I first went to the Abbey Stadium in 1967 with my dad.1967 my Dad I marvelled at Ashby, Briggo, Broady, Kilby and the rest as they stormed to the to tier title. Saturday nights at the Abbey were magical and I cheered the team on for the rest of the 60s.
During the 70s my aunt took me to the Abbey. We travelled to away meetings too - my highlights being Wimbledon, Wembley - both long gone - and Oxford who were recently revived very successfully (it can be done!!) I rarely went to the Abbey during the next three decades as marriage and a young family set different priorities.
In 2012 my daughters joined me for a return to the Abbey and as if by magic the Robins won the league! I stayed loyal until that “triumphant” night in 2019 when the boys stormed to another league title. By my side that night was my aunt Grace with whom I shared so many memories of following the Robins. As we walked passed the main stand at the end of that last meeting in 2019, my aunt - now in her 80s said, ‘Well, if I never go to another meeting, I will die happy.’ Grace passed away in 2022. My brother and I wore Swindon Spreedway badges at her funeral.
Speedway was a central part of my family life. It provided an opportunity to meet friends and other family members at the Abbey. The closure of the stadium was a massive blow that ha left a huge hole my life.
SWINDON NEEDS SPEEDWAY! And so do I.
Clive Inwood
10 months ago
I am anoxford fan but would love to supprt your course but was told my debit card could not be verified. As I have not head of the other link, will not pay via a link that I have never heard of. I will have to reluctantly give it a miss
Cliff Williams
a year ago
All my family are Robins fans, and the Robins have been part of my family for 46years and I miss them n are disgusted the was it was STOLEN
Mary Churchill
2 years ago
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
2 years 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
2 years ago
Greed has taken over
steve Thorn
2 years 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
2 years 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
2 years 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
2 years 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.
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I first went to the Abbey Stadium in 1967 with my dad.1967 my Dad I marvelled at Ashby, Briggo, Broady, Kilby and the rest as they stormed to the to tier title. Saturday nights at the Abbey were magical and I cheered the team on for the rest of the 60s.
During the 70s my aunt took me to the Abbey. We travelled to away meetings too - my highlights being Wimbledon, Wembley - both long gone - and Oxford who were recently revived very successfully (it can be done!!) I rarely went to the Abbey during the next three decades as marriage and a young family set different priorities.
In 2012 my daughters joined me for a return to the Abbey and as if by magic the Robins won the league! I stayed loyal until that “triumphant” night in 2019 when the boys stormed to another league title. By my side that night was my aunt Grace with whom I shared so many memories of following the Robins. As we walked passed the main stand at the end of that last meeting in 2019, my aunt - now in her 80s said, ‘Well, if I never go to another meeting, I will die happy.’ Grace passed away in 2022. My brother and I wore Swindon Spreedway badges at her funeral.
Speedway was a central part of my family life. It provided an opportunity to meet friends and other family members at the Abbey. The closure of the stadium was a massive blow that ha left a huge hole my life.
SWINDON NEEDS SPEEDWAY! And so do I.
I am anoxford fan but would love to supprt your course but was told my debit card could not be verified. As I have not head of the other link, will not pay via a link that I have never heard of. I will have to reluctantly give it a miss
All my family are Robins fans, and the Robins have been part of my family for 46years and I miss them n are disgusted the was it was STOLEN
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.