Screen joins Poole

Richard Frost

December 16, 2008

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BELLE Vue veteran Joe Screen - who was "devastated" when the club told him he wasn't in their plans for 2009 - has joined Elite League champions Poole.

Warrington-based Screen, who began his career with the One51 Aces straight from school in 1989, had three spells with the club and was keen to end his career at Kirkmanshulme Lane after another two or three seasons.

Screen, club captain for most of last season, was axed when team-building plans meant his 6.03 average couldn't be accommodated within the 39.90 limit.

He said: "I was devasted when Belle Vue told me I was no longer in their plans. I've been around the sport for long enough to understand that these things happen because of the points limits.

"But I'd been hoping the Aces were going to be able to fit me in again.

"I started my career in the top division with Belle Vue and that's how I wanted to finish it."

Screen, the World Under-21 champion in 1993 and a double British champion, added: "I waited to see if anything happened and then Poole offered me a deal. I am very excited about joining a winning team."

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Ian Whittle, Milnrow, Rochdale (16/12/2008 at 13:33)

Loyalty in speedway, as in most walks of life nowadays is afast disappearing discipline. OK Joe had some bad meetings last season, but when riding injury free and on reliable machinery was always good for decent points, and always tried his best for the Aces. We all appreciate the need for success and a "winning team" but it becomes hard for the fans to associate with the team (which is much more of an individual based team sport than probably any other), when changes occur so frequently and with the blame purely put on the points limit.It's a pity Joe didn't have a slightly worse average last season, say 5.75 (which would be on the 39.9 team limit for the coming season), which would have meant he would still be in the Aces line up for 2009. -- I wonder?

Up the Aces (17/12/2008 at 10:38)

Loyalty is a two way street. I'm sure Joe understands that the promoters had to do the right thing by the club with the team they have built for 2009, just as Joe had to do the right thing for himself when he deserted the club in 1994.

I'm a big fan of Screeny, but I can't argue that the promoters have built the right team for 2009.

We needed a new No.1 - we got Kasprzak. We wanted the young upcoming riders Hougaard, Forsberg and Boxall. We need Gjedde's home points scoring.

If Joe's average was 5.75 (which is all we have left) I would definitely want him in the final place in the side. But he's 6.03 and we can't afford to kick out an upcoming youngster just to accommodate him.

Glad to see him fixed up at Poole and look forward to seeing him when Poole visit.

Roger Turning the Holme Valley Blue (17/12/2008 at 12:26)

Sad to see Joe go. But in the main Speedway is about putting a team together with the riders who can improve their average. It's not everything, but it's a large part of a recipe for success. Screen was unlikely to improve at this stage of his career.
Belle Vue have signed up five riders who you could realistically see doing just that though.

If the right man is brought in for the last position we could be on to something. Indeed I was talking to a Speedway fan at Hull the other day and when talking of Belle Vue, his immediate reaction was that we'd be Champions, with only Arena looking close.

Strange choice for Joe though, going to a track he has often stated that he doesn't get on with. I wish him luck all the same (except against us). The best exponent of passing at Kirky Lane in the twenty years since we moved back there. Few master it, Joe made it look easy.

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