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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2019 16:16:21 GMT
Brings back memories as a kid going to watch the Speedway, alas it will be no more. Not sure how many people still watch these days but sad for all concerned?
Leicester at home on the 14th could be the last ever home fixture..............
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Post by zerps on Sept 10, 2019 16:39:54 GMT
Jesus Christ has it only just closed. It used to be massive back in the day.
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Post by Dutchpeter on Sept 10, 2019 18:35:55 GMT
Stadium freehold has been sold, so the promotion have nowhere to go. It’s hard to believe that as recently as the 1980s speedway was second only to football with the amount of spectators it pulled. If anyone wants a study in how to run down a successful, thrilling, entertaining sport into nearly nothing then speedway is it. Stoke has been on life support since dropping into speedways lowest league. Speedway supporters are notoriously fickle and will disappear elsewhere if the fare on offer isn’t good enough. The crowds have dropped, as the stadium and track have become progressively shabbier. Speedway choked because it started to be run for the benefit of the riders and not what the fans wanted. Stoke won’t be the last. RIP Stoke Potters and Loomer Road.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2019 19:51:55 GMT
Stadium freehold has been sold, so the promotion have nowhere to go. It’s hard to believe that as recently as the 1980s speedway was second only to football with the amount of spectators it pulled. If anyone wants a study in how to run down a successful, thrilling, entertaining sport into nearly nothing then speedway is it. Stoke has been on life support since dropping into speedways lowest league. Speedway supporters are notoriously fickle and will disappear elsewhere if the fare on offer isn’t good enough. The crowds have dropped, as the stadium and track have become progressively shabbier. Speedway choked because it started to be run for the benefit of the riders and not what the fans wanted. Stoke won’t be the last. RIP Stoke Potters and Loomer Road. What crowds do they get these days?
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Post by Dutchpeter on Sept 10, 2019 19:55:57 GMT
Stadium freehold has been sold, so the promotion have nowhere to go. It’s hard to believe that as recently as the 1980s speedway was second only to football with the amount of spectators it pulled. If anyone wants a study in how to run down a successful, thrilling, entertaining sport into nearly nothing then speedway is it. Stoke has been on life support since dropping into speedways lowest league. Speedway supporters are notoriously fickle and will disappear elsewhere if the fare on offer isn’t good enough. The crowds have dropped, as the stadium and track have become progressively shabbier. Speedway choked because it started to be run for the benefit of the riders and not what the fans wanted. Stoke won’t be the last. RIP Stoke Potters and Loomer Road. What crowds do they get these days? No speedway club ever quotes attendances, but I’d say below 300 punters? Hard to say.
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Post by felonious on Sept 10, 2019 19:58:17 GMT
I remember heading over Apedale back in the day to meet up with a mate in Ches and This town ain't big enough for both of us blaring all over the valley together with that unmistakable noise.
RIP.
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Post by henry on Sept 10, 2019 20:05:50 GMT
Never went to the Speedway, but fond memories of the greyhounds. Many a friday evening spent up there.
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Post by Dutchpeter on Sept 10, 2019 20:13:00 GMT
Never went to the Speedway, but fond memories of the greyhounds. Many a friday evening spent up there. What was a night at the dogs like up there? The abandoned traps were there for years. I love a night at the greyhounds.
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Post by henry on Sept 10, 2019 20:23:41 GMT
Never went to the Speedway, but fond memories of the greyhounds. Many a friday evening spent up there. What was a night at the dogs like up there? The abandoned traps were there for years. I love a night at the greyhounds. Used to get a decent crowd in the mid nineties. Lots of skullduggery, dogs getting red-lighted for suddenly running too fast, races won by the dog that had been "slowed down" the least
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Post by Dutchpeter on Sept 10, 2019 20:32:48 GMT
What was a night at the dogs like up there? The abandoned traps were there for years. I love a night at the greyhounds. Used to get a decent crowd in the mid nineties. Lots of skullduggery, dogs getting red-lighted for suddenly running too fast, races won by the dog that had been "slowed down" the least I used to go past Cobridge Stadium before it was pulled down. I believe it was a turf track up there. Wish I’d seen that too!
