steve roberts

Wish that I had hung on to my vast collection of programmes!

Remember Tom Leadbitter also competing on the TV in those days. The days of 'Grandstand' and 'World of Sport'.

Thanks Sid and it's always a great pleasure to reminisce with you and other like minded people about years gone by!

Yes I think that you are right.

Remember Pete Jarman when he turned out for 'The Rebels' and Eastbourne towards the back end of his career. Great buddy of 'Joe' Gooddy.

Recall seeing Jimmy riding for Cradley in 1972 and Eastbourne.

Didn't Andy Smith once distribute them?

Many thanks for the report! I'll look thru' again and try and put some of those names to faces!

I recognised Ole Nygren, Mike Broadbank, Barney Kennett, Chris Morton, Bengt Jansson, Richard Greer, Dingle Brown and a few others.

Great pictures...and some riders I recognise (is that really John Davis?) but there are some vaguely familiar that I can't put names to!

Wasn't there a Bernt Muddgaard (?) or did I imagine it?

Johnnie in his book "Walkabout" quotes a story about cheetahs- ...We advertised the appearance of the fastest animals in the world to race round the West Ham track. In a trial in the morning the brutes all got loose in the stadium and the directors, fearing lawsuits and injuries to the public rebelled. We had to keep faith however and it was too late to advertise any non-appearance. The race started before a tremendous crowd of curious people. After a run of thirty yards the animals came to the end of their leather tethers and halted. An apology was felt appropriate. "Ladies and Gentleman. Tonight we advertised five cheetahs, but in reality there are six" I announced. Quick as a flash came a shout from the crowd "Yes and we know who the sixth is".

Saw both Colin Richardson and Michael Lee, when both 15, giving second half 'demonstration' match races at Cowley...also a fifteen year old Alastair Stevens.

...whose family had a connection with the Greyhound Bus franchise in the States if memory serves?

Used to enjoy the old second halves...we at Cowley used to enjoy the exploits of grass track riders giving it a go during the early seventies (Julian Wigg, Ken Matthews, Chris and Alan Drewett - amongst many)

Yes I remember stories dad used to recall that when visiting Cowley Stadium back during the late forties (stadium was built in 1939) he had to walk thru' countryside and over a smalll bridge over the old Princes Risborough - Oxford railway line. Only development near the stadium was the Cowley works. Blackbird Leys arrived in the late fifties.

I remember filling in a questionaire once at Cowley however one time Oxford Promoter, Steve Purchase, would often make himself available on the terraces mingling with fans gauging their views.

Been discussed and debated elsewhere.

Totally different scenario to what's being discussed as you well know. As you brought up the subject of the Cycling World Championships I was in Harrogate only yesterday and the area known as "The Stray" resembles the Somme Battlefield and was fenced off and the surrounding pavements badly effected. A local I spoke too said that it's envisaged that it may take two years to put it right at Tax Payers expense.

I was brought up on Blackbird Leys (and proud of it) and was a regular at the speedway at Cowley for many of those years. I well remember a resident who moved into Sandy Lane knowing full well that speedway and greyhounds took place there and continually moaned about the facility. Would write to the local paper and generally make a nuisance of themselves. I recall the late Bernard Crapper commenting on same but eventually they moved out or died (I can't recall which) much to the relief of all and sundry. The same applied to the old Manor Ground in Headington whereby locals would complain about the football...and I would imagine that scenrio is repeated all around the country with locals being more pro-active in displaying their disapproval despite knowing the situation.

...and, again, I'd be interested to know what these self-interested people do as regards entertainment and what ticks their box?

...and as I've mentioned so many times in the past Oxford's connection with both Eastbourne and Peterbrough drew tremendous dividends and it continued when the "Rebels' moved to Wood Lane.

Apparently there is news in the Oxford Mail (I'm unable to post links!) and it looks positive...compulsory purchase but still a long way to go.

I thoroughly enjoyed following the sport at Cowley for over 30 years and although I gave up visiting other tracks towards the back end of that I continually supported 'The Cheetahs' at Oxford. Great times and a chance to meet up with friends and chew the fat. The final nail, so to speak, was when I re-located. Whether I would have continued to have visited a local track is open to conjecture (the nearest to me is Sheffield) however I wouldn't have missed it for the world for all the joy and tears the sport produced during my formative years. Great memories!

Great artwork!