixture with play offs in August and fill the rest other forms of meaningless meetings and an individual  British championship given that most of the riders are only interested in riding for themselves and would need to ride well to make a living rather than rely on clubs to finance what in effect is the riders business. Failing all that just let the riders and clubs pick and chose the meetings and days they want to race. Forgot they already do this!

Sounds like a good business plan, especially the 'meaningless' part. That should attract the fans back 

[Roger Jacobs]

1 hour ago, foreverblue said:

I don't know how you can cmpare Belle Vue to Sheffield, completely different, Sheffield is a multi use stadium not owned by the club and that causes many issues with the running of the team. Slagging off the promotion doesn't help anyone. 

Except that it seems wherever there is a multi use stadium where speedway is a tennant, it is way down the priority. It's not that long ago teams were staging racing most weeks now it's barely half of their available "fixed" race nights.

It really is only the promoters who can be blamed (slagged off in modern parlance) for not providing an entertainment package that makes their tenancy more attractive.

[GeneralMelchett]

Just to add - it’s been absolutely belting it down here today - tomorrow doesn’t look that great weather wise either - could well be off 

[Hawk127]

4 hours ago, topsoil said:

Sounds like a good business plan, especially the 'meaningless' part. That should attract the fans back 

Other than major wholesale changes (which will never happen) the chances of attracting those fans who have drifted away, back to the fold are next to zero.

The sports controllers have brought the problems on themselves and the riders look after number one and sometimes dictate whether a meeting will go ahead. The fans are bottom of the pile when it comes to being part of any thought process in terms of it being value for money or providing entertainment so that the punters go away wanting more. 

Where else would you maintain a scenario of having seven man teams but rarely race with seven, more like six and Mr R/R. They cannot even complete the fixtures. You have several months to fulfil the meetings but yet again here it is October and the options for completing fixtures are getting fewer thanks to the weather or the non availability of stadia and probably the doubling up which meant some meetings could not take place earlier in the season because of rider availability.

The current business model does not work and those with disposal income who have been going to meetings for many years have decided it is just not worth it and over the years the promoters have failed to make it an attractive form of entertainment for a younger generation.

Get rid of the BSPL and start again on an amateur basis with a five year plan to rebuild the rider base. Some stadia will fall by the wayside but it would happen anyway with the current set up and with very few if any local authorities interested in having a track on their door step the chances of new tracks appearing is fairly low.

To sum up, the BSPL would have you believe the sport is in good shape. How many fans believe that one?