speedyguy Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 The league ran in 1938 but fixtures were never completed. Eastbourne won the most matches so were 'declared' as champions. Other teams in the league were Rye House, Dagenham, Romford and Smallford. Reserach is underway on http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway where basic teams for Eastbourne and Rye House and a few known results are given. Any more help in regard to the league, complete teams, and points scorers would be appreciated at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclone Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 The league ran in 1938 but fixtures were never completed. Eastbourne won the most matches so were 'declared' as champions. Other teams in the league were Rye House, Dagenham, Romford and Smallford. Reserach is underway on http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway where basic teams for Eastbourne and Rye House and a few known results are given. Any more help in regard to the league, complete teams, and points scorers would be appreciated at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway Were High Beech not also involved ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 Were High Beech not also involved ? High Beech were invited to take part but declined at the last moment. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 The league ran in 1938 but fixtures were never completed. Eastbourne won the most matches so were 'declared' as champions. Other teams in the league were Rye House, Dagenham, Romford and Smallford. Both Dagenham & Romford rode out of the Dagenham track...: which stood a stone's throw from where I know live on Ripple Road... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 Both Dagenham & Romford rode out of the Dagenham track...: which stood a stone's throw from where I know live on Ripple Road... Thanks. Do you have the team squads for either side please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 Thanks. Do you have the team squads for either side please? Homes of British Speedway mentions that 2 riders were killed during training sessions that season at dagenham.Harry Rogers and David Jackson.Presumably home riders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 Homes of British Speedway mentions that 2 riders were killed during training sessions that season at dagenham.Harry Rogers and David Jackson.Presumably home riders? I have been told that Frank Hodgson was Dagenham's captain and that Alvin 'Spike' Rhiando could also have been in the Daggers team squad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Thanks. Do you have the team squads for either side please? Bloomin' 'eck..: sorry, no...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 The full results of the league (after extensive research at the Newspaper Library, Colindale) are as follows: Dagenham 39 Eastbourne 44 Dagenham 39 Easbourne 43 Dagenham 44 Romford 39 Dagenham 56 Romford 26 Dagenham 26 Rye House 56 Dagenham 49 Smallford 33 Eastbourne 57 Dagenham 27 Eastbourne 44 Dagenham 39 Eastbourne 53 Romford 23 Eastbourne 56 Rye House 27 Eastbourne 46 Rye House 34 Eastbourne 55 Smallford 28 Eastbourne 51 Smallford 32 Romford 40 Dagenham 43 Romford 46 Eastbourne 33 Romford 26 Rye House 56 Romford 40 Smallford 42 Rye House 29 Eastbourne 52 Rye House 44 Smallford 39 Smallford 55 Eastbourne 27 Smallford 51 Rye House 33 The rest of the matches were not run and the league was never completed. Dagenham's leading riders in the league were Frank Hodgson (captain), Jim Baylais, Crusty Pye and Nobby Stock. Jack Tidbury was Romford' star rider. The Smallford team was Doug Wells (captain), Archie Windmill, Ken Tidbury, Percy Brine, Dick Geary, Charlie Appleby, Steve Bullivant, Harry Bower, Bob Wells and Cyril Brine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Dagenham 56 Romford 26 Romford 40 Dagenham 43 What I would give now for Speedway matches between teams from these two towns... I notice Dagenham never took on Rye House away. Perhaps it was always cloudy first thing in the morning... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 The full results of the league (after extensive research at the Newspaper Library, Colindale) are as follows: Dagenham 39 Eastbourne 44 Dagenham 39 Easbourne 43 Dagenham 44 Romford 39 Dagenham 56 Romford 26 Dagenham 26 Rye House 56 Dagenham 49 Smallford 33 Eastbourne 57 Dagenham 27 Eastbourne 44 Dagenham 39 Eastbourne 53 Romford 23 Eastbourne 56 Rye House 27 Eastbourne 46 Rye House 34 Eastbourne 55 Smallford 28 Eastbourne 51 Smallford 32 Romford 40 Dagenham 43 Romford 46 Eastbourne 33 Romford 26 Rye House 56 Romford 40 Smallford 42 Rye House 29 Eastbourne 52 Rye House 44 Smallford 39 Smallford 55 Eastbourne 27 Smallford 51 Rye House 33 The rest of the matches were not run and the league was never completed. Dagenham's leading riders in the league were Frank Hodgson (captain), Jim Baylais, Crusty Pye and Nobby Stock. Jack Tidbury was Romford' star rider. The Smallford team was Doug Wells (captain), Archie Windmill, Ken Tidbury, Percy Brine, Dick Geary, Charlie Appleby, Steve Bullivant, Harry Bower, Bob Wells and Cyril Brine. Many thanks for this. Great stuff on a near forgotten era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 What I would give now for Speedway matches between teams from these two towns... I notice Dagenham never took on Rye House away. Perhaps it was always cloudy first thing in the morning... Rye House entered the league late in the season and Dagenham/Romford withdrew when Dagenham shut down for a while towards the end of the season. Dagenham's closure was the main reason the league was never completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Did Roy Duke ride in this league for Dagenham - I believe he was the track record