chunky Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Don't know why this really came to me, but I have been wondering which riders have ridden for the most British teams during their careers. A few obvious names immediately sprang to mind, and it seems that my suspicions were confirmed. I may well have missed out on an odd team or two, and I'm sure there are other riders who have been omitted. Obviously, there will be some newer names to be added, but since leaving the UK, it hasn't been quite as easy to follow who's doing what. So, here's my list, and if anyone has any new names or teams, I look forward to seeing what you have. Steve 17 - Alan Mogridge (Arena, Berwick, Bradford, Canterbury, Crayford, Eastbourne, Hackney, Ipswich, London, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Rye House, Stoke, Swindon, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 13 - George Major (Belle Vue, Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, Neath, Newcastle, Oxford, Sheffield, St. Austell, Wolves, Weymouth) 12 - Chris Julian (Bristol, Exeter, Cradley, Glasgow, Glasgow White City, Mildenhall, Neath, Newport, Plymouth, Southampton, St. Austell, Weymouth) 12 - Ken Vale (Aldershot, Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, King’s Lynn II, Long Eaton, Neath, Newport, Oxford, Weymouth, Workington) 11 - Geoff Penniket (Cradley, Eastbourne, King’s Lynn, Long Eaton, New Cross, Newport, Plymouth, Poole, Rayleigh, Romford, Workington) 11 - Reidar Eide (Coatbridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Poole, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Wembley, Wolves) 11 - Nigel Sparshott (Birmingham, Exeter, King’s Lynn, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Poole, Rye House, Swindon, Wimbledon) 10 - Jimmy Squibb (Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, Harringay, Ipswich, New Cross. Plymouth, Poole, Southampton) Dave Jessup, Gordon Kennett, and Garry Middleton have each ridden for eight teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hamilton Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Don't know why this really came to me, but I have been wondering which riders have ridden for the most British teams during their careers. A few obvious names immediately sprang to mind, and it seems that my suspicions were confirmed. I may well have missed out on an odd team or two, and I'm sure there are other riders who have been omitted. Obviously, there will be some newer names to be added, but since leaving the UK, it hasn't been quite as easy to follow who's doing what. So, here's my list, and if anyone has any new names or teams, I look forward to seeing what you have. Steve 17 - Alan Mogridge (Arena, Berwick, Bradford, Canterbury, Crayford, Eastbourne, Hackney, Ipswich, London, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Rye House, Stoke, Swindon, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 13 - George Major (Belle Vue, Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, Neath, Newcastle, Oxford, Sheffield, St. Austell, Wolves, Weymouth) 12 - Chris Julian (Bristol, Exeter, Cradley, Glasgow, Glasgow White City, Mildenhall, Neath, Newport, Plymouth, Southampton, St. Austell, Weymouth) 12 - Ken Vale (Aldershot, Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, King’s Lynn II, Long Eaton, Neath, Newport, Oxford, Weymouth, Workington) 11 - Geoff Penniket (Cradley, Eastbourne, King’s Lynn, Long Eaton, New Cross, Newport, Plymouth, Poole, Rayleigh, Romford, Workington) 11 - Reidar Eide (Coatbridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Poole, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Wembley, Wolves) 11 - Nigel Sparshott (Birmingham, Exeter, King’s Lynn, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Poole, Rye House, Swindon, Wimbledon) 10 - Jimmy Squibb (Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, Harringay, Ipswich, New Cross. Plymouth, Poole, Southampton) Dave Jessup, Gordon Kennett, and Garry Middleton have each ridden for eight teams. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think George Major also rode for California initially Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 George Major started at Southern Area League side Aldershot in the late-50s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Steve Johnston's had nine clubs: Sheffield, Long Eaton, Ipswich, Oxford, Belle Vue, Swindon, Wolves, Arena Essex, and Coventry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 17 - Alan Mogridge (Arena, Berwick, Bradford, Canterbury, Crayford, Eastbourne, Hackney, Ipswich, London, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Rye House, Stoke, Swindon, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) Make Moggo 18, you forgot Sheffield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Doesn't Wal Morton figure in here somewhere? He rode for many clubs - some of them several times during a career spanning the early 1930s until 1964. