Old Saint

It is wonderful to know that Southampton Speedway lives on in so many ways and has given so much to speedway.

I am sad to hear the news but at least Alby's name will live on amongst speedway fans everywhere.

LotM: Please pass on my thanks and very best wishes to your father. David: I am saddened by your news. Let us all hope that Alby makes a full recovery. It is wonderful to share memories with you all and to know that the passage of time has not "gilded the lily" and that my fond memories of the Saints and the Stadium are accurate. Recently I was told that I am to be a grandfather for the first time. I shall, God willing, pass on my memories to a new generation. In this way the name of Southampton Speedway and the great, and brave, riders who made up the team over the years may live on. Regards to all Malcolm

Very hard question to answer, but the best I have seen are: 1) Peter Craven 2) Ove Fundin 3) Barry Briggs 4) Bjorn Knutsson 5) Ronnie Moore 6) Ivan Mauger 7) Tony Rickardsson These are not in any particular order

peatbog, I remember Jimmy Squibb riding and that was in the Fifties I often heard my father talk about the other riders you mention. It seems that once the Saints and Banister Court got into your blood, you were hooked for ever. Do any of you remember the "war chant"? How about when Briggo joined and wore a black and white jersey. Someone decided he should have a red and white instead and knitted him one. Briggo's luck seemed to change for the worst when he started to wear the new jersey and, if I remember correctly, he publicly burnt it. Whenever I hear the "March of the Gladiators" memories of The Stadium come rushing back. We used to sit in the County Stand (could not afford the Grandstand) and I recall peeking under the seats to get a view of the County Cricket . David, I would be interested to hear what you have. Best wishes to all, Malcolm

Thank you David for your post and the news. The more I hear about the years after the closure of Southampton, the more amazed I am at how much the Saints influenced speedway. Dick Bradley, Alby Golden and Peter Vandenburg at Newport, Bjorn Knutsson at West Ham, Briggo at, I believe, Swindon. One thing I always remember about the team was that they were all racers and very exciting to watch too. It is lovely to know that so many people, even today, hold the team and its individual riders in such high esteem. I think I am possibly even more proud today to say that I supported the Saints than I was as a young fan (If that is possible.) Unless age and time have affected my mind, all the riders were gentlemen who always made time for the fans and, as a bonus, lived or came from the Southampton area. This latter point made them seem a real part of the community. The news about Alby Golden and Brian Crutcher is sad but I hope that by starting this thread, they will have some idea of the affection they and all the other Saints still have amongst those lucky enough to see them ride. On a personal note, I would like to thank all those who have been kind enough to take the time and trouble to post replies.

Thank you for the welcome, Lady of the Manor Dick Bradley was my mother's favourite If I remember correctly she had his autograph and various photos I am sure that I can come up with lots of questions, but I would be interested to hear what he remembers of Ernie Rawlins. Please pass on my very best wishes to him and thank him for the tremendous amount of pleasure and excitement he gave to a young Sotonian and his parents

As I now live Essex, I would be unable to attend Southampton Speedway very often if it reopened but, rest assured, I would make every effort to get there as often as possible. Southampton had a superb team and I remember the meetings with Norwich Many of the team lived locally, in fact I believe that one of the team lived in the same road as I did. Cannot be sure of that last comment because it was a very long time ago It is sad that so many teams have been lost over the years for many different reasons. When I read some of the comments criticising present day teams, I sometimes wonder what the fans of those teams would do if they were in the same position of no longer having a team to support. Although my local track is Arena, I still regard myself as a Saints fan.

Thank you, norbold. I remember Bert # Name Removed # as the Saints manager.

Thank you I have the book entitled "Images of Sport - Southampton Speedway" and shall try to get a copy of the one you mention.

May I ask why restrict the advertising to Sky? Why not advertise meetings more widely on ITV and in local newspapers? Speedway is an exciting sport but needs to promote itself more widely.

I attended my first speedway meeting nearly 55 years ago at the old Banister Court track in Southampton. Apart from a few Wembley finals, I stopped attending speedway when Southampton closed in 1963. A couple of years ago, I took my son to a meeting at Arena and I started to get the bug back. He, I am pleased to say was instantly bitten My son suggested that we go to the GP in Cardiff back in 2001 and the bug really took hold after that meeting. Sadly, I now realise that many of the things that my parents and I had connected with Southampton have been lost over the years. My father used to tell me of the leg trailers and stories of Jack Parker, Lionel van Praag, and many others. At my advanced stage in life, memories are precious and I would be grateful if anyone who remembers the days of the Saints, or attended Banister Court, would help me regain some of these. I can remember such things as the crash that killed my favourite rider, Ernie Rawlins, donkey derbies, Bjorn Knutsson and Briggo blasting off 25 yard handicaps, Dick Bradley, Split Waterman, Chum Taylor, and many other riders.