Bee Posted July 16, 2003 Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 History of Brandon Part One - 1928 - 1933 the pre war days 1928 Over 3,000 fans braved the elements of a rainy day to witness the first ever meeting at Brandon Stadium. The date, Saturday 29th September. The track was officially declared open by Mrs. Glanfield, wife of the Managing Director of Motordromes Ltd. The newly built Stadium, was constructed largely by Black Ash and Cinders transported by horse and cart from Rowleys Green Gas works by Tom Bell of Smorrall Lane , Bedworth. Some evidence of which can still be found at the Stadium today, mainly in the Car Park and at the top of the terraces on the Coventry bend. The first meeting consisted of a full programme of open events and the Star of the show was the legendary JACK PARKER. Riding on a B.S.A. machine, Jack just about “cleaned up” winning his heat and the Grand Final of the main event. The Open Scratch race. With George Povey of Birmingham 2nd and Australian Jack Bishop 3rd.Jack set up a new “lap” record then after Freddie Hore set up a new four lap record, he promptly knocked two whole seconds off that time... Just to round of the proceedings Jack took on Welsh Champion Taffy Williams in a match race and won that too.There were handicap heats too with plenty of passing to thrill the crowd, with the main Handicap event being won by Midlands favourite at the time, Wally Lloyd. Later to become the Perry Barr skipper. A week later the first Floodlit meeting was staged at Brandon. Again it was Jack Parker who was successful in the Scratch Race Final, this time ahead of Hall Green’s Billy DallisonLEW LANCASTER, who was to go on and give Coventry great service in the following years, won the Brandon Handicap on a Rudge and beat Freddie Hore in a Match Race. 1929 In 1929 the emergence of a Coventry side occurred, and they became one of the founder members of the Southern League. This competition was dominated by side’s from the Capital, with only Birmingham, Southampton and Coventry being based outside the Metropolis. In May 1929 the Coventry Team went into action for the very first time, taking a hammering at West Ham and then losing their first Home match to Hall Green (Birmingham) by 19-23. in a six heat contest. The club colours were not the famous Gold (Yellow) & Black in those far off days but, Red and Green.!!! Wilmot Evans topped the score chart, with Lew Lancaster offering good support. The “star” men were considered to be too good in these early days and were not allowed in team matches, hence no Jack Parker.!However, the authorities relented eventually, and under Jack the Coventry team settled down to become one of the major contenders for the League title. Eventually, after a close fight, they ended up in third place, only six points behind the Champions, Stamford Bridge. Apart from Jack, other prominent members of the side were, Jack’s brother, NORMAN PARKER and FRED WILKINSON.A very young TOM FARNDON progressed from novice too heat leader by the end of the season. Others adding support were, GEORGE ALLBROOK, WILMOT EVANS, DILLY GITTINS, BUNNY WILCOX and the improving BILL STANLEY. 1930 The team were doing very well in 1930, and by June were sitting on top of the League.But, injuries hit, noticeably to Jack Parker, which caused a temporary slump. Nevertheless, they managed to finish in the top six.A memorable performance came the night they entertained the visit of Champions Stamford Bridge, with little hope of success through injuries they rose to the occasion and won by a single point. Tom Farndon was the hero of the hour with a magnificent maximum. It was Farndon and the Parker’s who led the way for Coventry in 1930, with support coming from JOHN DEELEY, BILL STANLEY, ARTHUR TIMS and LEW LANCASTER. 1931 The season started with the shock that The Parker’s and Tom Farndon had moved onto pastures new. Leaving the Coventry team in a transitional period, trying to re-build the side.They signed SYD JACKSON from Leicester, but they never got the balance of the team right and struggled badly. The introduction of CYRIL TAFT from Birmingham and ALBY TAYLOR from Leicester gave them more strength, but little seemed to go right for the side. High Beech pipped them by one point to leave Coventry holding the wooden spoon. Jackson missing a vital match through a bout of flu. Jackson’s form was the highlight of the season with fighting performance’s from Tims and STAN GREATREX. 1932 It was a different story in 1932, as the team began to become a formidable outfit once again. Jackson was inspirational and finished the season as second highest scorer in the League. Solidity being provided by New Zealander ALF MATTSON, ROY DOOK, BILL (Skid) PITCHER, the TAFT brothers, STEW FAIRBAIRN and TIMS. Although they didn’t win anything the Brandon name was back on the map, lifting themselves up to seventh in the League. 1933 Coventry had high hopes of improving on seventh in 1933, but those hopes were quashed when No1 Syd Jackson was lured to London and signed a contract with Wimbledon. Without Jackson, the club made a disastrous start to the campaign but after a few weeks were fortunate enough to secure the signature of Australian Star, DICK CASE. He settled in well and quickly proved an adequate replacement for Jackson. Under his leadership, Coventry pulled themselves together to climb the table and finally finish in seventh place. The damage had been done two years earlier with the loss of star’s like The Parker’s and Farndon, the crowd levels at Brandon had dropped off, and at the end of 1933 Motordromes Ltd pulled the plug and the floodlights went out for 15 years...... End of Part One Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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