Heartbreak for Cheetahs fans

7:21pm Wednesday 2nd April 2008

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SPEEDWAY: Oxford Cheetahs supporters have expressed their utter dismay at the closure of their speedway club.

With the action under way for another campaign across the country, this year should have been one of jubilation, with Cheetahs celebrating their 60th successive season.

But last December, talks broke down between promoter Allen Trump and stadium landlords, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA).

In several recent seasons, the Cheetahs have been saved at the last minute.

But this time, there was no reprieve and fans are now praying for the sport's return to Sandy Lane in 2009.

Ray Bates, from Rose Hill, has been watching Oxford Speedway for 40 years.

He said: "I don't follow other sports - just speedway.

"I courted my wife up the stadium, my kids were brought up with it and my grandchildren Jake and Ben have got mini-bikes.

"We've had riders stay with us before, and it will leave a big gap in our lives."

Speedway has long been proud of its family atmosphere, with no segregation between rival supporters.

Elissa Coombs, from Littlemore, feels for the younger supporters.

"My daughter Lauren is seven, and has just reached the age where she's starting to understand it a bit more," she said.

"If Oxford doesn't come back, she will have missed her time watching the sport. My nephew Delwi is five, and he stands there absolutely glued to it.

"Whole families go to speedway," she said.

"My parents have been going since they were young, I've been going since I was born and it's been the same with my daughter."

Those with experience behind the scenes are also dismayed at the closure.

John Payne and Bernard Crapper were two local men who loved their speedway so much that they ended up being installed as promoters of the club by previous stadium landlords Northern Sports.

Payne, who now runs the Plough Inn in Wheatley, said: "I'm gutted. Bernard and myself put in so much time and effort over the years, but now the speedway is gone.

"1964 was my first season as a fan, I started to get involved on the management side during the 70s, and remained as co-promoter until 1995.

"I've got a pub full of speedway fanatics, who are now trying to work out what they're going to do on a Friday evening."

Save Our Speedway spokesman Chris Brown has assured fans that measures are still being taken to help aid the return of the speedway.

He said: "We haven't given up. The local council are assisting behind the scenes, and we still hope to return in 2009."