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Neath


Brian Hamilton

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Forgive me if I have overlooked it, but I cannot recall anyone mentioning Neath from the

1960's. If my memory serves me right, the great Trevor redmond started it up and it only ran for a couple of seasons.

 

I still have some programmes but never actually had a chance to visit the track.

Just the one season - 1962 - and that was not a sucess, they staged less than 20 meetings and ended up riding a couple of home matches at St Austell. Charlie Monk was their most noteable rider

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They were runners up to Poole in the PL that season-among others the riders I recall for them were Roy Taylor,George Major, Jon Erskine, .The Abbey Stadium is no longer there I think its been built over-like so many others.They moved to St.Austell for 1963 I reckon-this is all from memory so I stand to be corrected-I think there was also a rider called Howdy Cornell plus Fred Powell-Trev Redmond also rode I think as well as being promoter.

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They were runners up to Poole in the PL that season-among others the riders I recall for them were Roy Taylor,George Major, Jon Erskine, .The Abbey Stadium is no longer there I think its been built over-like so many others.They moved to St.Austell for 1963 I reckon-this is all from memory so I stand to be corrected-I think there was also a rider called Howdy Cornell plus Fred Powell-Trev Redmond also rode I think as well as being promoter.

Bobbath,

Was it not Ron Taylor (who rode for Swindon previously).

 

Jon Erskine, now he was quite a promising lad if I remember correctly>

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I have a programme from 16 June 1962 when Wolverhampton were the visitors.

 

As a matter of interest the programme shows Neath Abbey Speedway on the front.

 

One other rider not mentioned is Glyn Chandler.

 

Neath (29 points) did in fact finish second to Poole (34 points) in the Provincial League.

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Glyn Chandler, thats another good name to come up with. I think he rode occasionally for Swindon

if my memory serves me right. Wonder if he is still around?

 

 

Glyn now lives in Alderney (Channel Islands), He flew over a short time ago to attend Maury Mattingley's funeral I believe.

He was indeed a teenage wiz kid for Swindon in the late 50's but suddenly announced his retirement after only a couple of

seasons, starting again to ride for Neath in '62. In the book 'St Austell Speedway '58- '63. it tells of the friendship struck up at that time, between Glyn and George Major which continues to this day. Ironically Glyn suffered a masive heart attack just five weeks before George's, and was 'brought back to live' by the ambulance crew in Gloucestershire, (he was over visiting friends). They are a tough breed though these old speedway riders, and he is getting about like a 'good 'un' again now.

 

.

No it was Roy Taylor ex Bristol, a baldy chap, nice bloke, like quite a few older retired riders he made a 'comeback' in the Provincial League. Sadly no longer with us.

Edited by yesterdaysman
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Here is a piece of Neath trivia-I think they had two reps in that years' PLRC-won by Len Silver.Trevor Redmond who won it in 1960 and Charlie Monk-who ALMOST won it the last year it was raced i.e. in 1964.I know Jon Erskine made the PLRC one year and scored 0 points -perhaps 1964??or was it 1963. By the way those old PLRC Finals were great meetings weren't they?

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I have a Neath Webpage on the Defunct Tracks website, click on the link below. If anyone has photos, programmes or badges that they can scan and email me I would be able to extend the webpage email me at jskinner06@btinternet.com

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