The Diamond Geezers

Why are the Diamond Geezers on the History Site? Because we are no more that's why. 

Hopefully the New Newcastle Speedway Supporters Club will be able to do some of what the Geezers achieved alongside the things they are doing.

Four Diamond Geezers with Phil Morris.. Dave Rowland, John Skinner, Keith Dyer and Malcolm Ridley

2004, (Newcastle Speedways 75 birthday year) was disastrous on track and off.  I decided to try and help out by creating a bit of publicity in the hope that it would bring a few extra admission payers into the stadium.  I rang, wrote and e-mailed any organization I could think of.

I contacted lots of companies and our 2 local museums Discovery and Beamish, both of whom were interested in the Diamond Jubilee Idea.  It is very difficult to explain speedway to anyone who hasn't been to a match and are only vaguely interested in it from a history point of view (i.e. the museums), so I started this, "The History Site". 

With a website to back up telephoning and sending emails & letters it became clear that the two museums wanted our speedway jubilee display.  The problem I had was that the promoters were losing cash every week and were unable to put on a Jubilee meeting to focus the interest of the museums.  I thought that each museum visitor could be given a half price admission voucher for Brough Park and I still think the museum idea is a good one.  They are visited by families and that is the target of Speedway families.

During the second half of the 2004 season George English did warn that it was looking like another closing down act for Brough Park, never to re-open due to council regulations.  So I and a number of other users of the Newcastle Speedway Internet forum started posting about the threat of closure.  I suggested that we club together a few pounds each and do something to help.  Like "what" someone wrote? "Well how about road-signs", I answered, as it had long been an idea of mine to be a road sign sponsor.  After a while  I began collecting donations from the forum users, and then from others who heard about this on the grapevine.

The season ended and the promoters asked the road sign sponsors, a small band of fans like me to meet with them at the Tap n Spile in North Shields. That would be around November 2004.  We discussed the financial situation, finishing bottom of the league and plans for opening again in 2005.  The promoters wanted to continue but were in two minds whether to risk it again at Brough Park and in fact anywhere else on Tyneside.  It transpired that closing was likely but after the meeting they had decided to keep going.  Our presence helped them make their minds up to continue.

Tribute to trackman Bruce, far left standing. Everyone's friend Bruce Hiscock died later in 2005.   That's his younger brother Billy in the green jersey.  Bruce came to many DG meetings and his comments were always welcome.  We miss you big guy.

Those fans with me at the meeting all agreed to help as a body, as long as I took it on as leader.  Well being a shy lad I said I would but I didn't want to try and run a conventional supporters club as that just wasn't for me.  So, to cut this ramble down The Diamond Geezers was born, mainly me and Malcolm but others too.  We opened a bank account and set about doing things.  Mal and I appeared on local radio and I had an extended solo spot on Radio Newcastle's Blue Bus.  Malcolm and I became even busier as the main two in the Geezers but a lot of time was devoted by other members Dave Rowland, Keith Dyer and Paul Brassell.

John bringing the trailer to Brough for the first time

Paul and I bought fixed up 2 trailers.  Darryl did the rest, he made the triangular parts and they were ready for advertising the club.  One was placed near Gosforth Park and the other beside the Metrocentre.  Darryl received telephone calls asking about the speedway and he considers the trailers were a success.  I had the job of towing them around and on some shopping trips to large stores the trailer turned lots of heads. 

I think there is potential to have a better trailer or a van painted up in same way.  Over to you Newcastle Speedway Promotion.

The Geezers were out and about during the last 2 years with bikes and memorabilia on our display stalls.  Numerous new faces came to Brough as a result.  We got them there and it was up to the sport itself to make them want to come back.

On top of the type of event shown above Mal visited schools with a display.  John and Mal and others manned Corbridge Classic Bike Show and Bikewise in Durham.  Another notable show for John was at Greys Monument for the turning on of Newcastle's Xmas Lights..

Newcastle Speedway now has its 6 signs and is the only track in the UK to have Brown Tourist signs with their name on them. Thanks go to the many people who backed the Diamond Geezers with monthly subs, cash or by paying sponsorships via the abseil or football match.  The Geezers can drive past the signs and be proud of the achievement.

What else did we do?  Distributed posters and leaflets made telephone calls sent emails wrote letters. Appeared on local radio and the History Site.  The history site does encourage people to come back to Brough.  Activities of this sort are time consuming and my experience now leads me to defend the promoters when they are criticised for not doing "this or that".

The Diamond Geezers no longer exist but we would come to the aid again if closure ever threatens speedway in Newcastle.

John Skinner & Malcolm Ridley

For and on behalf of the Diamond Geezers

22nd May 2006

Update:

Although the Diamond Geezers no longer exist John Skinner has decided to keep on helping the cause.  He has been active throughout 2006 with the help of a few others, notably Scott Nettleship (appearances with his bike) out and about publicising Newcastle Speedway.