steve roberts Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Just received my latest edition of 'Backtrack' and there's an interesting article about Smallmead Stadium as told by Reg Fearman (also read the same story in his most interesting book). Allied Presentations sought and received a 99 year lease on the site back in 1974 but somewhere along the line this was reduced to something like a 35 year lease (after Reg had long left). Basically the Reading fans were 'sold down the river' by the then promotion. The site of the stadium is apparently still undeveloped after being demolished in 2008/9...a real sad state of affairs! At least Oxford still has a stadium but for how long I wonder? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Allied Presentations sought and received a 99 year lease on the site back in 1974 but somewhere along the line this was reduced to something like a 35 year lease (after Reg had long left). Didn't fulfil the conditions of the original lease, allegedly... Heard it was something to do with not fencing the perimeter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Didn't fulfil the conditions of the original lease, allegedly... Heard it was something to do with not fencing the perimeter. Didn't Bill Dore trade in the longer lease for a shorter one, to get a rent reduction? All the best Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Yep still undeveloped in a well-developed area, Kennet Island housing estate, and Green Park Business Park, nearby. A right eyesore. Good memories of Smallmead, last visited 2007 with the Robins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Yes some great memories! Oxford were the first team to beat Reading at Smallmead...albeit in a challenge match! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I have good memories of both tilehurst and smallmead. Both were pretty sparse stadiums and both attracted really big crowds in the boom time of the 1970's. Smallmead was the better shaped track, tilehurst was too flat for my liking, although it did have a great chip shop opposite the stadium. I wonder if it's still there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I have good memories of both tilehurst and smallmead. Both were pretty sparse stadiums and both attracted really big crowds in the boom time of the 1970's. Smallmead was the better shaped track, tilehurst was too flat for my liking, although it did have a great chip shop opposite the stadium. I wonder if it's still there! I, too, remember both tracks. I think that Smallmead was based on Ipswich (?) and originally produced some good racing. Unfortunately in later years the track was often very slick and devoid of shale. Remember one morning meeting where you couldn't see anything due to almighty dust clouds! Remember 'Soldier Boy' participating in the end of season frolics at Tilehurst when he was involved with the 'tug of war' and got smothered in flour for his troubles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 I think there were several times that Reading had to do things to their stadium to comply with the lease, and rather than get them done they sold more and more years off the lease each time. Then, with not many years left, they got out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 (edited) I think there were several times that Reading had to do things to their stadium to comply with the lease, and rather than get them done they sold more and more years off the lease each time. Then, with not many years left, they got out. Shame Brian Leonard didn't up end as the speedway promoter, after his year alongside Dore and Bliss in 1987. Things may have gone down a bit different path. Dore was the dogs man. Leonard was passionate about the speedway. Hence Per Jonsson trying setting that track record in 1987, because Brian Leonard spent money on the track that year to get it right and it wasn't its usual slick self. All the best Rob Edited April 30, 2016 by lucifer sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wackie Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 The lease was reduced, never quite got to the bottom of the reason. Some say it was because the terms of it wasn't adhered to, others say Allied Presentations cashed it in to keep Speedway afloat during some lean years. It was a fantastic track though and produced some great racing when prepared correctly. The stadium itself always looked temporary, but it held many happy and a few sad memories for lots of us. It's a crying shame to see the land stood as a waste ground now Used currently as an overflow car park for the football stadium and as a paradise for fly tippers! There were plans submitted last year to build on the land. An ice rink I believe, I remember rumours of an ice rink in the town being around for a good 30 years though, so whether that ever comes off who knows. The land allocated just north of Smallmead for the new stadium is now being developed into commercial units (Cheers for that Stadia UK!!) The quest to bring the Racers back is building momentum now though and a supporters trust is in the process of being formed with the support and advice provided from the Cradley fans. Give us a like and help spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/Reading-Speedway-Action-Group-490790471107024/?fref=ts 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 Always enjoyed visists to Smallmead, when sometimes it got a bit spicy on and off track and it provided one of my best memories in speedway: British League: 22 Oct 1984: Reading 32 v 46 Ipswich. No need to add anything else. Thank you Smallmead. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted April 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 Always enjoyed visists to Smallmead, when sometimes it got a bit spicy on and off track and it provided one of my best memories in speedway: British League: 22 Oct 1984: Reading 32 v 46 Ipswich. No need to add anything else. Thank you Smallmead. Anything to do with Billy Sanders? