Plymouth Devils & Manor Delta.

[jay3012]

Sorry got your name wrong martinben apologies

[rogero]

All points noted jay3012. That's quite a comprehensive list of reasons not to go to Plymouth.

However, if you now look at the new Devils website and read the positive comments coming through and the planned improvements it may mitigate some of your issues about the St Boniface Arena. I hope so anyway.

Sadly, the County Ground wasn't at its best by the time it closed.

Whilst I respect your views I disagree in some ways but I guess we'll never totally agree on everything.

My view, as someone who travelled up from Plymouth with my Dad from 5 years old to when I was 28 and then visited regularly from when I left Devon to when the track closed? Well, having had the pleasure to meet Colin Hill a few times, I think that he would have entrusted the people in Manordelta to do the right thing.

They tried their best for Exeter and it didn't work out. Colin Hill would have been delighted to see some of his legacy help to see speedway in Devon survive and even flourish.

The 'second half Falcons' may be just a gesture. But its a genuine gesture and keeps the Exeter Falcons alive by the best and only way possible at the moment. Remember Cradley have been quite successful running out of Wolves.

Maybe in time the Exeter Falcons can run a National League team form the SBA until a new Exeter venue can be found?

I would never have thought that Plymouth Devils would return but they did.

[jay3012]

Rogero that's part of my point though Colin didn't entrust go speed or trump
From what I remember and I could be wrong go speed had Exeters licence and assets and all proceeds from the final night then dumped us when Westpoint ended. Mr trump started well enough but then got involved elsewhere failed at haldon then got paid for failing these 2 decisions alone cost Exeter speedway dearly in my opinion. However I am happy to be corrected on those points if Colin were still alive we'd be at Westpoint and I don't doubt he'd have helped anyone in speedway I don't believe he would have given up on Exeter though

[winkey]

Hear hear jay3012, I think all your comments are spot on !
Members of manor delta use this forum but it's strange they have not spoken up on this subject !

[stevieb]

I have to say it was a suprise and a disapointment to read on the British Speedway forum of some of Colin Hills money going to help speedway in Devon.
Disapointed for two reasons, a short statement could have been posted here out of respect for Exeter supporters and it seems as if the will to get Exeter up and running again has gone.

I also agree that a statement from Manor Delta should now be forthcoming.

I wish Plymouth Speedway well and hope that the money helps up and coming riders and is spent wisely.

This is a plea to Alan Trump, would you please consider donating some or all of the money paid to you from Colins legacy to reimburse you for the money you spent on the planning for speedway at Haldon to help Plymouth develop
young riders.

If it is to be that it is the end of speedway in or near Exeter then Colins money will be well spent, that is developing and not maintaining speedway in Devon.

[stevieb]

As this is the most active thread at present would just like to wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

[rogero]

A Happy and Healthy New Year to you too, stevieb.

I will withdraw from here now as I can see it getting entrenched.

I'll be the first to support and assist Exeter Falcons in any way I can. I'm very pleased that we have speedway in Devon still.

I have nothing to do with GoSpeed or Manordelta but I am a speedway supporter of 51 years and if we didn't have Plymouth Speedway (with or without Manordelta's support) speedway in Devon would be in a very sorry state.

Good luck to all Falcons fans, whether or not they come to Plymouth. I sincerely hope that you get what you wish for.

Time to move on.

[Nevs]

Jan 9, 2013 20:49:30 GMT stevieb said:

As this is the most active thread at present would just like to wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

Belated Happy New year Stevie B-long time no see-hope you and family are well chap.

[martinben]

i apologise too jay3012 and all falcons fans i have my heart split in 2 really my mum and dad and all my relatives were born in exeter my cousin Steve Brennan which i hope some of you may remember (captained and rode for the junior falcons and was MY HERO), I just feel without speedway in devon (plymouth or exeter) we will never see it again, until a plausible site can be found exeter speedway CAN be kept alive , you may not think that by having token junior meetings this is helping but to me it is as it may re-stir more interest, look at some of the other defunct teams that are using the academy teams to make possible comebacks milton keynes , long eaton even cradley(dudley) yes they dont have their own track yet but the more interest they can generate who knows. i for one will keep an interest in the junior /academy and support those youngsters that WILL wear the FALCONS bibs and jay i hope to meet you and your kids at the sba in future and i hope many falcons fans will do the same, i know you cant see how it can help but perhaps a joining of forces and proving we can be successful may persuade exeter city council that Exeter speedway can be as successful too and has to get a new home

[squibby]

Just a few points here:-

1) In no way would it be possible to build an ' FIM Standard ' stadium using simply monies left by dear old Colin. Have you any comprehension of the cost of such a stadium ? I am not privy to the amount left in his Will but I am sure it was nothing like enough to fulfil such a project. Mr Trump may have dreamt of such a thing but we all know where that dream ended !

2) I echo Nevs' comment that it would have been in Colin's mind to see speedway survive somewhere in Devon, if it could not be at Exeter. Of course it was his dearest wish to see the sport continue in or very close to Exeter, but had he not been able to achieve that I feel certain he would have looked at helping out Seemond at Plymouth.

3) In my humble opinion, the Westpoint venture would have failed even if Colin had not sadly passed away when he did. The vociferous objection from local residents, several of whom clearly had some clout, and the wimpish reaction of both East Devon DC and the owners of Westpoint made the plans stillborn, and the outcome would have been the same even with Colin still with us, believe me.

4) The article in the recent ' Express & Echo ' stated that speedway would never return to Exeter. By that it meant within the boundaries of the City of Exeter, where there is no land left on which to swing a cat, never mind build a speedway stadium, and certainly no land actually owned by ECC itself. Back in 2005 the only available land, mainly down at Marsh Barton, was, and still is, in private hands, and even if the owners would have been willing to rent it out, the rent would have been prohibitive. I am sure ManorDelta have been looking very hard at potential sites within striking distance of Exeter, but the hurdles to be overcome are many, and potential costs huge. If anyone posting on here has a suggestion for a possible site that ManorDelta haven't found yet, let's hear about it asap. Also, if they did find a site, the last thing they want to be doing is shout the details from the rooftops, as that will doom the thing to failure for sure.

I could go on, but I'll spare you all ! I am as disappointed as everyone else at the failure of Exeter Falcons to yet rise like a phoenix from the ashes, but life is hard and then you die, as they say.

I should again stress that I am in no way connected to ManorDelta and the above ramblings ( with a few cliches thrown in ! ) are purely my own.