BackInTheDHSS Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 4 hours ago, arnieg said: I hope this is not a widely held view. Certainly in my experience I've been welcomed into the Oxford family. Sorry, but I find it strange how anybody can support Swindon (presumably you realised there was a rivalry against Oxford during that time) and then switch to Oxford. By all means watch speedway at Oxford, but surely don't become an Oxford supporter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackInTheDHSS Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 3 hours ago, Bojangles said: Certainly not. One of the great things about Oxford's return has been the amount of Swindon (and Reading) supporters attending meetings. Yeah, and they are there to watch speedway as they can't at their local track. I haven't seen one of them jumping up and down with excitement when Oxford get a 5-1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 6 minutes ago, BackInTheDHSS said: Sorry, but I find it strange how anybody can support Swindon (presumably you realised there was a rivalry against Oxford during that time) and then switch to Oxford. By all means watch speedway at Oxford, but surely don't become an Oxford supporter? I think I know a little about speedway in the Thames Valley. Please don't teach grandma(or pa in this case) to suck eggs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 I started going to Wolves in the late 90s following them home and away a few years later. When Billy joined I started cheering for Wolves rather than the opposition. Then after a defeat at Swindon I was gutted and realised I maybe was a Wolves fan. Never the same as supporting Cradley obviously. When we came back I started following the Heathens again then back to Wolves when we folded and now nothing. I'd rather follow Wolves than nothing that's for sure  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackInTheDHSS Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 10 minutes ago, arnieg said: I think I know a little about speedway in the Thames Valley. Please don't teach grandma(or pa in this case) to suck eggs. So you understand the rivalry then? Because you either do (and therefore know why I would find it weird swapping sides) or you don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bojangles Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 1 minute ago, BackInTheDHSS said: So you understand the rivalry then? Because you either do (and therefore know why I would find it weird swapping sides) or you don't. Good grief! Who cares? Does it really matter who someone supports? It's speedway, not football. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 19 hours ago, Sir Sidney said: So, essentially, riding to his average! As with all riders, time catches up with them. Chris still produces moments of brilliance, but he can't be expected to do that all the time. His average starting was 6.53 so riding below that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sidney Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 1 hour ago, stevebrum said: His average starting was 6.53 so riding below that. Yes, marginally so ( although we all know it's a numbers game so fractions are imortant) and over only 8 matched. My main point is that people still refer to Chris as though he has an 8 or 9 point average, and he is no longer that rider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim G Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 (edited) 9 hours ago, BackInTheDHSS said: Yeah, and they are there to watch speedway as they can't at their local track. I haven't seen one of them jumping up and down with excitement when Oxford get a 5-1. Well my friend certainly does. His team was Reading but he now supports Oxford and is thoroughly enjoying the meetings at Cowley as are the rest of his family. Edited May 19 by Tim G 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szkocjasid Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 (edited) On 5/19/2024 at 12:45 PM, BackInTheDHSS said: Sorry, but I find it strange how anybody can support Swindon (presumably you realised there was a rivalry against Oxford during that time) and then switch to Oxford. By all means watch speedway at Oxford, but surely don't become an Oxford supporter? I feel the complete opposite way. Now Swindon don't have a team, why would someone turn up at Oxford just to cheer on the opposition? I guess it depends on the level of rivalry, Edinburgh & Glasgow fans not likely to support each other if one closed, but as Cradley closed nearly 20 years ago could easily see their fans supporting Wolves (last year). Personally I was a Rye House fan, then an Arena-Essex fan also as soon as they were in a different league. Edited May 21 by szkocjasid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szkocjasid Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 20 hours ago, bruno said: I started going to Wolves in the late 90s following them home and away a few years later. When Billy joined I started cheering for Wolves rather than the opposition. Then after a defeat at Swindon I was gutted and realised I maybe was a Wolves fan. Never the same as supporting Cradley obviously. When we came back I started following the Heathens again then back to Wolves when we folded and now nothing. I'd rather follow Wolves than nothing that's for sure  Great attitude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
