norbold

Ove Fundin, Olle Nygren and Gote Nordin. Next. Correct Touche!

Name the three Swedes who rode for Norwich in 1962

Did you see the photograph of our old friend 'Crusty' Pye in last week's Speedway Star. He was on the right of the post-war Middlesborough team line up. Good to see he's been recognised at last.

Graham Banks Next

Not quite. We haven't discussed the merits of Eric Collins yet - rode for Wimbledon before the War. Was he as good as Neil? Or maybe Les?

Wouldn't exactly stick my life on him being the best ever Norbold. But the Peter Collins of the mid-70s was definitely up there - he was magic. Yep, I'll go along with that.

Don't know I'd go as far as most talented rider in the world ever, but certainly in the Collins family.

Have you been converted at last then, Jim...er...Dick?

In that case, I feel sorry for all the youngsters who never had a chance to see our Sverre in full flight. He was always worth the price of admission at Custom House on his own. Isn't that right CHK?

Erik Gundersen?

The final score was indeed Manchester United 1 Ipswich 2

Sverre Harrfeldt, Christer Lofqvist, Peter Collins, Ove Fundin, Aub Lawson (just makes it as he rode in 1960!), Boris Samorodov, John Cook, Michael Lee, Barry Thomas, Chris Julian.

That's going to take a little more digging CC, but we'll come up with it sooner or later! I blame Peter Oakes for writing his history of the British League too early....

1983: Craig Featherby: 31 152 313 16 329 8.658 1 1 2 Keith White: 36 193 395 18 413 8.560 2 0 2 Steve Payne: 13 63 120 14 134 8.508 0 1 1 Charlie McKinna: 33 176 303 42 345 7.841 Craig Pendlebury: 5 26 33 11 44 6.769 Chris Pidcock: 30 128 167 28 195 6.094 Paul Clarke: 36 175 212.5 31 243.5 5.566 Dennis Mallett: 23 114 115 28 143 5.018 Peter Framingham: 10 34 36.5 6 42.5 5.000 Greg Williamson: 3 6 4 2 6 4.00 Steve Mildoon: 9 23 12 4 16 2.783 Graham Plant: 3 9 4 2 6 2.667 Robert Wall: 9 27 12 4 16 2.370 Chris Hunt: 1 4 0 0 0 0.000

1982: Keith White: 36 181 343 23 366 8.088 3 1 4 Andy Hibbs: 11 51 94 8 102 8.000 Craig Featherby: 35 166 281 20 301 7.253 1 0 1 Nigel Sparshott: 37 203 327 30 357 7.034 Brett Alderton: 2 11 17 1 18 6.545 Steve Payne: 35 178 239 41 280 6.292 1 0 1 Tony Featherstone: 35 172 211 30 241 5.605 Paul Clarke: 24 102 88 16 104 4.078 Kevin Lock: 1 1 1 0 1 4.000 Mark Reeve: 7 23 20 1 21 3.652 Mark Baldwin: 16 62 46 9 55 3.548 Nigel Garrad: 1 3 2 0 2 2.667 Tony Abson: 6 20 7 2 9 1.800 Mike Hintz: 2 7 2 1 3 1.714 Kevin Young: 1 5 2 0 2 1.600 Chris Hunt: 2 6 2 0 2 1.333 Adrian Squirrell: 1 4 1 0 1 1.000 Chris Cole: 5 11 1 1 2 0.727 Rob Price: 1 4 0 0 0 0.000 Dave Gentry 1 1 0 0 0 0.000 Glen Ratcliffe: 1 1 0 0 0 0.000 Robert Watt: 1 1 0 0 0 0.000 I wish they'd used a few less riders! More to come...

As I have said on another thread, Stan Stevens was my hero at West Ham and now a good mate with whom to share happy speedway memories. As for VSM, I have subscribed for a number of years now and I do like the new look with the mix of old and not so old material. It is well produced. It has a team of excellent writers (with the exception of the turgid Bob Radford of course). It is so good to see Dave Lanning, Eric Linden and others still in full flow. Keep up the good work, tmc; I'm sorry I misserd you at the film evening. Hopefully we can catrch up at High Beech in February.

You didn't manage it last time! Ah! But don't forget there was unfortunately row 13 between the two groups so I couldn't quite reach to bash anyone who was misbehaving. Now Fd has got the two rows together I will be ready and waiting. I forgot all about Row 13. Now they were a noisy lot...

You didn't manage it last time!

Ditto

That's a coincidence, Norbold, that description could apply to the person who was sitting to my left It's almost as if we were sitting next to each other, Addy...

The person to my right was wonderful. Sane, sensible, witty, good conversation. Couldn't have asked for anyone better. The person to my left was - shall we say - a little excitable at times, especially when he felt the ref had made a wrong decision!

Yes, the Evening Standard also mentioned the site had once been a 'greyhound stadium'..... :-(

News in the Evening Standard tonight that Hackney Stadium is to become the site for a multi sports complex hosting handball, basketball, volleyball and paralympic events at the 2012 Olympic Games (assuming London wins the bid). The new 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium will be sited off Marshgate Lane in Stratford

Definitely two for me please, Fd.

Stan's a mate of mine. Lives fairly near me in Witham. He was a cycle speedway star in the mid 50s; rode for England. He started speedway at Rye House and was their discovery of the year in 1959. He stayed with Rye House for a couple of seasons, doubling up in the Provincial League for Rayleigh as part of their all-conquering title winning side in 1960. He moved on to New Cross in 1963 and then had several seasons with West Ham and was in and out the team throughout their revival period - 1964 - 1972. I think he was the only 'Hammer' also to ride as a 'Bomber'! As a West Ham supporter, Stan was my favourite rider. He was never a great star but was always a never-give-up trier. The sort of second string any team needs if they are to challenge for honours. I met him again in 2000 when I was doing research for my East Anglia book. He has always been very helpful and is happy to spend hours discussing the old days, other riders, Lokeren, the sport in general etc. etc. It just so happens there is an action photograph of him in West Ham colours on page 163 of Speedway in London.