Please Help Save Newcastle Diamonds.

Everyone associated with Newcastle Diamonds, and probably even those who aren't, know by now that since Rob Grant came to the helm and rescued Newcastle in the 11th hour at the back end of 2019, he hasn't had the easiest run in his first years as a speedway promoter. In fairness, he could probably write a book already about the trials and tribulations that come with being in charge of a speedway club. Some lesser mortals may have, very understandably, walked away by now but not Rob.

Considering he has only been in charge for just over 18 months, he has had to deal with a liquidation of the previous company that Newcastle traded under, the setting up of a brand new company in order to keep Newcastle running, and a global pandemic just to get us started! No easy task by any means. Add into this that when Rob took over in 2019 most other teams had already had their team line-ups declared for the 2020 season (even though we all know what happened in regard to that season) the pressure was on for Rob to build a team with a very small selection of riders available. But once again, this didn't deter Rob and he perservered and built a team that he believed in and most importantly showed they all wanted to ride for Newcastle. He has shown nothing if not true dedication to his cause.

Fast forward to 2021, and even though British Speedway eventually got the green light to return to action after being placed on hold due to COVID, it has returned under far from normal circumstances. We have all recently seen the unfortunate events that have happened down at Birmingham, with them resulting in placing their season on hold and it has also been documented that Poole too are finding running meetings at a loss due to the ongoing restrictions harder than they originally foresaw. The truth is British Speedway is struggling massively and the effects of the pandemic echo around stadiums up and down the country.

Newcastle is absolutely no different. We have an extremely loyal fan base and amazing long-term supporters but right now it is not enough to keep our heads above water. As most people are aware, due to restrictions we are unable to sell tickets at the turnstiles as we have always done, and they must now be purchased in advance for all meetings. This instantly presents a problem to the older generation, where the majority of speedway fans lie, as they may not have access to, or, are unable to use the online facilities needed to book tickets. Ticket sales right now are very much lower than we originally had planned for. Couple that with restricted numbers, and extra costs needed in order to run a meeting in a Covid-safe way, it is all taking its toll financially on the club.

Sponsorship has also proved very difficult to find this year. Businesses in every sector have too found themselves at the mercy of the pandemic, with no real spare cash available to invest in any side projects. We are, of course, eternally grateful to our associate sponsors who have managed to return to help us this season, and without them, we would have most definitely not have been able to take to the shale at all in 2021. However, that all-important main team sponsor still eludes Newcastle, with Rob once again having to come to the rescue and use his butchers and catering businesses to subsidise the Speedway. In fact, the truth of the matter is Rob has now invested a six-figure sum into Newcastle just to keep us going and to carry on the determination to make Newcastle a success, but we all know that that level of subsidiary cannot continue forever and now with the devastating announcement from the government tonight that we must wait another 4 weeks before we can consider ending restrictions, it is yet another blow to Newcastle Speedway that may very well end our 92-year history.

Speaking with Co-Promoter Dave Tattum tonight, myself and Dave have decided that even though this is a course of action we never wanted to take, we now feel to appeal for help may be the only option we have to keep Newcastle going. We have been unable to qualify for any government help set up to help companies struggling due to Covid for various reasons; one of them unbelievably being because Rob does not reside under the same local authority as the speedway is run! It just seems to be the case that every door we have turned to for help has been shut in our face and we are very quickly now running out of time and options.

Newcastle Speedway has such a rich history and to this day is now the longest-standing still functioning Speedway club in the country. It is a cornerstone of the local community and to hear the bikes finally fall silent at Brough Park after all these years would be beyond a travesty, for the promotion, for the riders of both the Diamonds and the Gems who invest every waking minute to their craft, but above all for the fans of British Speedway. We have already so sadly lost so many clubs and to see Newcastle fall would be a very bitter pill to swallow.

We here at Newcastle have already been so close to seeing Newcastle Stadium close its doors for good, and then Rob came and saved us when it mattered most. The fans already know how it feels to have their club teetering on the edge of demise, and now we, unfortunately, find ourselves once again in the same position.

So in conclusion, Dave and I are appealing for help from our fans and indeed speedway fans around the country to return the favour now and please help Rob out and save Newcastle Diamonds Speedway. Absolutely anything you can spare will be so very gratefully received and will provide that extra lifeblood through our veins. Without it, the fact of the matter is, Newcastle Diamonds will not see the end of the 2021 season.

Thank you so much for reading and on behalf of myself and Dave, thank you in advance for any donations made towards saving the club.

We truly hope to see you all trackside for the foreseeable future.