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Do You Remember The 70's & 80's When Uk Teams Signed Unknown Foreigners? Some Good, Most Were Pants!


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Point taken sorry "iris, what was your opinion of the german's Hack,Wassermann, Riss (snr who i rated highly ) .I ask you because they were not world beaters but very talented and you know the Germany history / Future scene very well.

Good man,Sid.Just wonder if Henryk came over earlier in his career whether he would have done better or maybe the British tracks were too different for him

 

Don't think i saw Hack at all,Wassermann only once i think and lets face it Plough Lane was a lot different to most continental tracks.Riss was a very good rider indeed.

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Again, as I mentioned in another thread, Claes Jensen has perhaps (I haven't really checked) the worst record in British speedway; one point from 13 matches. I did see him at Plough Lane.

 

Halifax's Adam Olkiewicz hasn't been mentioned yet, and he was poor. Sadly seems he passed away in 2008 at the young age of 54.

 

Another was Norwegian Sigvart Pedersen. While he failed to reach the 2.00 figure in 16 matches, from what I saw of him, he did look better than that.

 

Jiri Hnidak was one of the few real Czech failures (at King's Lynn in 1982).

 

There were a lot who didn't really get a chance to shine, although it's doubtful that they would have impressed at all. These include Jan Puk, Jozef Kafel, Rauli Makinen, Marek Kepa, Christoph Betzl, Uno Johansson, and Bernt Odermatt.

 

Steve

Yes Claes Jensen of Poole tops (or should that be bottoms?) the list by a lap or more. Next lowest are Jan Gravningen (Halifax) who had a couple of respectable seasons at Birmingham later on and Peter Prinsloo (Wembley) who was clearly talented but too inexperienced and went on to become quite a popular rider with his later clubs in the UK.

 

Hnidak and Siggy Pedersen are also on the list.

 

The others you mention include several that I recall but none of them stuck around long enough (Swindon's Leonard Raba was another example - 5 matches no points).

 

Perhaps the epitome of this thread was Jerzy Kowalski at Wolves in 1978 who was sent packing before he could make his league debut.

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Veijo Tuorniemi the Finn at Swindon who was recommended by Bob Radford who was a great judge really struggled at Swindon.

He did reasonably well at Eastbourne averaging, if I recall, a six point average...but never did himself justice at Swindon.

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Late 90's early 00's Ipswich signed a young Aussie Billy Lellman ?

Came with a good reputation but didn't last long over here, probably a couple of months if that.

I certainly can't remember what points he scored if any, maybe he was homesick or didn't like the lifestyle overhere.

To answer directly the question posed in the Thread Title.

 

Yes - I remember the 70s. :t:

 

I am still living in them. :party: :party: :party::unsure::blink:

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I wanted to extend our horizons

There's been plenty of Foreign flops both before the 60s and after the 70s. There's been plenty of British ones too.

Billy Spiers and Chris Sully during their very short spell at Cowley.

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Yes Claes Jensen of Poole tops (or should that be bottoms?) the list by a lap or more. Next lowest are Jan Gravningen (Halifax) who had a couple of respectable seasons at Birmingham later on and Peter Prinsloo (Wembley) who was clearly talented but too inexperienced and went on to become quite a popular rider with his later clubs in the UK.

 

Hnidak and Siggy Pedersen are also on the list.

 

The others you mention include several that I recall but none of them stuck around long enough (Swindon's Leonard Raba was another example - 5 matches no points).

 

Perhaps the epitome of this thread was Jerzy Kowalski at Wolves in 1978 who was sent packing before he could make his league debut.

Oh, I see; you were just looking at a terrible individual season, rather than a terrible British career! Of course, another rider who failed consistently was Wimbledon's own Patrick Pawson...

 

Steve

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I still think that T. Rex are the very best band EVER and that Quick Joey Small by the Ohio Express should be played at ALL Cradley matches 2010 untill time ends. SAD. Eh?

I will have to email Nigel and Co!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by berniev123
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Chris Sully was awesome in one match I think

Vs Leicester in the IL KOC or is my memory playing tricks

I think he was a Leicester rider too and joined the Mighty Cheetahs to get some laps in

Yes he was a Leicester rider...I recall him riding at White City in 1978.

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