|
|
Post by admin on Feb 18, 2016 14:07:02 GMT
So what exactly does that mean as I've no idea what our overall plan is, in fact I don't think that we've got one? I wouldn't say that top of the PL meets that criteria?
T BALFE BACK PANTHERS (www.peterboroughpanthers.co/news - Thursday February 18, 2016)
PETERBOROUGH promoter Ged Rathbone hopes the club can build a successful relationship with new major sponsors T Balfe Construction.
The successful Lincolnshire-based family business can be unveiled today as Panthers' title backers for the 2016 season.
The company has operated in its home county, Yorkshire and across the East Midlands for 60 years - now Rathbone hopes to take the T Balfe Construction Panthers, as they will be known, to the top of speedway's Premier League.
Rathbone said: "We're thrilled to be able to announce a terrific new sponsorship deal which will give everyone a huge boost ahead of the new season.
"The backing will be invaluable as we aim to challenge for league and cup success.
"We’re really excited about the deal and the onus is on us as a club to ensure everyone connected to T Balfe Construction enjoys the experience of being our major backers.
"The company will use our meetings as an opportunity to treat their staff and we look to welcoming and entertaining guests throughout the season.
"The way the company do things is very much in line with our own approach – it’s about ambition and honesty.
"It only took a matter of minutes to thrash out a deal after the club and company were first introduced.
"They’re petrol-heads anyway with their own car-racing team so I'm sure they will quickly be hooked on speedway.
"Hopefully it is the start of a long and successful partnership."
Rathbone struck a five-figure deal with T Balfe director David Balfe, a self-confessed motorsport fanatic.
He is owner of Balfe Motorsport team which runs a Ferrari 458 in the GT International Open Series with son, Shaun, behind the wheel.
The team has competed with success in British, Spanish and international championships over two decades.
And Balfe snr is expecting to enjoy his first involvement into racing of the two-wheeled variety.
He said: "It is great to be able to support Peterborough Panthers and hopefully we can help them onto bigger and better things.
"The club has one hell of a set-up and they are also a friendly and ambitious bunch.
"I was made aware they might be looking for sponsorship so I thought I would come down to see Ged and his management team to see what they're about.
"They made me feel hugely welcome and I felt comfortable in their company straight away.
"It is nice to be able to do a deal that should help the club while also giving us a way of marketing the fact we want to move into Peterborough business-wise.
"It is a joint venture which will hopefully bring success for both parties."
|
|
|
|
Post by rodders on Feb 18, 2016 16:11:13 GMT
Unlikely that the ambition includes a return to proper speedway!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by admin on Feb 18, 2016 16:34:11 GMT
Unlikely that the ambition includes a return to proper speedway!!!! That's going to take new owners Rodders with proper ambition and resouces to return the status quo. Seems very unlikely now that the lower league mentality has set in under the current regime. New sponsors do look a better fit than Readypower. Hopefully they enjoy it and want better: Balfe Motorsport formed in 1998 as a partnership between David Balfe (former owner of Fortec-Motorsport) and racing car driver Shaun Balfe. A combination that has a proven recipe for success at every level of competition that the team have entered. |
|
|
|
Post by rodders on Feb 18, 2016 18:27:36 GMT
The world would be a lot better place if all could see things from the perspective of spencbel.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bigcatdiary on Feb 22, 2016 9:18:05 GMT
Unlikely that the ambition includes a return to proper speedway!!!! I think the EL will be going through some big changes in the next year or two so who knows. To be fair the biggest drawback for Peterborough is the fans, we simply do not have enough regulars to pay for the top league, Bratters summed it up pretty well in 2006, we had around 6,000 turn up for the EL PO final against Reading and then had just 600 turn up the following week for a Craven Shield fixture. I know Ged is enthusiastic but the maths have to add up and to be fair he has done a great job since arriving. To be honest fan support locally has always been a problem, a lot of the regulars I know all travel to Peterborough and two friends live in Felixstowe and attend every match. |
|
|
|
Post by admin on Feb 22, 2016 9:51:24 GMT
