My husband has been going from the first day it started now 83 speedway means a lot to him at the abbey Stadium
Allan Sharp
4 months ago
Swindon needs speedway, our sport is being taken away from us and it’s all about money.
No thoughts given to us speedway fans that just want to enjoy good family entertainment.
Panthers are my team, but we all face exactly the same issues
Ceary Niblett
4 months ago
Greed has taken over
steve Thorn
4 months ago
i went to the Abbey as a young lad and got rap with the thrill and the spills of the sport , i live in Newbury but Swindon was my first choice by my Parents , I've made a lot of good friends down there including Rob and Dave who i stood with when watching the meeting , i always enjoyed going to swindon from Newbury to have a enjoyable night of speedway with all the friends I've made down there ,watching Leigh Adams, Phil crump, Martin Ashby and the Late Bob Kilby , Jason Doyle and Tobiasz Musielak, always enjoyed the signing sessions when meeting the riders before the meeting started , and seeing some old bike they had on Display ,Thursday just has not been the same not seeing our Robins race and not seeing all my friends i have made down there
Mike Penney
4 months ago
I first went to the Abbey as a young Lad, the noise the smell, the action, I was hooked. A robins fan from that moment until the farewell meeting. I was honoured to watch Phil Crump Leigh Adams Darcy Ward Leigh Richardson skid around Blunsdon, and of course many others wearing the famous robins race jacket.
Once the first houses were built behind the pits, I knew speedway would never return to the Abbey.
I hoped that SBC would have been smart enough to work with the developer and agree that further development could proceed IF the developer could identify with outlying planning permission a suitable site for speedway to continue within the Borough, what motivation for a developer to continue building at the Abbey.
I fear speedway will never return to Swindon.
That smell, that noise, that history gone forever, for what? Another housing estate in North Swindon.
Terry
4 months ago
Blunsdon born and bred,first meeting was about 1960 only about 4 or 5 only remember being carried on a neighbours shoulders,been a fan for 65 years,absolutely gutted the Abbey now closed so many memories.
Chris Bowers
4 months ago
My dad, Roy Bowers , was a rider in the early sixties and I was a member of the junior Robins. Great memories of speedway there and being with the other riders kids.
Stephen Browning
4 months ago
It is so sad there is no speedway at Swindon. Unfortunately I haven't been able to visit Swindon since the 1980s but I do have many good memories from back then. One stand out memory is from 1986 when I visited to see my team King's Lynn in action. The Stars were having a dreadful season so travelled with very little hope but an amazing display from young Norwegian Einar Kyllingstad who scored a 15 point maximum so the Stars recorded a remarkable 42-36 victory.
Brian Rebbeck
4 months ago
Started to go in 1960. Remember “Standing on the corner” used to be played ?
After speedway off to The Moonrakers where they had bands, and a bit of banter with the Yanks from Fairford.
Ant one else remember cycle speedway by The Crows nest?
Speedway as a sport now poorly represented by the governing bodies, the press and TV.
Glad I went in recent years and seen the Robins be successful .
Karly Holmes
4 months ago
My family have been fans of Swindon Speedway for 4 generations with my Grandad being at the very first meeting held at the Abbey. But for me Swindon Speedway is not just about nostalgia, the future is as important - my children were following the family's love for Swindon Speedway in the season before the closure of the Abbey. Having been without a track for so many years I am doing what I can to keep their love for the Robins alive. A whole generation is being robbed of this wonderful sport that is so much more than entertainment. Thursday nights at the Abbey for so many people wasn't only a chance to see world class riders and soak up the smell and sound of a race night. But to also forget about any stress of the day, week or life and be a part of the Speedway family:
- Admire the skill of the riders with the person stood next to you and make a new friend.
- Buy a photo of your favourite rider, stick it on your school book and generate new interest in the sport from classmates.
- Walk through the town and share a smile with someone also wearing a Robins hat, scarf, badge or Wulf Sport jacket!!
