chunky

Yep, Rob Lightfoot was another than sprang to mind. More great choices. Steve

...and while we're on the subject, what about Paul Whittaker? Steve

See, already we've had some interesting replies... Arne Pander is a definite, although I'm not sure that injury really affected Sverre's career that much before he had really passed his peak. He was still a great rider, but I think that any real potential had gone. I was at West Ham when he broke his arm, and he never really recovered from that. I was also at Wembley when Toby broke his leg. The thing is, did he ever really make a go of it after that? I considered that as one of those possibly career-ending injuries. It did take Norman a long time to recover, and it's true, he was going great guns in 1969, and never really recaptured that form. Excellent choices, Bobbath. Steve

Seeing the thread on Wayne Briggs prompted me to start this. Who do you think could have gone on to much greater things had it not been for injury. I'm not talking about career-ending tragedies, more along the lines of unlucky riders who often suffered niggling little injuries, enough hurt one's confidence, or maybe a broken limb or two at the wrong time, from which they didn't really seem to recover. Wayne Briggs is a prime example, particularly with regard to his wrist injuries. Another would be Ronnie Genz. Although his injuries were often a little more serious, he still bounced back reasonably well. However, what would he have achieved had he stayed relatively injury free? Even though he went on to enjoy some very successful international results toward the end of his career, I often wonder how good Toni Kasper might have been without that broken leg? Even Kevin Jolly, I feel, was never quite the rider he was before breaking his leg. What do you think??? Steve

And many of those photos (including the one of Wayne) are mine! I think I also have one of him in Wembley colours. Steve

Absolutely correct. He scored 5 points, plus a fall and two EF's... Thanks, Steve

Don't ask me - you're the expert! Still, I'm noticing that you're something of a nocturnal creature, 'cos it's only 10pm here. Challenges obviously don't count, but "Training League"??? To be honest, it doesn't really sound like a legitimate and competitive league. Well, when we met, I was actually on my way out of the PDC, basically because of a change in the Ranking System. I'm back with the BDO/WDF again, and in fact, I came over last November to play in the World Masters and World Championship qualifier up in Bridlington. I came very close to qualifying for the World Championship, and I'm only one step away from Bridlington again this year. Hopefully, unlike last year (they changed the dates), it will be held during the speedway season! My wife has only ever seen speedway over here, so it would be nice if we could take in something in the UK. Steve

That's certainly what Barry says in his autobiography. Steve

I did wonder if I should add the clause that an "appearance" should be at least one completed race in an evening, but I never even thought of Efkins. Hey, are we really that cynical? Last time I saw him ("riding" for us) he did make it to the first bend in front, before packing up by the time he reached the back straight - several times. Anyway, so you reckon that Weymouth weren't an "official" team when he rode for them, but Iwade was? Obviously, I have been a little out of touch over the last 16 years, so I'm relying on everyone else here. Steve PS I know who you are... All this time, and I didn't have a clue...

