Speedway Bid At Arsenal 1929

[Guest]

Here's an intriguing new brief item from 1929. I know no more than this - but I am certain we have a BSF member/members who may be able to provide more details. Just to emphasise - the project never materialised.

'Daily Mirror' April 1929

ANOTHER SPEEDWAY FOR LONDON
Rumours of yet another speedway for London, it is to be laid on the Arsenal Football ground at Highbury, an excellent position of course, but can London stand it?

[iris123]

Wasn't there another London football ground where it was announced speedway might move into?Down at Charlton Athletic in the 70s.Not sure what happened there apart from nothing much

[Triple.H.]

The Arsenal would no doubt have been a team of technically excellent riders who just couldn't get over the finish line.

[HertsRacer]

Wasn't there another London football ground where it was announced speedway might move into?Down at Charlton Athletic in the 70s.Not sure what happened there apart from nothing much

Though Midget Car racing was held at the Valley just after the war, the attempt to bring speedway to Charlton was at the greyhound stadium just up the road in 1966 (I think). Even got to the stage of signing riders before the stadium owner changed his mind and sold the place for redevelopment.

Edited June 23, 2016 by HertsRacer

[Guest]

Though Midget Car racing was held at the Valley just after the war, the attempt to bring speedway to Charlton was at the greyhound stadium just up the road in 1966 (I think). Even got to the stage of signing riders before the stadium owner changed his mind and sold the place for redevelopment.

 

That is the correct assessment in regard to an attempt to bring speedway to Charlton in about 1966. I have an idea there had also been a previous attempt around 1947 but that was objected to by New Cross because of its proximity to their stadium. There was one midget car meeting at The Valley in 1948 by an American team then based in London and it attracted a 50,000 crowd. But the Americans declined further midget car meetings at Charlton because of the odd shape of the track laid round the football pitch and its surface.

Edited June 23, 2016 by Guest

[HertsRacer]

 

That is the correct assessment in regard to an attempt to bring speedway to Charlton in about 1966. I have an idea there had also been a previous attempt around 1947 but that was objected to by New Cross because of its proximity to their stadium. There was one midget car meeting at The Valley in 1948 by an American team then based in London and it attracted a 50,000 crowd. But the Americans declined further midget car meetings at Charlton because of the odd shape of the track laid round the football pitch and its surface.

Not aware of any earlier attempts for speedway at Charlton. There was an application for the sport to be held at that time at Selhurst Park, home of Crystal Palace F.C.

[Guest]

 

That is the correct assessment in regard to an attempt to bring speedway to Charlton in about 1966. I have an idea there had also been a previous attempt around 1947 but that was objected to by New Cross because of its proximity to their stadium. There was one midget car meeting at The Valley in 1948 by an American team then based in London and it attracted a 50,000 crowd. But the Americans declined further midget car meetings at Charlton because of the odd shape of the track laid round the football pitch and its surface.

 

 

Not aware of any earlier attempts for speedway at Charlton. There was an application for the sport to be held at that time at Selhurst Park, home of Crystal Palace F.C.

 

I agree that my recollection of the Charlton and New Cross speedway affair is sketchy and you may well be correct HertsRacer. But I do recall the 1947 application for Crystal Palace and the use of the Selhurst Park ground. The man behind the application then was Frank Arnold who in later years was involved with the promotion at Rayleigh.

[iris123]

Though Midget Car racing was held at the Valley just after the war, the attempt to bring speedway to Charlton was at the greyhound stadium just up the road in 1966 (I think). Even got to the stage of signing riders before the stadium owner changed his mind and sold the place for redevelopment.

Maybe there were two attempts at speedway in Charlton?I am sure I read it in the Speedway Star and found the article in one of my Stars a few years back.And I didn't start buying the Star until 1973........

[Guest]

Maybe there were two attempts at speedway in Charlton?I am sure I read it in the Speedway Star and found the article in one of my Stars a few years back.And I didn't start buying the Star until 1973........

 

This gives some basic insight into old London speedway tracks:

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=42554

Edited June 24, 2016 by Guest

[HertsRacer]

 

 

 

I agree that my recollection of the Charlton and New Cross speedway affair is sketchy and you may well be correct HertsRacer. But I do recall the 1947 application for Crystal Palace and the use of the Selhurst Park ground. The man behind the application then was Frank Arnold who in later years was involved with the promotion at Rayleigh.

Just been looking through some old newspapers and found that there was a preliminary application for speedway at Charlton in 1948 along with Cheltenham, Worksop, Romford, Braintree, Brighton, Stainforth, Nottingham, Stepps (Lanarkshire) and Kings Lynn.

I know that Romford was turned down by the local council and Stepps was refused a licence. Anybody know why the other applications came to nothing at the time.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Just been looking through some old newspapers and found that there was a preliminary application for speedway at Charlton in 1948 along with Cheltenham, Worksop, Romford, Braintree, Brighton, Stainforth, Nottingham, Stepps (Lanarkshire) and Kings Lynn.