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Post by henry on Sept 10, 2019 20:42:13 GMT
Used to get a decent crowd in the mid nineties. Lots of skullduggery, dogs getting red-lighted for suddenly running too fast, races won by the dog that had been "slowed down" the least I used to go past Cobridge Stadium before it was pulled down. I believe it was a turf track up there. Wish I’d seen that too! No idea if it was a turf track or not DP, i didn't get into the dog racing till after it shut, so i never went either.
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Post by cooper67 on Sept 10, 2019 21:56:14 GMT
A girl I used to work with went out with a lad from Workington. She said when Karl Stonehewer came into the pub everybody was in awe of him! And this was only 18 years ago.
How fast a sport can go downhill.
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Sept 11, 2019 6:41:43 GMT
Place is turning into a ghost town.
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Post by lordb on Sept 11, 2019 7:29:47 GMT
Place is turning into a ghost town. Do you remember the good old days before the Ghost Town?
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Sept 11, 2019 7:33:53 GMT
Went the odd fixture in Hanley during the mid 60s.
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Post by elystokie on Sept 11, 2019 7:39:22 GMT
Never went to the Speedway, but fond memories of the greyhounds. Many a friday evening spent up there. I never went the speedway either but went the dogs a few times in the late 70s, me and a mate had to walk back to Stoke from there one night cos we'd done all our money
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Post by NassauDave on Sept 11, 2019 8:47:56 GMT
I played for Stoke Speedway F.C. in the 80s. Good set of lads and great fun. About half them were Stoke Speedway fans, hence the name. I went to a speedway meet just once but it didn’t do it for me. I can still remember the smell of fuel though.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2019 20:08:17 GMT
I went to Stoke speedway a year or two back. I’m into bikes so thought I’d check it out. It was a good night but just a couple of hundred watching, that’s all. Cost about £11 or £12 to get in, standing terrace and a run down bar. The whole place looked a bit shabby to be honest but then again the track is in Chesterton not Dubai.
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Post by flea79 on Sept 12, 2019 20:29:55 GMT
saw this today and it made me sad, another thing gone
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Post by JoeinOz on Sept 12, 2019 22:15:46 GMT
That's sad news.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Sept 14, 2019 13:14:06 GMT
Absolutely tragic. I go to speedway in the football off season. Cant believe after 90 years its finished. Should have built a sports quarter near the bet 365. More history lost like reading and coventry speedway. What a wank country we've become.
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Post by supersimonstainrod on Sept 14, 2019 16:21:57 GMT
Absolutely tragic. I go to speedway in the football off season. Cant believe after 90 years its finished. Should have built a sports quarter near the bet 365. More history lost like reading and coventry speedway. What a wank country we've become. Sad to think that as a sports mad kid speedway was essential and prime Satdee afternoon sporting viewing. Oh for the days of Erik Gundersen et al 😡
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Post by onesteino on Sept 14, 2019 19:05:02 GMT
Sad to hear it's closing. Back in the day I used to sneak in there by cutting through what is now Lymedale, then past where the ambulances and racers used to be. Used to take an ex-girlfriend with me and sneak her in too! Those engines used to make a smell so horrible that it weirdly brings back good memories. I hope they do something good with it. As an aside, the nearby Apedale mine is well worth a visit!
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Sept 14, 2019 21:48:15 GMT
What about Banger racing?
Since the shock news re Stoke earlier in the week life must move on, and we have tweaked fixtures to ensure fairness and provide hopefully 4 CRACKING MEETINGS TO SEE STOKE OFF - There will be sadly NO final reprieve, this IS IT!
