norbold

Yes, it was a great day, r and r and good to meet you again. Also Brian Leonard amongst many other former Hammers (and one Bomber!) I had a particularly interesting chat with Norman Hunter. Good weather as well - unlike most Tuesdays down Custom House as I seem to remember!

As well as the 'Ammers t-shirt mentioned in the op and all my old programmes from 1960 onwards, I still have my orange and black New Cross scarf as well as some draw tickets from the good old days when Ernie Hancock was secretary of the New Cross Supporters' Club. I donated my New Cross badge to The British Museum as I knew someone who worked there at the time!

Funny you should say that, because on one occasion I was standing looking over the edge of the upper tier with my friend, John, when a few kids came along and kicked some litter (may have been peanut shells amongst it) over the edge and scarpered sharpish. The people below looked up and swore at us because they thought it was us! So maybe you have sworn at me in a previous life, E.I.........

Ah, yes. Good thinking. Amendment to my previous post: If anyone sees an old duffer in a faded West Ham t-shirt, that is at least three sizes too small for him, please come up and say hello!

I've just found my old Hammers t-shirt. It's a bit faded, but what do you expect after 60 years!? So if anyone sees an old duffer in a faded West Ham t-shirt, please come up and say hello!

Cripes! I think mine cost £10.

Yes, it's a great book. I managed to buy it about 20 years ago.

Or maybe who had him for breakfast……

Exactly. I said as soon as it was announced, "So Ipswich don't want to win then."

They also need to make them less tedious. Waiting while adverts and interviews play out at home is so so boring in the stadium.

Ron Johnson rode the following week, on 3rd September, in the Edinburgh round of the Provincial Riders' Championship. He scored three points from five rides, but those three points were a win in his fourth ride against Jimmy Gleed, Jimmy Cox and Dave Dodd. He then fell in his last ride. On 14 May 1963 he rode a series of three match races against Phil Bishop in the second half at New Cross. Johnson won 2-1. I think those were his last official rides.

Why would there be an S before the DAYS?

Leicester?

Absolutely BOBBATH. A very sad end for one of the all-time greats. The only upside was that it meant I actually got to see my team, New Cross's all-time hero ride - a rider who had started riding speedway in Australia before the sport even came to England.

Oh, it was a hot dog. I often wondered what it was.

So did I. I don't remember seeing you there!

Yes, it was in 1930, Crystal Palace v. Hall Green. He described what happened, “In the middle of a match race with Huxley [in the second half], the breather on my crankcase worked loose. I put my left hand down to feel if the oil was coming out. Instead the primary chain whipped off the tops of two fingers. On talking the glove off there were the tops inside! The blood was pumping out, but grabbing my left wrist with the other hand I stopped the flow by pressure and walked across to the ambulance tent, which at the Palace, was situated in the middle of the grass centre. I was soon fixed up.”

Having avoided the result, I turned on the highlights on Eurosport at 6:00. It started at heat 18!

That's a quote from my book which Wikipedia acknowledges.

Also my memory (I was there) and my programme!

No he didn't. He didn't ride in New Cross's last meeting.

I'm just wondering why there aren't any threads about New Cross on here. I think it's about time someone started one.

I did.

Me too, but I was only 15! (My 16th birthday was two weeks later.)

I believe Wembley lost five league matches in 1947, to Wimbledon at home and to Belle Vue, Odsal, West Ham (!) and Wimbledon away.