Soldier Boy

[sandman]

Can anyone shed any light on what happened to PC's number one supporter Soldier Boy? I remember him following PC everwhere. He used to travel to away meetings on a Vespa at times, and calling all the other riders Rubbish, while giving the two fingered salute to them.

[stevehone]

maybe he was knocked off his Vespa after giving someone a 'V' sign???

[sandman]

Rumour has it he and Middlo were quite chummy. I even heard that Middlo offered him a years contract to hang loose with him for a year, and after that he could go back to PC.

[stevehone]

If he was hanging with Middlo he's probably lying somewhere with a bottle of JD (not John Davis.... although..... )

[Jungle Jake]

Bottle of Bleach is that Honey?

[Gemini]

I remember Soldier Boy very well too.

Well, not many could miss him hollering from the stand! He became quite a celebrity.

He used to follow Leicester's Ray Wilson at one time.

[False dawn]

He used to follow Leicester's Ray Wilson at one time.

And "Follow him" is right. If Ray was riding, Soldier Boy was sure to be there, shouting very loudly at the starting gate.

 

If memory serves he did, after Ray Wilson retired, switch allegiance to Ole Olsen for a while.

[Midnight_Lady]

Why was he called Soldier Boy :?:

[sandman]

Why was he called Soldier Boy :?:

I don't think anyone really knows. I do know his real or nickname was Demond. :?

[greybear]

I remember Soldier Boy well from his days at Halifax. After PC's glory days he switched allegiances to Larry Ross - he used to wear a banner wrapped around him with "Larry Ross World Number One" written on it. He used to love taunting all the top riders. He even tried to goad Kenny Carter once by chucking a banana at him.

 

When we moved to Odsal from the Shay he moved on to supporting Neil Evitts for some time. He disappeared from the scene & was rumoured to have moved to the south coast - somewhere near Poole I believe. Can anyone confirm :?:

[greytiger]

Why was he called Soldier Boy :?:

 

If I remember,he was allways dressed in a soldiers uniform with a beret.

He could get the supporters wound up anywhere.He was a good old boy though not old.Pity there's not more people about to get the supporters more lively these days

;-)

[sandman]

Never saw him in a uniform, although very clean like a soldier off duty. His favourite yell was your rubbish, while giving the two fingered salute. If he is near Poole on the South coast, do you reckon he is hanging with Middlo? Wish he was on here{Middlo}, we could ask him. Over to you Steve Hone.

[stevehone]

or maybe Sandman and Middlo are one and the same????????

[sandman]

or maybe Sandman and Middlo are one and the same????????

Uhhhh... Gotta go...

[Liontamer]

I spent a bit of time with Soldier Boy on my various travels & he was a real character. I can still remember him being chased round Hackney stadium by irate fans, & still he returned to the home straight to taunt them again before the end of the meeting.

I believe he worked as a storeman in a military establishment somewhere, but he couldn't have spent much time in the store because he travelled all over the country.

You always knew when he was in a stadium before you saw him because he used to wind the crowd up. It's a real pity there aren't more characters like him around, but there again there aren't many characters riding these days either. Can you imagine if Jack Millen were around today, he would be fined & banned constantly.

Anyway, I'd love to chat more but the nurse has arrived to give me my medication & bed bath.

 

:clown

[BrizHeathen]

I remember the good old boy.

I remember on the way home from the 1981 World Final we stopped at the services somewhere between London and the Midlands and he was there, the place was full of jubilant Cradley and loads of other speedway fans and he was winding them all up.

The thing was no one seemed to know anything about him, he just appeared mouthing off, never wore colours or showed any affiliation with a particular club although i remember him as a Belle Vue/Peter Collins Fan.

He was a bit of a mystery to me.

[sandman]

Yeah, and he had a real ruddy, red complexion. Was just wondering if he was still alive. Great one certainly for stirring things up. I am sure PC knows where he is?

[shazzybird]

If he was hanging with Middlo he's probably lying somewhere with a bottle of JD (not John Davis.... although..... )

 

Hope he's not his hair may turn green hey Honey pmsl

[Beowulf]

The guy was a prat! That fact that his claim to fame was winding fans up, well it doesn't say much does it? His speedway or indeed geographical knowledge wasn't up to much either, I remember him going about the SWINTON robins. Well of course Swinton is in the north and not in Wiltshire. Finally, in the early 70's I was a young teenager. After a match at Monmore I was in the bar with some friends, although obviously not drinking. He was in there and I must have replied to something he said. He then aggressively grabbed me by the throat! Luckily Tom Leadbitter was also in there and he got him off me, and told him to leave the kids alone! A character yes, but from my viewpoint, not a particularly welcome one.

[sandman]

Obviously you said something that made him mad........ If I remember Tom L. he was a mountain of a man? Big fella with mutton chop sideburns? Soldier Boy was a bit of a prat for sure, but you answered a question of mine as I never knew if he was serious..And I ,... like you, dont care for anyone who treated me bad when I was a nipper,... I too never forgot.. The ones who pushed me off, dont like em to this day......