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Post by schumi on Nov 27, 2009 21:59:17 GMT
NATIONAL League Speedway will take place at both Wolverhampton and Birmingham next year - with a brand new club. Dudley Heathens will be entered into the third tier of British racing for the 2010 season with the two tracks staging home meetings between them on their behalf. The project automatically revives the famous nickname used by the old Cradley Heath club who ran at Dudley Wood Stadium between 1947-1995 before the land was sold for housing. And club bosses are hoping regular league racing carrying the Heathens name will be supported by fans of Cradley, Wolves and Birmingham alike as the bid to find new ground for Cradley continues. The club have already appointed Will Pottinger as team manager. Pottinger is the grandson of former Cradley promoter Les and took charge of Heathens teams in challenge matches this year. And Sky Sports TV presenter Nigel Pearson has been unveiled as the driving force behind the project as chairman, working closely with Wolverhampton chief Chris Van Straaten and Birmingham counterpart Gary Patchett. Said Pearson: "This has all come together very quickly. Chris, Gary and myself have been in dialogue over the idea for less than a month and we've tried to see pitfalls before going for it - but it's a win-win situation as far as we're concerned. "To see the Heathens back in regular league racing is what a lot of people have wanted for many years and we are delighted to carry the name of Dudley. As well as providing enjoyment for a lot of people we also want to see Cradley return on a full-time basis in the future and if this acts as a reminder to Dudley Council throughout the 2010 season then it has to be a winner. "Thanks to the co-operation of Chris and Gary and subject to BSPA approval we are now able to realise the dream of seeing a Heathens team back in league action. Now it's down to the fans to show us their support and we hope the fans of Wolverhampton and Birmingham also adopt Dudley as their second team." Heathens will race their home meetings at Wolverhampton on a Tuesday night but their Birmingham-staged meetings are likely to be on a Wednesday. A new website has already been launched and is available at www.dudleyspeedway.com which includes details of where to apply for season tickets. www.dudleyspeedway.com
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Post by Genghis on Nov 28, 2009 9:32:21 GMT
Great news for the Heathens.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2009 10:10:26 GMT
Great news for the Heathens. Is it ? seem's a bit of a joke to me, then i thought the same about the Leopard/Harringay/Dudley meeting at Swindon, where you and the Wackster enjoyed yourselves by all accounts. Maybe i'm just a miserable old git.
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Post by Genghis on Nov 28, 2009 10:27:39 GMT
Great news for the Heathens. Is it ? seem's a bit of a joke to me, then i thought the same about the Leopard/Harringay/Dudley meeting at Swindon, where you and the Wackster enjoyed yourselves by all accounts. Maybe i'm just a miserable old git. Maybe you are Hatcham, remember Rye House where a nomadic year led to the full-time return to Hoddesdon, or Middlesbrough staging years of second halves (we had one at Oxford in 2004) which eventually led to the return of the Redcar Bears.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2009 10:45:11 GMT
Is it ? seem's a bit of a joke to me, then i thought the same about the Leopard/Harringay/Dudley meeting at Swindon, where you and the Wackster enjoyed yourselves by all accounts. Maybe i'm just a miserable old git. Maybe you are Hatcham, remember Rye House where a nomadic year led to the full-time return to Hoddesdon, or Middlesbrough staging years of second halves (we had one at Oxford in 2004) which eventually led to the return of the Redcar Bears. Ok, so which club do you suggest i use for the re-birth of The Mighty Rangers ?
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Post by Genghis on Nov 28, 2009 11:40:19 GMT
Ok, so which club do you suggest i use for the re-birth of The Mighty Rangers ? Hatcham, the problem is there are no London based clubs left at all, so there's nowhere you could really stage a New Cross revival. It would be great even there could be, at least, one club back in the capital, preferably at Premier League level. If it did happen, I think the team should be called London, so that New Cross, West Ham, Wimbledon, Wembley, Hackney, Harringay and Walthamstow fans could all get behind the team equally.