False dawn Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 Back in the day (like 50 years ago) there was no more intense rivalry than that between Coventry and Leicester. However, as a speedway fan I regularly go to Leicester these days while I wait for Brandon to reopen (yes it will, you see). My best friend says he follows Leicester but isn't a supporter. I'm a bit more on the side of being a supporter. It's not like any of the team come from Leicester is it? Seriously, I love my speedway and supporting a former rival seems to me quite appropriate. And just so this doesn't hijack the thread, I enjoy my visits to Oxford, very much. But when Brandon reopens I'll be back there like a shot. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackInTheDHSS Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 (edited) I guess I'm very much in the minority here, so I'll hold up my hands and say I was wrong. I don't feel the way most of you do, but that's okay. Then again I grew up with speedway during the Brian Karger and Martin Dugard era - and that sort of rivalry (for me, at least) isn't going away just because a track closed. But when Oxford was closed, I went to Swindon and supported the opposition, and it was still a huge amount of fun. Edited May 20 by BackInTheDHSS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 If/when the NSS closes I’ll be lost to the sport after fifty odd years. Away from the NSS it is now a far too tedious affair and with no team interest it’s only use is as an insomnia cure. Considering I use to taking in 100+ meetings away from Belle Vue every year, it’s a sad position the sport has engineered itself into. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTD26 Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 1 hour ago, rearingtogo said: TITANIC NEWS UPDATE:- It has just been announced that after 112 years of the sinking of the cruise liner, undersea explorers were flabbergasted to find that the swimming pool onboard still contained water. NOW HOW REMARKABLE IS THAT! Have you been hacked? You’re posting the same dribble on nearly every thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 On 5/19/2024 at 3:53 PM, Sir Sidney said: Yes, marginally so ( although we all know it's a numbers game so fractions are imortant) and over only 8 matched. My main point is that people still refer to Chris as though he has an 8 or 9 point average, and he is no longer that rider Oh I agree on that point. I think because he usually scores well everywhere some people must assume he is a genuine top heat leader. His scores have been littered with poor results for years hence why his average is below 7. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 22 hours ago, False dawn said: Back in the day (like 50 years ago) there was no more intense rivalry than that between Coventry and Leicester. However, as a speedway fan I regularly go to Leicester these days while I wait for Brandon to reopen (yes it will, you see). My best friend says he follows Leicester but isn't a supporter. I'm a bit more on the side of being a supporter. It's not like any of the team come from Leicester is it? Seriously, I love my speedway and supporting a former rival seems to me quite appropriate. And just so this doesn't hijack the thread, I enjoy my visits to Oxford, very much. But when Brandon reopens I'll be back there like a shot. Interesting, I was a Leicester fan until they closed at the end of '83, home matches only though as I was only a kid, but as I got more and more into my Speedway and started to earn some money, began to follow Coventry and Long Eaton at home and then got properly hooked and started following both home and away, being in different leagues. Long Eaton closed which just left Cov... cut to a number of years later and Leicester re-opened, but by this time I was a Cov fan!!! And even though Leicester only being a mile and half from where I live, I didn't often go to Beaumont Park, it being the worst race track in the country didn't really help. Since Cov's demise, I'm now following Leicester again... so if (and yes I'm sure it will one day, even if not at Brandon) Cov re-open, I'm really not sure whether I'd be back, like I was before anyway. Time and club loyalties can be a funny thing when mixed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishersGate Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 Think il always be a Leicester fan. I really can't see that changing either even if they were to close. It's weird because I've always never liked Coventry , not the speedway club but just the place in general. Harsh I know but when you grow up in a area surrounded by Leicester fans everywhere you can't help but take a disliking to Cov. It's strange though how watching the semi final of the FA cup I never thought I'd come away from that match disappointed Cov lost just because how great the support was! If the Bees opened again, I would go down as I live in Rugby now. So it would be a short drive for me, but I wouldn't be a Bees fan. Just a speedway fan. I don't dislike any rider or team really, I didn't like Poole at the start but now they don't bother me at all. Its weird that I don't like Sheffield now because of the Bates. Don't want them winning anything because how they handled the sale of Leicester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szkocjasid Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 (edited) On 5/19/2024 at 1:06 PM, BackInTheDHSS said: So you understand the rivalry then? Because you either do (and therefore know why I would find it weird swapping sides) or you don't. Getting away from the Oxford thread here. But I'm curious, what would happen if you were an Oxford fan & Hans Nielsen was your all time favourite rider, but Oxford closed. So you'd go to watch Swindon but not become a Swindon fan right? What if Hans signed for Swindon would that have changed anything? If his arch rival Erik Gundersen rode for Swindon's opponents, would you cheer against Erik as a Hans fan & want Swindon to win? Edited May 21 by szkocjasid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 On 5/20/2024 at 9:52 AM, szkocjasid said: I feel the complete opposite way. Now Swindon don't have a team, why would someone turn up at Oxford just to cheer on the opposition? I guess it depends on the level of rivalry, Edinburgh & Glasgow fans not likely to support each other of one closed, but as Cradley closed nearly 20 years ago could easily see their fans supporting Wolves (last year). Personally I was a Rye House fan, then an Arena-Essex fan also as soon as I they were in a different league. Funnily enough there were quite a few sensible Cradley fans who vocally supported Wolves after they closed but again you had several Cradley fans (or Neanderthals) that used to turn up at every meeting cheering for the opposition and trying to pick arguments with Wolves fans. i remember them well. Each to their own I guess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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