Wembley World Finals

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

A gentleman called Jeff. (don't ask me why there's a full stop!! ) has taken to perpetuating a myth that, in fact, the World Finals when held at Wembley were poorly attended. Here's one example of this mantra:

 

World Finals at Wembley were only sell outs on 3 occassions, (perhaps you should go on the facts rather than the spin) the early post war finals and the golden jubilee final in 1978.

 

Does anyone have info. on what sort of crowd figures there were from '36 to '60 and then for the Finals held there after the 'monopoly' was broken up to '81..??

[Jeff.]

A gentleman called Jeff. (don't ask me why there's a full stop!! ) has taken to perpetuating a myth that, in fact, the World Finals when held at Wembley were poorly attended. Here's one example of this mantra:

 

 

 

Does anyone have info. on what sort of crowd figures there were from '36 to '60 and then for the Finals held there after the 'monopoly' was broken up to '81..??

 

It isn't a myth, have a look at the official attendances. I have most of them and will dig them out for you tonight.

 

Depends what you call poorly attended, like I say some finals had crowds of 50,000 ish, not necessarilly poor but by no means a sell out as you stated.

 

Don't think having the finals on a Thursday could have helped, Saturdays only came in in the late fifties/early sixties, cant remember the exact year

 

[norbold]

1956 was the first Saturday final.

[Molestrangler]

It isn't a myth, have a look at the official attendances. I have most of them and will dig them out for you tonight.

 

Depends what you call poorly attended, like I say some finals had crowds of 50,000 ish, not necessarilly poor but by no means a sell out as you stated.

 

Don't think having the finals on a Thursday could have helped, Saturdays only came in in the late fifties/early sixties, cant remember the exact year

Extract from VSM:

For the early post-war weekly speedway crowds were vast. Get your laughing gear around this 1946 lot - 65,000 on May 23 for Wembley v New Cross; 76,000 on June 20 against Belle Vue; 67,000 on July 4 v New Cross again; 85,000 on July 11 against West Ham; and at the final meeting of 1946, on October 3, they had to close the stadium gates with 20,000 more fans outside who had the meeting relayed to them by loudspeaker. Even half of Fleet Street's representatives failed to gain admission until shortly before the interval.

 

The car park contained 2,000 vehicles, and many people who arrived in motor coaches didn't even bother to get out. They stayed put and listened. Extra police were rushed in to control the thousands locked out.

 

[Jeff.]

Extract from VSM:

For the early post-war weekly speedway crowds were vast. Get your laughing gear around this 1946 lot - 65,000 on May 23 for Wembley v New Cross; 76,000 on June 20 against Belle Vue; 67,000 on July 4 v New Cross again; 85,000 on July 11 against West Ham; and at the final meeting of 1946, on October 3, they had to close the stadium gates with 20,000 more fans outside who had the meeting relayed to them by loudspeaker. Even half of Fleet Street's representatives failed to gain admission until shortly before the interval.

 

The car park contained 2,000 vehicles, and many people who arrived in motor coaches didn't even bother to get out. They stayed put and listened. Extra police were rushed in to control the thousands locked out.

 

You are quite right and the early post war years saw a similar boom up and down the country, that boom continued with, like I said, the first 2 or 3 post war finals being the best attended. Sadly the mid to late fifties saw a decline in attendances all round. This decline continued until the formation of the British League in 1965, giving rise to probably the best 15 years in the sports history, others may disagree.

 

[keef]

You are quite right and the early post war years saw a similar boom up and down the country, that boom continued with, like I said, the first 2 or 3 post war finals being the best attended. Sadly the mid to late fifties saw a decline in attendances all round. This decline continued until the formation of the British League in 1965, giving rise to probably the best 15 years in the sports history, others may disagree.

 

Would agree with 65-80 Jeff as being golden years, but then I wasn't around post-war, although my old man, who was a Wembley fan, told me of the great post-war era .

 

[norbold]

This decline continued until the formation of the British League in 1965, giving rise to probably the best 15 years in the sports history, others may disagree.

I guess it depends what you mean by the "best".

 

Certainly in the immediate post-War period, the crowds were enormous and speedway was getting extensive coverage in the press. This is also true for the early days in the late 20s and early 30s. There were at least three sets of speedway rider cigarette cards issued and the top riders also found their way in to sets of "leading sportsmen" and the like. There were also hundreds of postcards of speedway riders. I don't think speedway had that sort of following and publicity even in the 1965-1980 period.

 

Being the age I am I have lots of acquaintances who went to speedway in the 1946 - 52 era, but never went again, not even in the 1965-80 period. When, as I frequently do (!), talk to them about speedway they will remember names like Vic Duggan, Jack Parker, Tommy Price and many others from the immediate post War period. Some will mention hearing of Ivan Mauger and possibly Barry Briggs, but that's about as far as it ever goes.

 

I would say that speedway's greatest era was 1946-52.

Edited October 21, 2008 by norbold

[iris123]

I guess it depends what you mean by the "best".

Some will mention hearing of Ivan Mauger and possibly Barry Briggs, but that's about as far as it ever goes.

 

I would say that speedway's greatest era was 1946-52.

Surely, depending on where you are of course,but Ronnie Moore would be a name that a lot remember

 

Speedway back in the earlier period also seemed to attract Royalty and top stars.Which reflected it's social standing to an extent.In the later period)60s onwards) it seemed to be minor celebs,Alvin Stardust and Sam Fox spring to mind.Which sort of reflects the downmarket status it held then and ever since really.Or am i talking crap?