Unlikely that the ambition includes a return to proper speedway!!!! I think the EL will be going through some big changes in the next year or two so who knows. To be fair the biggest drawback for Peterborough is the fans, we simply do not have enough regulars to pay for the top league, Bratters summed it up pretty well in 2006, we had around 6,000 turn up for the EL PO final against Reading and then had just 600 turn up the following week for a Craven Shield fixture. I know Ged is enthusiastic but the maths have to add up and to be fair he has done a great job since arriving. To be honest fan support locally has always been a problem, a lot of the regulars I know all travel to Peterborough and two friends live in Felixstowe and attend every match. Which makes the Frost/Mahoney era all the more irritating. They didn't need fan numbers because of their wealth so didn't really IMO help themselves or the club in building the fan base. To their credit they saved the club and kept it going but didn't deliver the great things and exciting future that they promised. It was constant closure threats, messy ending and cock up of a delivery into the disastrous hands of the supremo. Hardly a great chapter for the CV of someone who likes new challenges and being a success. It's a shame that Bratters didn't remind Frost of that in 2008, it might have been less painful for all. At least Frost could have read Bratters final blog and acted on it? Rathbone has done a good job thus far and is still effectively steadying the ship so it's hard to tell whether he's Sam Allardyce or Arsene Wenger, and probably unfair to do so atm. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 11:44:00 GMT
I agree Ged has done a good job thus far, in fact a very good job to be honest. However, he will only take the club so far and I don't think he will take the club back to the EL. If I'm honest no one will take us back to the EL whilst we remain at the Showground and have diminished continuity. Every season at the moment is a bonus in my opinion, we really should not have a Speedway team by now. This is a big season for the club. If we are successful then the status quo will remain, fail horribly and Ged's enthusiasm might start to wane and if that should happen, there's only one avenue we'll likely go down. Frost's failure is actually a disgrace. To have that much money and not win trophies is not only shameful, it display's a distinct lack of management skills.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hodgy on Feb 22, 2016 12:14:04 GMT
Unlikely that the ambition includes a return to proper speedway!!!! I think the EL will be going through some big changes in the next year or two so who knows. To be fair the biggest drawback for Peterborough is the fans, we simply do not have enough regulars to pay for the top league, Bratters summed it up pretty well in 2006, we had around 6,000 turn up for the EL PO final against Reading and then had just 600 turn up the following week for a Craven Shield fixture. I know Ged is enthusiastic but the maths have to add up and to be fair he has done a great job since arriving. To be honest fan support locally has always been a problem, a lot of the regulars I know all travel to Peterborough and two friends live in Felixstowe and attend every match. Been saying this for years (although Riggers wouldn't have it). I wouldn't want to be part of The EL in its current format - complete shambles. |
|
|
|
Post by Hodgy on Feb 22, 2016 12:14:59 GMT
I agree Ged has done a good job thus far, in fact a very good job to be honest. However, he will only take the club so far and I don't think he will take the club back to the EL. If I'm honest no one will take us back to the EL whilst we remain at the Showground and have diminished continuity. Every season at the moment is a bonus in my opinion, we really should not have a Speedway team by now. This is a big season for the club. If we are successful then the status quo will remain, fail horribly and Ged's enthusiasm might start to wane and if that should happen, there's only one avenue we'll likely go down. Frost's failure is actually a disgrace. To have that much money and not win trophies is not only shameful, it display's a distinct lack of management skills. Couldn't agree more. |
|
|
|
Post by admin on Feb 22, 2016 13:17:38 GMT
I agree Ged has done a good job thus far, in fact a very good job to be honest. However, he will only take the club so far and I don't think he will take the club back to the EL. If I'm honest no one will take us back to the EL whilst we remain at the Showground and have diminished continuity. Every season at the moment is a bonus in my opinion, we really should not have a Speedway team by now. This is a big season for the club. If we are successful then the status quo will remain, fail horribly and Ged's enthusiasm might start to wane and if that should happen, there's only one avenue we'll likely go down. Frost's failure is actually a disgrace. To have that much money and not win trophies is not only shameful, it display's a distinct lack of management skills. With the Showground often rumoured to be moving, I wondered if Frost could have bought the place and had a free rein and local Readypower base? I'm sure that Bratters told me that he suggested to Frost that he had to leave the EoES to succeed so it is a fair point you make. Peterborough Speedway is like Mario Balotelli: someone will always think that they can make it work? Well that's what I thought until Frost bailed out in humiliating fashion. I agree that for the club every season is now a bonus, although the enthusiasm has been kicked out of me in the last two seasons, and what speedway has become (outside of better quality stuff that happens outside of the UK) and where Peterborough Speedway now is no longer does it for me as it once did. |
|
|
|
Post by rodders on Feb 22, 2016 14:41:59 GMT
It is difficult not endorse the positive things being said about Ged Rathbone as are the negative things regarding Ace business man Rick Frost.