BOOKINGS DEPENDANT ON INTEREST MAY HAVE TO BE LIMITED
We start with the scheduled event as planned on SATURDAY 21st September
THE OCTOBER AUTUMN 'LAST LAPS' FIXTURES LOOMER ROAD
SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER 4.30.PM STOCK CARS FAREWELL TO STOKE! 1600cc Bangers - BriSCA F2 Stock Cars NS , F2 HERITAGE National Saloon Stock Cars ,1300cc Stock Cars TC7
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Post by dutchstokie on Sept 16, 2019 8:15:26 GMT
What about Banger racing? Since the shock news re Stoke earlier in the week life must move on, and we have tweaked fixtures to ensure fairness and provide hopefully 4 CRACKING MEETINGS TO SEE STOKE OFF - There will be sadly NO final reprieve, this IS IT! BOOKINGS DEPENDANT ON INTEREST MAY HAVE TO BE LIMITED We start with the scheduled event as planned on SATURDAY 21st September THE OCTOBER AUTUMN 'LAST LAPS' FIXTURES LOOMER ROAD SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER 4.30.PM STOCK CARS FAREWELL TO STOKE! 1600cc Bangers - BriSCA F2 Stock Cars NS , F2 HERITAGE National Saloon Stock Cars ,1300cc Stock Cars TC7 Another one here whose gonna miss my visits to chesterton..... even though I live over here the old fossil lives local and I will DEFFO miss this place. To give you an idea of my connection to the place, my first taste was watching Brisca F1’s there with the likes of Sam Ostle, John Hillam and Stu Smith..... any Stox buffs on here will relate to these guys. Such a shame these things have to happen
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Post by supersimonstainrod on Sept 16, 2019 8:41:41 GMT
What about Banger racing? Since the shock news re Stoke earlier in the week life must move on, and we have tweaked fixtures to ensure fairness and provide hopefully 4 CRACKING MEETINGS TO SEE STOKE OFF - There will be sadly NO final reprieve, this IS IT! BOOKINGS DEPENDANT ON INTEREST MAY HAVE TO BE LIMITED We start with the scheduled event as planned on SATURDAY 21st September THE OCTOBER AUTUMN 'LAST LAPS' FIXTURES LOOMER ROAD SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER 4.30.PM STOCK CARS FAREWELL TO STOKE! 1600cc Bangers - BriSCA F2 Stock Cars NS , F2 HERITAGE National Saloon Stock Cars ,1300cc Stock Cars TC7 Another one here whose gonna miss my visits to chesterton..... even though I live over here the old fossil lives local and I will DEFFO miss this place. To give you an idea of my connection to the place, my first taste was watching Brisca F1’s there with the likes of Sam Ostle, John Hillam and Stu Smith..... any Stox buffs on here will relate to these guys. Such a shame these things have to happen I suppose there's a crumb of hope that one day speedway in or near Stoke may be reborn if someone with the finances and vision comes along Dutch.Didn't Cradeley Heath fold then rise phoenix like a good decade or so later?
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Post by Dutchpeter on Sept 16, 2019 10:21:28 GMT
Another one here whose gonna miss my visits to chesterton..... even though I live over here the old fossil lives local and I will DEFFO miss this place. To give you an idea of my connection to the place, my first taste was watching Brisca F1’s there with the likes of Sam Ostle, John Hillam and Stu Smith..... any Stox buffs on here will relate to these guys. Such a shame these things have to happen I suppose there's a crumb of hope that one day speedway in or near Stoke may be reborn if someone with the finances and vision comes along Dutch.Didn't Cradeley Heath fold then rise phoenix like a good decade or so later? Cradeley did indeed reform but without a stadium. They’ve raced at Wolverhampton and at Birmingham, whilst their efforts to secure a home have come to naught. Cradeley currently ply their trade in speedways bottom league.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Sept 16, 2019 17:26:49 GMT
Im sure i read they could have gone to Buxton as their team doesnt race anymore but cant imagine it would generate a following travelling there every home meet.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Sept 16, 2019 17:31:51 GMT
One of the best riders ive seen at Stoke
Ben Barker. He was fearless.
Great ride to rescue a 3-3 from the back of the pack.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Sept 16, 2019 17:36:39 GMT
Hope it all comes back one day.
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