[cityrebel]

a golden era for me was definetly 1970 to 1980. being taken as a child to famous tracks like wembley and west ham was brilliant. another highlight for me was when white city opened in 1976 and making my own way there by bus. all the big meetings staged at wembley seemed to have decent crowds to me.

[MARK246]

Surely, depending on where you are of course,but Ronnie Moore would be a name that a lot remember

 

Speedway back in the earlier period also seemed to attract Royalty and top stars.Which reflected it's social standing to an extent.In the later period)60s onwards) it seemed to be minor celebs,Alvin Stardust and Sam Fox spring to mind.Which sort of reflects the downmarket status it held then and ever since really.Or am i talking crap?

 

 

Ah. Mud at Wimbledon, back page of the Speedway Star.

 

IMO speedway went wrong in the mid 80's, trying to move from working class sport to a YUPPIE one.

 

You do have a strange mind if Sam Fox springs in it.

[Jeff.]

A gentleman called Jeff. (don't ask me why there's a full stop!! ) has taken to perpetuating a myth that, in fact, the World Finals when held at Wembley were poorly attended. Here's one example of this mantra:

 

 

 

Does anyone have info. on what sort of crowd figures there were from '36 to '60 and then for the Finals held there after the 'monopoly' was broken up to '81..??

 

1957 50,000

1958 61,000

1962 62,000

1965 70,000

1967 75,000

1969 75,000

1975 85,000

1978 92,000

1981 72,000

 

pre 1957 there were crowds in the 80,000s and the odd 90,000

[sandman]

Ah. Mud at Wimbledon, back page of the Speedway Star.

 

IMO speedway went wrong in the mid 80's, trying to move from working class sport to a YUPPIE one.

 

You do have a strange mind if Sam Fox springs in it.

 

i agree. speedways roots are working class, and the sport tried to forget us.

[Brian Buck]

Wembley world finals were never a 100,000 sell-out due to the fact that for some unknown reason, there was a limit of 92,000 for events held there on any day other than a Saturday.

 

Until 1956, the World Final was always held on Wembley's normal race-day which was a Thursday, so the attendances were remarkable given that travelling was very difficult in those pre-motorway days and most supporters living any distance from London had to travel by train.

 

I never saw a Final before 1956 because I even though I saved up the money for the fare and the 3/6 admission price, I was either at school or at work. My parents wouldn't let me miss school and I couldn't get the time off from work.

 

 

[chunky]

Wembley world finals were never a 100,000 sell-out due to the fact that for some unknown reason, there was a limit of 92,000 for events held there on any day other than a Saturday.

 

Until 1956, the World Final was always held on Wembley's normal race-day which was a Thursday, so the attendances were remarkable given that travelling was very difficult in those pre-motorway days and most supporters living any distance from London had to travel by train.

 

Two extremely valid points, and you beat me to it! However, I believe that the limit was imposed on evening events also.

 

Something else to remember is that in the late 50's, speedway went through some troubled times, with very few tracks in operation. That would explain the one "50,000 ish" figure that Jeff. mentioned. It wasn't until the PL really got established that speedway "boomed" again, which is reflected in the much better figures post-1962.

 

Steve

Edited October 21, 2008 by chunky

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

1957 50,000

1958 61,000

1962 62,000

1965 70,000

1967 75,000

1969 75,000

1975 85,000

1978 92,000

1981 72,000

 

pre 1957 there were crowds in the 80,000s and the odd 90,000

 

Cheers for these...: these are extremely impressive figures (yes, rather like Sam Fox!! ).

 

No mention of '72..

'72 was the first World Final I 'saw'..: not in the flesh but LIVE on national ITV; on a Saturday night!!

 

That's another indication of how big the event was as relatively late as the early '70s!!

 

And amazingly then there was little realistic home interest (ie English rider with chance of winning) in the Final.

Though Tiger Louis did do very well on his debut.

The stars then were Kiwis who we 'adopted' as Brits...

[chunky]

No mention of '72..

 

Well spotted, that man! In fact, it appears that the crowd was a trifle under 80,000 that night.

 

'72 was the first World Final I 'saw'..: not in the flesh but LIVE on national ITV; on a Saturday night!!

 

I watched on TV too, and I'll never forget Briggo's terrible crash.

Steve

[salty]

No mention of '72..

'72 was the first World Final I 'saw'..: not in the flesh but LIVE on national ITV; on a Saturday night!!

My memory must be slipping. I remember that Final well - it was after all Bernie's Final - but I am 99% certain it wasn't televised live (definitely not in the Midlands) but highlights were shown on ITV about 10 o'clock.

Maybe others can confirm one way or the other.

[Jeff.]

My memory must be slipping. I remember that Final well - it was after all Bernie's Final - but I am 99% certain it wasn't televised live (definitely not in the Midlands) but highlights were shown on ITV about 10 o'clock.

Maybe others can confirm one way or the other.

 

I too don't recall 72, but that is what happened in 1981, it went out about 11.30PM the same night

 

[Jeff.]

Cheers for these...: these are extremely impressive figures (yes, rather like Sam Fox!! ).

 

No mention of '72..

'72 was the first World Final I 'saw'..: not in the flesh but LIVE on national ITV; on a Saturday night!!

 

That's another indication of how big the event was as relatively late as the early '70s!!

 

And amazingly then there was little realistic home interest (ie English rider with chance of winning) in the Final.

Though Tiger Louis did do very well on his debut.

The stars then were Kiwis who we 'adopted' as Brits...

 

No there are a few missing ones, I have no official attendances for those unfortunately but it is safe to assume 1972 was one of the better attended finals probably 80,000 plus