norbold Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Next Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m., BBC London are to broadcast a programme on the "Lost Sporting Venues of London". A significant part of this programme will be on the lost speedway tracks. I will be the studio guest for the whole hour along with someone talking about the lost greyhound tracks (which for the most part - though not all - will be the same venues). As well as studio discussion the programme will also be a phone/email/tweet/Facebook in so you can all have your say and give your memories. If you wish to contact the programme beforehand please contact Ian Ramsdale on ian.ramsdale@bbc.co.uk Speak to you next Wednesday then.... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Next Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m., BBC London are to broadcast a programme on the "Lost Sporting Venues of London". A significant part of this programme will be on the lost speedway tracks. I will be the studio guest for the whole hour along with someone talking about the lost greyhound tracks (which for the most part - though not all - will be the same venues). As well as studio discussion the programme will also be a phone/email/tweet/Facebook in so you can all have your say and give your memories. If you wish to contact the programme beforehand please contact Ian Ramsdale on ian.ramsdale@bbc.co.uk Speak to you next Wednesday then.... Hopefully will be listening to this next week. Memories of the old New Cross frying pan track and dog track, with Millwall's Den next door, plus the old Dulwich Hamlet ground and Charlton and Catford dog track, and Arsenal's Highbury, Walthamstow/Harringay dog track, with White City, Ackney and West Am's speedway tracks north of the river from the 60s/70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Good Luck with this Norbold. :approve: I don't suppose I'll be able to pick up the Station here in Sunderland - but - I wish you every success. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Good Luck with this Norbold. :approve: I don't suppose I'll be able to pick up the Station here in Sunderland - but - I wish you every success. :) Thanks to the wonders of the Internet. Here is the BBC London website address where you can listen to the programme live anywhere in the world. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbclondon Edited September 28, 2012 by Robbie B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 Oh,the old Dulwich Hamlet football ground.....remember going there one Boxing day for a derby against Tooting + Mitcham...half the ground was cordoned off for safety as the terracing was what looked like railway sleepers and dirt in between and most of the sleepers were warped and rotting away.Went to the new ground as well once or twice as for a season or so Millwalls reserves played there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 Thanks to the wonders of the Internet. Here is the BBC London website address where you can listen to the programme live anywhere in the world. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbclondon Thank you very much Robbie B. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Oh,the old Dulwich Hamlet football ground.....remember going there one Boxing day for a derby against Tooting + Mitcham...half the ground was cordoned off for safety as the terracing was what looked like railway sleepers and dirt in between and most of the sleepers were warped and rotting away.Went to the new ground as well once or twice as for a season or so Millwalls reserves played there. Used to get 5-figure crowds post-war and up to 20000...the famous pink n' blues shared with the pink and chocolates of Corinthian Casuals in the 60s at Champion Hill with crowds of 2/300. Remember an FA Cup tie against Watford, was about 8000 there, mostly Watford fans.Went there a few weeks ago, Sainsburys bought the ground and rebuilt the stadium next to the superstore, no longer holds 25,000 though..3000 now Smart little stadium, getting 2-300. Best team in Southwark still. Edited September 28, 2012 by new cross robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Fascinating show Mr.Jacobs(at least they read me text out!). I drove past Hornshay Sreet on a "nostalgia tour" of sarf London a few weeks ago taking in New Cross/Millwall, Charlton, Dulwich. Simon Inglis was saying there were loads of running/athletic tracks, and cricket grounds now derelict/disappeared/built on. Website: www.playedinbritain.co.uk. Mentions of Walthamstow/Catford Dogs, White City, Ally Pally Horse racing course, Hendon/Fisher F.C.,and all the many defunct speedway stadiums, snapped up by property developers in the capital land grab. Sad there are no speedway tracks in London now, after being able to watch speedway every night pre-/post-war. Hopefully will be running another show on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Thank you, Robin, glad you liked it. The producer said the response they had by phone, text, etc. was one of the biggest ever. Apparently they don't expect much in the 9:00 to 10:00 slot as everyone is watching television by then, but last night they were inundated and could only read out a tiny fraction of the texts they received or talk to a small number of those phoning in. He said they would probably do a similar programme next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckford Boy Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Well done young Norbold. I think Speedway featured more in the programme than all the other sports mentioned.For all us old goats we had a lovely hour wallowing in nostalgia.Glad BBC Radio London were pleased with the response and hopefully will do something similar again. At least there is still some hope for the 'Stow and fingers crossed the Irish entrepreneur who wants to buy Wimbledon will be successful in his visionary plan for the dogs and hopefully there will be a place for the bikes as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Thank you, Robin, glad you liked it. The producer said the response they had by phone, text, etc. was one of the biggest ever. Apparently they don't expect much in the 9:00 to 10:00 slot as everyone is watching television by then, but last night they were inundated and could only read out a tiny fraction of the texts they received or talk to a small number of those phoning in. He said they would probably do a similar programme next year. Looking at my copy of "Speedway in London"can only count 14 ex-tracks rather than the 16 mentioned on the programme? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 There's only 11 in Speedway in London. The others are Romford, Dagenham, Greenford, Barnet and Crayford (All in Speedway in the South East - available from all good booksellers ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 There's only 11 in Speedway in London. The others are Romford, Dagenham, Greenford, Barnet and Crayford (All in Speedway in the South East - available from all good booksellers ) Hmm, interesting!! I can see that by excluding those Greater London (ie in current London boroughs...) from the list there is a logic. None of the five listed above have London post-codes.. BUT....: perhaps the most famous of all London Speedway tracks (indeed probably the most famous stadium of any kind in the world..), the Empire Stadium, Wembley also did NOT have a London postcode, did it not..? It certainly hasn't got a London post code now so doubt it ever did...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 It is not a precise science - which team is in London and which isn't. In my first book (Speedway in London) I concentrated on those tracks which were sort of recognised "London" tracks and had been in the top flight. As it happens, of course, while they were open, Harringay and Lea Bridge were never in London and tracks like Wembley (as you say) and West Ham were not in London either until their revival, by which time Middlesex and parts of Essex had been incorporated. I think London is more a concept than a precise geographical area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 i agree norman. as a collector of most things london speedway, i've even included lakeside because of it's romford postcode and rye house because of it's history as a london speedway training track. both of these venues are included on the london speedway forum along with high beech, so that's good enough for me. i will not be extending this catchment area any wider, i haven't got the room!. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DK Rides Again Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Rather than start another thread, I thought I'd revive this one and mention that I went down Hornshay Street today. Sad to report (I don't know if the BBC show covered it) that they have now driven a rail link straight through the middle of the frying pan and there is now no trace of New Cross stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Rather than start another thread, I thought I'd revive this one and mention that I went down Hornshay Street today. Sad to report (I don't know if the BBC show covered it) that they have now driven a rail link straight through the middle of the frying pan and there is now no trace of New Cross stadium. Must be the work they did to extend the old East London Line (now 'Overground').. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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