Farewell to The Abbey

[Oxfordhater]

That's a shame if that's true

[WEBBERhyde]

Was certainly quite an odd feeling walking down the slope from the home straight grandstand to the car park for the very last time. My gramp went to the very first match there in 1949, he took my dad as a kid and my old man took me as a babe in arms and have been ever since.

There's plenty of twitchy fans worrying about the new stadium, with good reason, as has been pointed out already. the stadium owners have a track record of being total wankers when it comes to closing and rebuilding stadia over the years. the building work was supposed to begin in July. But nothing has seemingly happened except the houses looming ever closer.

Rosco and Terry Russell are adamant that the stadium will come though and seem to be committed assembling a good team for next season. So that's something I suppose, we will have to start the season late either way though.

Even if we do get the new stadium, it's a shame to have to leave the old track. It was one of the few big, fast and wide tracks left in the UK, as most are now pokey little polo mints, which is what our new one is going to have to be sadly. Although I'd take any speedway in Swindon than none at all.

That and Town's struggles have made this a bit of a glum weekend...bollocks.

[suttonred]

I haven't been since the 70's as a kid, loved it. Still have speck marks on me from the gravel. Yeah thanks dad, get near the front you'll get a great view..

[Nomoreheroes]

Rosco and Terry Russell are adamant that the stadium will come though and seem to be committed assembling a good team for next season. So that's something I suppose, we will have to start the season late either way though.

Hopefully a better one than this year! One that tries all the time and doesn't give up if the conditions are less than ideal or if they have a GP or more important meeting in the next couple of days!

[Combe Down]

my old man took me as a babe in arms and have been ever since.

IS YOUR HEARING OK?

[janaage]

Id be amazed if the new stadium is ready for next year. Why have they been given to close and build on the old stadium without work on the replacement being well under way? Have the Adver not already started asking questions about this to raise awareness?

[ronnie21]

Id be amazed if the new stadium is ready for next year. Why have they been given to close and build on the old stadium without work on the replacement being well under way? Have the Adver not already started asking questions about this to raise awareness?

There are still some outstanding planning issues apparently, like drainage and sound barriers - all that still to be agreed with the council.  Hope I am wrong but it is not looking hopeful!

[Jimmy Glass is an Alien]

Where is the new stadium suppose to be?

[Skinny Pete]

Where it is now, turned 180°.

Always seemed a no go to me. Who's going to buy a house next door to a speedway/greyhound track?

[Leggett]

The same kind of folk that moved into the village of Castle Coombe and complain about the noise from the race track. Likewise those people that moved near to Mallory Park and managed to get their local council to put strict sound levels and limited track usage which has led to the circuit going under. These people are dickheads.

[tans]

[ronnie21]

According to today's Adver (if you believe anything that they print!) they may start next season at the old stadium as Gaming International appear to accept that the new stadium will not be ready until June!  Still got outstanding planning issues and not likely to start for at least another month, if planning is approved.

[DarloSTFC84]

According to today's Adver (if you believe anything that they print!) they may start next season at the old stadium as Gaming International appear to accept that the new stadium will not be ready until June!  Still got outstanding planning issues and not likely to start for at least another month, if planning is approved.

Never saw that happen..

I wonder if they'll have a 'welcome back to our temporary/old home' 'one-off event', you know, just for sentimental purposes..

[horlock07]

According to today's Adver (if you believe anything that they print!) they may start next season at the old stadium as Gaming International appear to accept that the new stadium will not be ready until June!  Still got outstanding planning issues and not likely to start for at least another month, if planning is approved.

If it is staying on the same site but turning through 180 degrees, how are they going to use the existing whilst building the new?

[Skinny Pete]

The new stadium is on the same site, i.e Blunsdon but adjacent to the old stadium but turned 90 not 180° so, in theory, there should be very little changeover period.