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 Anything to do with Billy Sanders? Yes indeed Steve. One of the happiest days of my life, and his - captaining his beloved Witches to a league title - followed by a Cup double initiated by a 33 - 45 away win at Hyde Road on the Saturday, five days after the league title was won at Smallmead. Happy days which were to come to an end tragically, less than six months later. Seeing his beaming face as the Witches team walked a lap of honour, and us exchanging a hug and me saying "I'm so pleased for you, that should make Mr Berry stop criticising you for only wanting to race when you are wearing an Australian race jacket", and his, "We'll see mate" followed by a wink, will stay for me forever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 Yes indeed Steve. One of the happiest days of my life, and his - captaining his beloved Witches to a league title - followed by a Cup double initiated by a 33 - 45 away win at Hyde Road on the Saturday, five days after the league title was won at Smallmead. Happy days which were to come to an end tragically, less than six months later. Seeing his beaming face as the Witches team walked a lap of honour, and us exchanging a hug and me saying "I'm so pleased for you, that should make Mr Berry stop criticising you for only wanting to race when you are wearing an Australian race jacket", and his, "We'll see mate" followed by a wink, will stay for me forever. I recall the incident when Billy had a 'disagreement' with a fan at Smallmead who was hurling abuse at him...and Billy gave his a good thump for his troubles! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben91 Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 When Stevenage played at Reading in the FA Cup a few years back we parked in what was Smallmead. Real shame that the place went to waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 I recall the incident when Billy had a 'disagreement' with a fan at Smallmead who was hurling abuse at him...and Billy gave his a good thump for his troubles! He did have a habit of thumping one or two Steve. He was known as the 'Pole Basher' by the Witches fans for a while in the late 70's. He certainly clouted a 'Swindon fan' after one heat at Blunsdon when the guy jumped onto the greyhound track and started giving Bill the w@nker sign. Bill stopped and beckoned him over, inviting him to get on his bike and show Bill how he would do it better. The guy had a pint in one hand and that was obviously not his first of the day, and he moved closer to the track until he was within range for Billy who, still sitting on his bike, threw a quick right hook to the guys jaw, knocking him backwards and into the grasp of the advancing security staff. I also remember Bill taking a dislike to Uno Johansson at Smallmead in 1982, when Johansson took Billy off in the first two attempts to run a heat. By the time Bill had dusted himself off and walked back toward the pits, Johansson was sitting on his bike by the pit gate - but wasn't sitting on his bike a few seconds later after Bill had unloaded another one of his famous right hooks. Bill decided to walk out of the meeting before he was thrown out of it, I think. He had been a boxer, of course, during his school days and knew how to look after himself in need. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor... Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 . The quest to bring the Racers back is building momentum now though and a supporters trust is in the process of being formed with the support and advice provided from the Cradley fans. Give us a like and help spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/Reading-Speedway-Action-Group-490790471107024/?fref=ts Good work Wackie.. What has happened on the Carmarthen front this week shows what can be done about the first footsteps in getting speedway back to Reading. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 The quest to bring the Racers back is building momentum now though and a supporters trust is in the process of being formed with the support and advice provided from the Cradley fans. Give us a like and help spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/Reading-Speedway-Action-Group-490790471107024/?fref=ts Done. Good luck to the 'Action Group' in their quest to bring Speedway back to Reading. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunnasPerm Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 I ended up at Smallmead on a lovely night in the summer of 2002, I think it was. I don't remember the opponent, but I'll never forget Dave Mullett. He reminded me of Peter Carr at Armadale and the centre green announcer's description of "The Smallmead bullet, Dave Mullett" was fitting. Any stadium that allowed you a view of the pits was a winner with me; Oxford, Shawfield (Glasgow), Newcastle, etc. It's a shame that the stadium was demolished for what looks like nothing and as far as I know, there's a fans' group trying to revive the club, just like Oxford and Long Eaton. I wish them all the best. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydog Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 I also remember Bill taking a dislike to Uno Johansson at Smallmead in 1982, when Johansson took Billy off in the first two attempts to run a heat. By the time Bill had dusted himself off and walked back toward the pits, Johansson was sitting on his bike by the pit gate - but wasn't sitting on his bike a few seconds later after Bill had unloaded another one of his famous right hooks. Bill decided to walk out of the meeting before he was thrown out of it, I think. He had been a boxer, of course, during his school days and knew how to look after himself in need. Think you'll find that many Reading fan's recollection wouldn't be that Uno "had Billy off", more that Billy tried twice to ride through Johansson's leg... Which seemed to be about 8 feet long! He could almost sit mid track and block the inside line with his left leg (ok might be exaggerating a little!), and Billy got a little frustrated! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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