Thank you to the Swindon Needs Speedway Action Group for keeping these memories alive and fighting for our home!
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Comments
My husband has been going from the first day it started now 83 speedway means a lot to him at the abbey Stadium
Swindon needs speedway, our sport is being taken away from us and it’s all about money.
No thoughts given to us speedway fans that just want to enjoy good family entertainment.
Panthers are my team, but we all face exactly the same issues
Greed has taken over
i went to the Abbey as a young lad and got rap with the thrill and the spills of the sport , i live in Newbury but Swindon was my first choice by my Parents , I've made a lot of good friends down there including Rob and Dave who i stood with when watching the meeting , i always enjoyed going to swindon from Newbury to have a enjoyable night of speedway with all the friends I've made down there ,watching Leigh Adams, Phil crump, Martin Ashby and the Late Bob Kilby , Jason Doyle and Tobiasz Musielak, always enjoyed the signing sessions when meeting the riders before the meeting started , and seeing some old bike they had on Display ,Thursday just has not been the same not seeing our Robins race and not seeing all my friends i have made down there
I first went to the Abbey as a young Lad, the noise the smell, the action, I was hooked. A robins fan from that moment until the farewell meeting. I was honoured to watch Phil Crump Leigh Adams Darcy Ward Leigh Richardson skid around Blunsdon, and of course many others wearing the famous robins race jacket.
Once the first houses were built behind the pits, I knew speedway would never return to the Abbey.
I hoped that SBC would have been smart enough to work with the developer and agree that further development could proceed IF the developer could identify with outlying planning permission a suitable site for speedway to continue within the Borough, what motivation for a developer to continue building at the Abbey.
I fear speedway will never return to Swindon.
That smell, that noise, that history gone forever, for what? Another housing estate in North Swindon.
Blunsdon born and bred,first meeting was about 1960 only about 4 or 5 only remember being carried on a neighbours shoulders,been a fan for 65 years,absolutely gutted the Abbey now closed so many memories.
My dad, Roy Bowers , was a rider in the early sixties and I was a member of the junior Robins. Great memories of speedway there and being with the other riders kids.
It is so sad there is no speedway at Swindon. Unfortunately I haven't been able to visit Swindon since the 1980s but I do have many good memories from back then. One stand out memory is from 1986 when I visited to see my team King's Lynn in action. The Stars were having a dreadful season so travelled with very little hope but an amazing display from young Norwegian Einar Kyllingstad who scored a 15 point maximum so the Stars recorded a remarkable 42-36 victory.
Started to go in 1960. Remember “Standing on the corner” used to be played ?
After speedway off to The Moonrakers where they had bands, and a bit of banter with the Yanks from Fairford.
Ant one else remember cycle speedway by The Crows nest?
Speedway as a sport now poorly represented by the governing bodies, the press and TV.
Glad I went in recent years and seen the Robins be successful .
My family have been fans of Swindon Speedway for 4 generations with my Grandad being at the very first meeting held at the Abbey. But for me Swindon Speedway is not just about nostalgia, the future is as important - my children were following the family's love for Swindon Speedway in the season before the closure of the Abbey. Having been without a track for so many years I am doing what I can to keep their love for the Robins alive. A whole generation is being robbed of this wonderful sport that is so much more than entertainment. Thursday nights at the Abbey for so many people wasn't only a chance to see world class riders and soak up the smell and sound of a race night. But to also forget about any stress of the day, week or life and be a part of the Speedway family:
- Admire the skill of the riders with the person stood next to you and make a new friend.
- Buy a photo of your favourite rider, stick it on your school book and generate new interest in the sport from classmates.
- Walk through the town and share a smile with someone also wearing a Robins hat, scarf, badge or Wulf Sport jacket!!
Thank you to the Swindon Needs Speedway Action Group for keeping these memories alive and fighting for our home!