Good call. Steve

Thanks for the info. I was surprised at some of the names involved! Steve

So, here is the latest chart. I'm still including those riders with eight or more teams, knowing that there may well be one or two missing. Steve 18 - ALAN MOGRIDGE (Arena Essex, Berwick, Bradford, Canterbury, Crayford, Eastbourne, Hackney, Ipswich, London, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Rye House, Sheffield, Stoke, Swindon, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 16 - JUSTIN ELKINS (Arena Essex, Eastbourne, Eastbourne Starlets, Edinburgh, Exeter, Hull, Isle of Wight, Long Eaton, Poole, Reading, Rye House, Stoke, Stoke Spitfires, Weymouth, Wimbledon, Workington) 16 - WAL MORTON (Bradford (Greenfield), Bradford (Odsal), Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow WC, Hackney, Harringay, Ipswich, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Norwich, West Ham, West Ham Res, Weymouth, Wimbledon) 16 - TONY FEATHERSTONE (Boston, Bradford, Crayford, Exeter, Hackney, King's Lynn, King's Lynn II, Leicester, Long Eaton, Milton Keynes, Newport, Peterborough, Poole, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Wolves) 15 - JAMES BIRKINSHAW (Belle Vue Colts, Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Buxton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Linlithgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Sheffield Prowlers, St. Austell, Stoke, Wolves 2nd, Workington) 15 - MARK BURROWS (Belle Vue, Buxton, Cleveland (Boro II), Cleveland (Redcar II), Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke, Stoke Spitfires, Wimbledon) 15 - GEORGE MAJOR(Aldershot, Belle Vue, Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, Neath, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford, Sheffield, St. Austell, Wolves, Yarmouth) 14 - STAN STEVENS (Barrow, Chesterton, Cradley, Exeter, King's Lynn, Mildenhall, New Cross, Oxford, Rayleigh, Romford, Rye House, Southampton, Rayleigh, West Ham) 13 - NEIL COLLINS (Belle Vue, Ellesmere Port, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leicester, Newport, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke, Swindon, Wolves, Workington) 12 - DAVID BLACKBURN (Belle Vue, Berwick, Boston, Glasgow, Leicester, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Reading, Sheffield, Workington) 12 - ERIC HOCKADAY (Aldershot, California, Coventry, Cradley, Exeter, Leicester, Oxford, Rayleigh, Rye House, Sheffield, Southern Rovers, Stoke) 12 - CHRIS JULIAN (Bristol, Cradley, Exeter, Glasgow, Glasgow WC, Mildenhall, Neath, Newport, Plymouth, Southampton, St. Austell, Weymouth) 12 - DES LUKEHURST (Eastbourne, Exeter, Exeter 'B', Hackney, Long Eaton, Newport, Oxford, Romford, Swindon, Wembley, West Ham, Wolves) 12 - GEOFF PENNIKET (Cradley, Eastbourne, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, New Cross, Newpool, Newport, Plymouth, Poole, Rayleigh, Romford, Workington) 12 - NIGEL SPARSHOTT (Birmingham, Crayford, Exeter, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Poole, Rye House, Swindon, Wimbledon) 12 - KEN VALE (Aldershot, Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, King's Lynn II, Long Eaton, Neath, Newport, Oxford, Weymouth, Workington) 11 - DANNY DUNTON (Birmingham, Belle Vue, Belle Vue Res, Harringay, Ipswich, Long Eaton, Norwich, Oxford, Swindon, Weymouth, Yarmouth) 11 - REIDAR EIDE (Coatbridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Poole, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Wembley, Wolves) 11 - TOMMY SWEETMAN (Aldershot, California, Exeter, Hackney, New Cross, Norwich II, Rayleigh Rovers, Rye House, Southern Rovers, Swindon Res, Wolves) 11 - ROB WOFFINDEN (Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Edinburgh, Halifax, Milton Keynes, Middlesbrough, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke) 10 - JIMMY SQUIBB (Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, Harringay, Ipswich, New Cross, Plymouth, Poole, Southampton) 10 - DEREK TIMMS (Aldershot, Cradley, Crayford, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, New Cross, Plymouth, St. Austell, Wimbledon Res, Wolves) 9 - MAL CORRADINE (Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Stoke, Weymouth, Wolves) 9 - ALAN COWLAND (Exeter, Hull, Leicester, Mildenhall, Newport, Peterborough, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 9 - DAVID CRANE (Coventry, Exeter, Hackney, Ipswich, King's Lynn, King's Lynn II, Norwich, Oxford, Sheffield) 9 - ERIC EADON (Aldershot, Brafield, Coventry Res, Cradley, Edinburgh, Rayleigh Rovers, Southern Rovers, Stoke, Wolves) 9 - JOHN FITZPATRICK (Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Oxford Res, Rayleigh, Southampton, Stoke, West Ham, Wimbledon Res, Yarmouth) 9 - KEITH HARVEY (Birmingham, C. Palace, High Beech, Luton, New Cross, Norwich, Stamford Bridge, West Ham, Wimbledon) 9 - BRIAN LEONARD (Hackney, Leicester, Newpool, Newport, Oxford, Poole, Swindon, Wembley, West Ham) 9 - STEVE JOHNSTON (Arena, Belle Vue, Coventry, Ipswich, Long Eaton, Oxford, Sheffield, Swindon, Wolves) 8 - TONY EADON, CLIVE HITCH, DAVE JESSUP, GORDON KENNETT, MARK LORAM, GARRY MIDDLETON, CHARLIE MONK, JOHN POYSER, GLYN TAYLOR

Okay, two things... Firstly, you're up late! Secondly, who are you??? Drop me a PM, 'cos I've been wondering who you are... Anyway, I've moved the previous list to follow this post, as Des Lukehurst, Tommy Sweetman, John Fitzpatrick, and David Crane have entered the charts... Steve