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 What about James Birkinshaw; (1) Sheffield Tigers (2) Sheffield Prowlers (3) Belle Vue Colts (4) Newcastle (4) St Austell (5) Workington (6) Stoke (7) Boston (8) Buxton (9) Glasgow (10) Berwick (11) Edinburgh (12) Linliithgow (13) Wolves 2nd And this season (14) Birmingham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Doesn't Wal Morton figure in here somewhere? He rode for many clubs - some of them several times during a career spanning the early 1930s until 1964. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And his mate, Geoff Pymar, probably. I'll have to try and work those two out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackofdiamonds Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 (edited) Geoff Penniket also rode for Newcastle in 1962. Edited January 15, 2008 by jackofdiamonds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 MORTON, Wal, 1946-64 Glasgow (White City) Harringay Norwich Wimbledon Newcastle West Ham Bradford (Odsal) Ipswich Liverpool Middlesbrough Hackney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 HOCKADAY, Eric Aldershot California Coventry Cradley Heath Exeter Leicester Rayleigh Rye House Sheffield Stoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hamilton Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 HOCKADAY, Eric Aldershot California Coventry Cradley Heath Exeter Leicester Rayleigh Rye House Sheffield Stoke <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And Oxford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 And Oxford <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There's a nice photo tribute to Eric Hockaday on the yahoo site http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway and he's also to be seen in the cycle speedway album on the same yahoo site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 (edited) Wal Morton rode for Coventry and Wimbledon before the War He also rode for Belfast in Ireland but I don't think that would count Edited January 15, 2008 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 (edited) Wal Morton rode for Coventry and Wimbledon before the War What about Norwich, star ghost?!? Edited January 15, 2008 by norbold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer Cat from Mars Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Buzz Burrows must have ridden for a fair few clubs, Belle Vue, Wimbledon, Middlesbrough, but I'm sure there are more. Wayne Carter also seemed to ride for quite a few teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hamilton Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 There's a nice photo tribute to Eric Hockaday on the yahoo site http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway and he's also to be seen in the cycle speedway album on the same yahoo site. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Buzz Burrows must have ridden for a fair few clubs, Belle Vue, Wimbledon, Middlesbrough, but I'm sure there are more. Buzz started at Scunthorpe in 1984; moved to Edinburgh the next year; and then was riding at Middlesboro in '87 before taking a five year sabbatical from the sport. When he returned he rode for Glasgow in '92. In 1994, Buzz made a few appearances for home city club Sheffield ; before - as you point out - becoming a Belle Vue Ace in the top league. He first appeared in the third tier the following year riding regularly with Buxton as well as in the PL for Long Eaton. Then began his long association with Stoke ('97-2003) before moving south to become a legend in London at Wimbledon. And then, of course, this last year back in the north east at Cleveland. Disregarding a couple of solitary appearances mid-90s for Coventry & Hull, I make that 11 British clubs. And then, of course, the big question is: where will Buzz be in 2008..??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 (edited) Norbold, I didn't mention Norwich with Wal Morton pre-war as the Stars were listed in Moxey63's listing of his post-war tracks. Wal had enough teams without any "doubling-up". Edited January 16, 2008 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesterdaysman Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 I think some records get blurred by adding guest bookings. George Major's teams were as follows : 1959/60 Aldershot. Also open bookings with Yarmouth and St. Austell. 1961 Signed Oxford (Promoter Dicky Worth) Loaned to Newcastle. 1962 Loaned to Neath. 1963 Loaned to St. Austell. 1964 Signed Oxford (Rodney & ?) then to Norwich, swapped for Jimmy Gooch. Cradley Heath ( breakaway league 64/65) 1966/7 Sheffield (rider control) 1968/9 Leicester (transfer request) 1969/70 Oxford (Danny Dunton) 1970 Div 2 Doncaster, 1971/75 Birmingham. So how many teams is that then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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