My First League Match

[The White Knight]

My first Meeting was on 21st April 1964. Sunderland 'Saints' against Newcastle 'Diamonds'. I have been hooked ever since.

 

That was also my first ever sight of Ivan Mauger - he scored a Maximum that night.

 

Sadly though, Sunderland went down to a 32-44 (CH) - for the 'Saints' Jim Airey scored 9 Points, Graham Coombes and Maury McDermott scored 6.

 

http://www.sunderlandspeedway.co.uk/stats/1964/1964_Season.html

Edited March 11, 2017 by The White Knight

[Robbie B]

Exactly 41 years ago today Wimbledon 32, Reading 46 (Challenge Match) still remember it well today.

 

My first taste of live speedway so much different from watching it on the telly which I been doing for a while. The Noise, Smell and Atmosphere was brilliant. This is when I choose Wimbledon as my team to support then and forever despite the closure of the stadium to speedway.

[Geoff19]

Hi Gustix, My Father Fred Taylor was one of the riders in New Cross Rangers team in the match with West Ham in 1946. My late Father had been trying to make it in post war speedway, he had second half rides at many London tracks including Rye House where he had been quite badly injured. He and his brother John who also rode second half races at West Ham and ran a motor cycle tuning business in Sunnyside Rd Ilford. My Dad had moderate success in an injury blighted career and after he married in 1947 he retired and  worked as a draughtsman for Ilford Films. Later he worked as a Hornchurch school metal work teacher and retired in 1981 and enjoyed over 25 yrs retirement until his death in 2006 ( 86yrs old ). I was a regular at Ken Mackinlay / Sverre Harrfeldt era at West Ham but also with my Father attended many Grass Tracks which my Dad really loved as I still do. Lakeside Hammers are my local Speedway team now and I have helped as a track marshall/ grader last season. Regards Geoff Taylor