He was a lot of things before he was a Highwayman! He actually started in 1952, appearing for St. Austell and Wolves. He was out of the sport from 1953 until 1959, before retiring again in 1964! Then, he came out of retirement to ride for Crayford. I was actually surprised how many teams he'd ridden for, and that doesn't include Birmingham in 1960. Not involved in any official fixtures, the Brummies teame comprised an an impressive line-up of "loaned" riders, such as Ron Johnston, Peter Kelly, Eric Eadon, Arne Pander, Graham Warren, Peter Craven and Nigel Boocock! As far as the 1959 National Reserve League, the other riders to appear for Wimbledon were Jim Tebby, Cyril Brine, Ronnie Rolfe, Ernie Baker, Bob Andrews, Gerry King, Bobby Croombs, Gil Goldfinch, and - somewhat surprisingly - Johnny Fitzpatrick, Dave Hankins, and Ivor Brown! Some other interesting names in the Reserves League included Tony Robinson (Belle Vue), Graham Warren and Nigel Boocock (Coventry), Alf Hagon (Leicester), John Chamberlain (Norwich), Ken Adams and Howdy Byford (Oxford), Reg Duval (Poole), Brian Brett (Soton), and Leo McAuliffe (Swindon). Steve

It may surprise you, but Wimbledon entered a team in the National Reserve League in 1959. Even though not all fixtures were completed (of course, that has happened at senior level anyway!), it was structured as a league. As far as I'm concerned, official fixtures should include any recognised "league", particularly when it is under the banner of a NATIONAL League. Competitions such as the Southern Area League, Scottish Junior League, National Reserve League, British Conference etc are all - and certainly should be considered - legitimate and OFFICIAL leagues. They are/were either open to teams not competing in other leagues, and/or included certain restrictions and limitations on the eligibility of individuals. Steve

We have another mover; Geoff Penniket moves up to 12 teams with the addition of Newpool in 1964. We also have some new entries, in Derek Timms (10), Danny Dunton and Eric Eadon (both 9), and Charlie Monk (8). Steve

Sorry, my bad! You know what though; that moves Eric Hockaday up the table... Steve

That's the problem - there are "possibles". With the Reserve and Junior Leagues, I think they can justifiably be counted as separate, simply because they were involved in league action, quite often at the same time as the senior teams. Overall, there aren't going to be that many riders affected though. In the 50's, when we had Reserves Leagues, most riders failed to establish themselves in the sport, and coupled with good old "loyalty", we really didn't see that many "track-hopping". speedyguy wrote : There is no need to omit the pre-war clubs. If they were contracted to a bona fide team, then that should count. Steve

... and Chiswick Nomads, Southern Rovers, etc... Thinking about how deep we are getting in, you're right. This did start out as appearances in OFFICIAL fixtures, in which case non-league teams would be ruled out. Sorry Wal, looks as if Motherwell doesn't count... Forgotten about dear old Stan! Steve

I am working on the assumption that he did. Not at all. We've had other situations where clubs have been "resurrected" in this fashion, and I wouldn't count them either. However, teams like Motherwell, Buxton (a few years ago), and Castleford should be counted, unless it was a guest appearance. Just thinking (and I thought it best to edit this than delete, seeing as someone may have picked up on this already), we should be counting OFFICIAL fixtures (see post below). Therefore Motherwell, Buxton, and Castleford DON'T count. Steve

I do get your point about Bradford, and I will try and get some more information. However, to use the Lynn teams to try and validate your point here is way off. Sure, they rode at the same track, but they were two VERY DIFFERENT teams, racing in DIFFERENT LEAGUES at the SAME TIME. That is why they are separate. So, you don't think that Briggo or Ronnie Moore simply rode for Wimbledon? Or that Billy Sanders just rode for Ipswich? Steve

This is where it can start getting silly. As far as I'm concerned, Wimbledon was Wimbledon, pre-war, post-war or whatever. Belle Vue was ALWAYS Belle Vue (Hyde Road or Kirky Lane). Cradley was Cradley, whether they used Heath or United. Just because someone had two or three spells with a club under different promotions/contracts/whatever, doesn't necessarily mean that they should be classed as separate tracks. That would mean Gordon Kennett rode for several more tracks, even though they were mostly Eastbourne, with another Wimbledon thrown in! I'd like to hear what others have to say... Steve

Absolutely! Unfortunately, I don't have the book. Steve

Thanks, I'll update that now. As we said, the reserve teams etc were a separate entity, and the junior teams (King's Lynn II, Belle Vue Colts) and Conference League sides should be treated exactly the same. Steve

According to star ghost, he rode for Bristol in 1936. Before my time, I'm afraid... Steve