holder, can anyone confirm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 I'm not sure if he rode in the league in 1938. In 1936 however, Arthur Warwick set up a training school at Dagenham and instituted a Silver Cup for the best novice of the season. This was raced for every week with points being accumulated each week. Roy Duke came second to Frank Hodgson in this. In 1939, the Speedway News published a list of riders who had been "discovered" at Dagenham. He does not feature on that list, which was: Frank Hodgson, Doug Wells, Jim Baylais, Nobby Stock, Malcolm Craven, Alan Smith, Eric French, Dick Harris, Crusty Pye, Dick Geary, Aussie Powell, Ernie Pawson, Fred Tuck, Jim Boyd, Alf Kain, Benny King, Alex Gray and George Craig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 In 1939, the Speedway News published a list of riders who had been "discovered" at Dagenham. He does not feature on that list, which was: Frank Hodgson, Doug Wells, Jim Baylais, Nobby Stock, Malcolm Craven, Alan Smith, Eric French, Dick Harris, Crusty Pye, Dick Geary, Aussie Powell, Ernie Pawson, Fred Tuck, Jim Boyd, Alf Kain, Benny King, Alex Gray and George Craig. I wonder if that is Alf Kaines who went on to ride for Southampton post-war. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 (edited) I'm not sure if he rode in the league in 1938. In 1936 however, Arthur Warwick set up a training school at Dagenham and instituted a Silver Cup for the best novice of the season. This was raced for every week with points being accumulated each week. Roy Duke came second to Frank Hodgson in this. In 1939, the Speedway News published a list of riders who had been "discovered" at Dagenham. He does not feature on that list, which was: Frank Hodgson, Doug Wells, Jim Baylais, Nobby Stock, Malcolm Craven, Alan Smith, Eric French, Dick Harris, Crusty Pye, Dick Geary, Aussie Powell, Ernie Pawson, Fred Tuck, Jim Boyd, Alf Kain, Benny King, Alex Gray and George Craig. Roy Duke as he had the honour of winning the first ever race at Dagenham and the first meeting at Cowley, but he rode for the Dagenham team in 1936. As he was known as the 'The Duke of Dagenham' at one time I'm surprised he wasn't included in that list, and neither is Charlie Challis. Edited July 11, 2009 by miro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 (edited) I wonder if that is Alf Kaines who went on to ride for Southampton post-war. I think it probably is because the article does mention that he is "now at Southampton" Roy Duke as he had the honour of winning the first ever race at Dagenham and the first meeting at Cowley, but he rode for the Dagenham team in 1936. As he was known as the 'The Duke of Dagenham' at one time I'm surprised he wasn't included in that list, and neither is Charlie Challis. Yes, it does seem a bit surprising he was left out, especially as he did come second in the 1936 Silver Cup. I believe he was the only ever-present in Yarmouth's team in 1948 as well. Yes, and Challis too. I'm not sure if he rode for Dagenham in 1938. He certainly rode for them in 1936 (in friendlies). Edited July 11, 2009 by norbold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Homes of British Speedway mentions that 2 riders were killed during training sessions that season at dagenham.Harry Rogers and David Jackson.Presumably home riders? Harry Rogers, who was indeed a local youngster, died on 19 May during a special evening meeting (Dagenham normally raced in the afternoon). I think it unlikely he would actually have been in the Dagnenham team. At the time he died the Daggers had only ridden two league matches. I don't know about David Jackson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 I think it probably is because the article does mention that he is "now at Southampton" Yes, it does seem a bit surprising he was left out, especially as he did come second in the 1936 Silver Cup. I believe he was the only ever-present in Yarmouth's team in 1948 as well. Yes, and Challis too. I'm not sure if he rode for Dagenham in 1938. He certainly rode for them in 1936 (in friendlies). Duke rode post war for Norwich then Yarmouth in 1948, transferring to Leicester and retiring in April 1949 after injury. Any information on Danny Lee, riding in the late 1930s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 (edited) I recall Danny Lee was at West Ham in the late 30s and I think he rode for Hammers Reserve team during this time and filled in for Max Grosskreutz's "Norwich Select" against the Hammers in one second-half match at Custom House. This was a match arranged between Max and his pal Bluey Wilkinson. The 9-heat match was on 24/9/37 and resulted West Ham 17 Norwich 37. Bert Spencer & Wal Morton 9 maximums, Dick Wise 7, Wilf Jay 5, Reggie Hay 4 and Danny Lee 3 were the Stars scorers. Jock Sweet & Bill Birtwell were non-starters and replaced by Reggie Hay & Danny Lee from my info. Roy Duke suffered a serious back injury whilst with Norwich in 1947 and he was subsequently replaced in the Stars line-up by Ivor "Aussie" Powell who was signed from West Ham. Roy suffered this injury in a Challenge match v West Ham Alan Smith was found & trained by Max at the Firs as a member of the Norwich Stars whilst Malcolm Craven was told by Max "you will not make a speedway rider" if reports could be believed, he went on to join Wembley & Birmingham after those early rides at the Firs. Max, for once, was to be proved wrong, but it was maybe the only time he was. Charlie Challis was with Crystal Palace & Birmingham pre-war. In 1946 he was with Norwich for a while, then joined Plymouth Devils in the new Third Division with Len Read and also rode in open meetings for the then new Leicester track. Edited July 11, 2009 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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