Ged doing a wonderful job in the level we are in and I fully understand the financial restraints.
Have to say probably through no fault of his own things getting more cliquey. Manifested itself in recent emergency supporters club meeting debacle.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 9:25:53 GMT
It is difficult not endorse the positive things being said about Ged Rathbone as are the negative things regarding Ace business man Rick Frost. Ged doing a wonderful job in the level we are in and I fully understand the financial restraints. Have to say probably through no fault of his own things getting more cliquey. Manifested itself in recent emergency supporters club meeting debacle. Did you go to that emergency meeting and if so what are you able to report? I can't believe it has not been reported (or discussed) anywhere what the problem(s) was. No doubt once the season starts it will all become clear. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 9:29:40 GMT
I think the EL will be going through some big changes in the next year or two so who knows. To be fair the biggest drawback for Peterborough is the fans, we simply do not have enough regulars to pay for the top league, Bratters summed it up pretty well in 2006, we had around 6,000 turn up for the EL PO final against Reading and then had just 600 turn up the following week for a Craven Shield fixture. I know Ged is enthusiastic but the maths have to add up and to be fair he has done a great job since arriving. To be honest fan support locally has always been a problem, a lot of the regulars I know all travel to Peterborough and two friends live in Felixstowe and attend every match. Been saying this for years (although Riggers wouldn't have it). I wouldn't want to be part of The EL in its current format - complete shambles. I think far better sticking with the PL for the time being cant see how the El is going to change in the next few years - might need a few PL. teams to help prop it up but I would not want to see us being one of them. Just look up the A47 at the problems they have currently. |
|
|
|
Post by rodders on Feb 23, 2016 14:00:24 GMT
It is difficult not endorse the positive things being said about Ged Rathbone as are the negative things regarding Ace business man Rick Frost. Ged doing a wonderful job in the level we are in and I fully understand the financial restraints. Have to say probably through no fault of his own things getting more cliquey. Manifested itself in recent emergency supporters club meeting debacle. Did you go to that emergency meeting and if so what are you able to report? I can't believe it has not been reported (or discussed) anywhere what the problem(s) was. No doubt once the season starts it will all become clear. Yes we went, only to find the outcome had been pre-determined , new chairman and committee installed unopposed. Seemingly no further nominations allowed as all interested apparently had to E Mail Richard Greer before hand. I am certain that the Chairman and Committee wish to and will do a fine job but was very unhappy with what went on which I find an insult to my intelligence. For this reason I shall not be re joining the supporters club. I am not sure either why it was necessary for Messrs Swales and Rathbone to be in attendance. I would suspect it has not got wider publicity as those concerned feel a tad embarrassed. |
|
|
|
Post by admin on May 12, 2016 23:16:00 GMT
Unlikely that the ambition includes a return to proper speedway!!!! But Rathbone is now determined to press on with his mission of turning Peterborough into a success on and off the track at Premier League level. peterboroughpanthers/news 12/5/16 |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 13, 2016 4:46:26 GMT
Unlikely that the ambition includes a return to proper speedway!!!! ELITE Rodders,? Do you mean the league that has 33 out of the 56 current riders that are of PREMIER and NATIONAL level, having watched both over the last few years the Prem has been, more competitive, and has more variety with the extra 5 teams, its only my opinion, but the premier league to me, is streets ahead of the so called Elite. jim |
|
|
|
Post by rodders on May 13, 2016 12:09:10 GMT
ELITE Rodders,? Do you mean the league that has 33 out of the 56 current riders that are of PREMIER and NATIONAL level, having watched both over the last few years the Prem has been, more competitive, and has more variety with the extra 5 teams, its only my opinion, but the premier league to me, is streets ahead of the so called Elite. jim You refer to a post made in February however yes I would prefer a return to the perceived highest level, albeit it needs urgent restorative attention. Clearly Ged does not see it this way. Its his money so up to him I suppose. |
|
