Newcastle 1978 The Re-opening
Following a break of 8 years since cycle speedway was staged in Newcastle in 1970, former riders, Alan (Ashie) Patterson, Micky Hoult and Tony Forster decided the time was right to have another go. The track at Eastfield Park was still there, and with a bit of work rideable again. Although it was late in the year, challenge matches were arranged with Edinburgh and Hull, and so began an unbroken spell of 14 years in which Newcastle became one of the top teams in the North of England. Tapes went up on  when the newly christened "Tynesiders" took on a strong Edinburgh Select team. Terry Kirkup and Colin Grant were wakened from their 8 year slumber and found out they could now score 4 points for a win and 1 for last. The Newcastle team put up a fine performance and were in touch with their fitter opponents up to the final race, eventually going down 84-95. Scorers from this historic meeting were :-
7th October 1978, Newcastle Tynesiders 84 v Edinburgh Select 95
Newcastle Tynesiders  84   Terry Kirkup 10+2, Fred Mitchell 12, Micky Hoult 10+2, Dave Armstrong 14+1, Rob Gittus 15+2,Ashie Patterson 12+1 all from 5 rides, Colin Grant 6+1 Dave Baxter 5+2 from 3 rides.
Edinburgh Select 95    D Sharp 15+2, J Wallis 12+1, J Murphy 14, D Muir 13+1, J Pinkerton 20, B Murphy 10 all from 5, A Rendall 8+1, T Steldon 3 from 3.
Results from 1978: -
07/10/78	Newcastle		84	Edinburgh Select		95
15/10/78	Newcastle		72	Anlaby Aces Hull		106
22/10/78	Anlaby Aces		116	Newcastle		63
22/10/78	Tranby Diamonds (Hull)  "B"		75	Newcastle		53
29/10/78	Edinburgh Select		101	Newcastle		74
29/10/78	Edinburgh "B"		109	Newcastle "B"		68
	05/11/78: Newcastle Riders Championships
	Seniors
1st.	T Kirkup (Sen Champ)	19 after run-off
2nd	M Hoult	19
3rd	A Patterson	18
	Juniors
1st.	R Archer (Jnr Champ)	19
2nd	A McIntyre	17
3rd	D Mitchell	16