I know that Romford was turned down by the local council and Stepps was refused a licence. Anybody know why the other applications came to nothing at the time.

Ha, and interestingly when they did open at Brooklands in '69 they actually did so WITHOUT Planning Permission! Happy days!!

 

'Daily Mirror' April 1929

ANOTHER SPEEDWAY FOR LONDON

Rumours of yet another speedway for London, it is to be laid on the Arsenal Football ground at Highbury, an excellent position of course, but can London stand it?

Is this a genuine extract from the Daily Mirror?

In what context was this written? A letter to the Sports pages or in another article?

[iris123]

I do wonder how suitable the old Arsenal Stadium was for speedway.Don't think it was that big,there was no fencing around the pitch,and the front rows of the terracing werea few feet below the pitch so spectators heads were about pitch level.Any speedway fence would have made the use of the first dozen terrace steps useless,i'd guess.Not the same at Stamford Bridge and Wembley and White City for instance as they had a different shape that allowed a track outside the football pitch.Ok Wembley had to have the corners up,but at Arsenal the track would have caused far greater problems i would have thought

 

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/worlds-greatest-ground-photographic-centenary-celebration-highbury?page=0%2C4

Edited June 29, 2016 by iris123

[norbold]

I do wonder how suitable the old Arsenal Stadium was for speedway.Don't think it was that big,there was no fencing around the pitch,and the front rows of the terracing werea few feet below the pitch so spectators heads were about pitch level.Any speedway fence would have made the use of the first dozen terrace steps useless,i'd guess.Not the same at Stamford Bridge and Wembley and White City for instance as they had a different shape that allowed a track outside the football pitch.Ok Wembley had to have the corners up,but at Arsenal the track would have caused far greater problems i would have thought

 

 

Maybe that's why it never happened?

[iris123]

Maybe that's why it never happened?

That would be my guess

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

I do wonder how suitable the old Arsenal Stadium was for speedway.Don't think it was that big,there was no fencing around the pitch,and the front rows of the terracing werea few feet below the pitch so spectators heads were about pitch level.Any speedway fence would have made the use of the first dozen terrace steps useless,i'd guess.Not the same at Stamford Bridge and Wembley and White City for instance as they had a different shape that allowed a track outside the football pitch.Ok Wembley had to have the corners up,but at Arsenal the track would have caused far greater problems i would have thought

 

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/worlds-greatest-ground-photographic-centenary-celebration-highbury?page=0%2C4

You're right - the pitch at Highbury was the SMALLEST in the whole football league!

 

Mind you this apparent extract is from 1929 and I don't think either the West or East Stands (in their Art Deco glory) were built by this point - so the situation at the ground (a ground I knew and loved so well later..) wasn't as any of us (except perhaps for John!!) would be able to remember...

[iris123]

Yes,that is why i tried to put up some photos from that period.Doesn't show the pitch from a birds-eye view,which would be better,but does show how far the crowd is from the pitch and how low they stand at the front

Edited June 29, 2016 by iris123

[Ovalman]

You're right - the pitch at Highbury was the SMALLEST in the whole football league!

 

Mind you this apparent extract is from 1929 and I don't think either the West or East Stands (in their Art Deco glory) were built by this point - so the situation at the ground (a ground I knew and loved so well later..) wasn't as any of us (except perhaps for John!!) would be able to remember...

Was up at Highbury a few weeks ago, listed west and east stands now apartments, the pitch is a garden, play area. Did stadium tour of emirates with Charlie George, great character, plenty of highbury stories from the 70s

[Guest]

Here's an intriguing new brief item from 1929. I know no more than this - but I am certain we have a BSF member/members who may be able to provide more details. Just to emphasise - the project never materialised.

'Daily Mirror' April 1929

ANOTHER SPEEDWAY FOR LONDON

Rumours of yet another speedway for London, it is to be laid on the Arsenal Football ground at Highbury, an excellent position of course, but can London stand it?

 

 

 

Is this a genuine extract from the Daily Mirror?

In what context was this written? A letter to the Sports pages or in another article?

 

I found the item regarding speedway at Arsenal in 1929 when I was browsing another forum. It isn't very specific but in case you are interested Parsloes 1928 nearly here's the Link:

http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/thread/1096

Edited June 29, 2016 by Guest

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Was up at Highbury a few weeks ago, listed west and east stands now apartments, the pitch is a garden, play area. Did stadium tour of emirates with Charlie George, great character, plenty of highbury stories from the 70s

Yes I've done the tour with Charlie (my all time hero!) and it's fantastic!!

[Ovalman]

Yes I've done the tour with Charlie (my all time hero!) and it's fantastic!!

Great to hear his tales of travelling to ighbry on the bus, the brandy, whisky, and fags in the dressing room in the 71 double year! Had good chat with him, and bought 71 final shirt in shop. Fantastic day. He has taken over 60000 on tour. No chance of watching a game at the emirates with 60000 capacity and 120000 members! Super stadium.

Edited July 19, 2016 by auntie doris