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Post by schumi on Nov 28, 2009 21:07:36 GMT
If it did happen, I think the team should be called London, so that New Cross, West Ham, Wimbledon, Wembley, Hackney, Harringay and Walthamstow fans could all get behind the team equally. Hackney and Wimbledon fans supporting the same team? Imagine the carnage.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2009 9:15:08 GMT
If it did happen, I think the team should be called London, so that New Cross, West Ham, Wimbledon, Wembley, Hackney, Harringay and Walthamstow fans could all get behind the team equally. Hackney and Wimbledon fans supporting the same team? Imagine the carnage. I found it strange that you selected Hackney and Wimbledon as your example Schumster, what about the New Cross, west ham rivalry ? the whole Millwall, west ham hatred (which once again came to light a few months ago) stems from the thirties when New Cross rode against their 'cor blimey, neanderthal, mockney neighbours from the wrong side of the river. Now that would be carnage.
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Post by Genghis on Nov 29, 2009 10:34:10 GMT
Hackney and Wimbledon fans supporting the same team? Imagine the carnage. I found it strange that you selected Hackney and Wimbledon as your example Schumster, what about the New Cross, west ham rivalry ? the whole Millwall, west ham hatred (which once again came to light a few months ago) stems from the thirties when New Cross rode against their 'cor blimey, neanderthal, mockney neighbours from the wrong side of the river. Now that would be carnage. But we're not talking about football thugs here. Yes, had e.g. New Cross / West Ham been running last season then any kind of merger would be unthinkable. But given that New Cross closed in the 1960s and West Ham in 70s, it's not. Likewise with Wimbledon and Hackney - the last time they rode each other in competitive action was the start of 1991. If there is a team in London, call it London. And then promote it in the Wimbledon, Hackney, New Cross, West Ham, Wembley areas as the resurection of their club. All their clubs. Have a double spread in the programme each week looking back at the history of all these clubs - make sure people know the new club is an amalgamation of all these. Better to have five or so lots of supporters (I guess there's not many Harringay or Walthamstow fans left) than one.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2009 11:59:59 GMT
I found it strange that you selected Hackney and Wimbledon as your example Schumster, what about the New Cross, west ham rivalry ? the whole Millwall, west ham hatred (which once again came to light a few months ago) stems from the thirties when New Cross rode against their 'cor blimey, neanderthal, mockney neighbours from the wrong side of the river. Now that would be carnage. But we're not talking about football thugs here. Hate to shatter your illusions old boy but there was plenty of violence at the old New Cross west ham matches in the 30's, we can't be blaming football for all the problems. Never forget east Londoners are uncouth savages, who from time to time need to be taught lessons in manners and common decency. There can and never will be any 'coming together'.
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Post by Genghis on Nov 29, 2009 12:45:08 GMT
But we're not talking about football thugs here. Hate to shatter your illusions old boy but there was plenty of violence at the old New Cross west ham matches in the 30's, we can't be blaming football for all the problems. Never forget east Londoners are uncouth savages, who from time to time need to be taught lessons in manners and common decency. There can and never will be any 'coming together'. Hatcham "in the 30s" So those fans would now be in 80-90 age range. So unless they are going to attack each other with their walking sticks, I can't see a problem.
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Post by schumi on Nov 29, 2009 16:45:45 GMT
I found it strange that you selected Hackney and Wimbledon as your example Schumster. In my days at Hackney the only fans I ever had a problem with were the Dons.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2009 17:03:38 GMT
I found it strange that you selected Hackney and Wimbledon as your example Schumster. In my days at Hackney the only fans I ever had a problem with were the Dons. That surprises me Schumster, the only problem i ever had with the Dons was their dress sense.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 20:49:34 GMT
Sorry I'm a bit late in (I'm not online much at the moment). Just wanted to say ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Got to be good news, if nothing else it may show the council in Dudley that there is a demand for the sport even when "Dudley" Heathens home matches will not be taking place in Dudley.
Fingers crossed for a good season
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Post by schumi on Jan 28, 2010 15:32:54 GMT
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