Worst Ever Performance By Your Team

[BOBBATH]

No question for me-in October 1965- in a 13 heat BL league meeting-the one and only Newport Wasps( who'd had a pretty good season) went down 64-14 at Wolves-I think it may have been the last meeting of the season-what made it worse was it occurred on my birthday while I was in sick bay with mumps-this is the story of my life!!

[chunky]

I can't say that it was the worst performance overall - as we did fight back to get a draw - but watching the Dons go 16 points down after 4 heats in the 1989 KOC semi against Poole was pretty horrifying! Funny thing is, we - the "Pit Bend Loonies" - never lost faith, and kept behind the team 110%; we even had a neutral send a letter to the SS the following week commending the Wimbledon team AND fans on the fighting spirit we showed!

 

A particularly depressing performance I witnessed was at Halifax in 1982 (I think), when we showed absolutely no fight (we held an emergency meeting of the supporters' club in the Shay Hotel afterwards!)...

 

Steve

[BL65]

No question for me-in October 1965- in a 13 heat BL league meeting-the one and only Newport Wasps( who'd had a pretty good season) went down 64-14 at Wolves-I think it may have been the last meeting of the season-what made it worse was it occurred on my birthday while I was in sick bay with mumps-this is the story of my life!!

It may well have been the worst result for Newport Bob, but possibly not the worst performance. Wolves were in an outstanding run of home form at that time, with a group of riders that peaked at the same time. From 20th August to the end of the season they rode and won eight home matches, including five in the league. They beat Swindon 54-24 (although Briggs was missing for the Robins), Poole 50-28, Cradley Heath 65-31, Wimbledon (who finished second in the league) 50-28, West Ham (league champions) 52-26, Newport 64-14, Glasgow 56-21 (with Charlie Monk dropping 5 points) and Hackney 44-34. Jim Airey missed the last two meetings, having returned to Australia and number 9 rider Paul Sharples was brought into the team. Wimbledon and West Ham were both at full strength. Newport never had a chance against the might of the Wolves team on that October evening. Even though the scores were one-sided I recall that the quality of the racing was good.

 

The Wolves heat leaders performed well enough in those eight meetings, with Peter Jarman averaging 8.52, Bob Andrews 9.09 and Jim Airey 9.76. James Bond rode in one of the meetings at reserve to average 12.00 and Brian Maxted, riding mainly as reserve, averaged 8.52. The second strings were in a rich vein of form at Monmore in this run of matches, with Gordon Guasco averaging 9.25, Tommy Sweetman 10.55 and Cyril Francis 10.67. The Wasps had no answer when up against that Wolverhampton team. In October Wolves also went to Exeter and thrashed the home team 48-30, the only home league defeat of the season for the Falcons. 15 full or paid maximums were recorded in the last eight home meetings, three of them by Cyril Francis.

Edited March 9, 2017 by BL65

[iris123]

Obviously not my team,but possibly the worst score i ever saw at a speedway meeting was my visit across the river to see England take on Poland in the first test at Hackney.England gained a 5-1 in every heat apart from the second to last when unfortunately Ray Wilson fell and was escluded.Plech for Poland was also excluded so the heat finished 3-2 to England and Poland managed to avoid an embarassing score line

 

details thanks to Brian Collins internationalspeedway site

 

1st Test at Hackney 12th July 1974
Ht 1: Wilson, Thomas, Jancarz, Filipiak (f exc) 66.4 5-1 5-1
Ht 2: Louis, Betts, Plach, Glucklich 66.6 5-1 10-2
Ht 3: Jessup, Collins, Mucha, Fabiszewski 67.0 5-1 15-3
Ht 4: Louis, Betts, Jancarz, Waloszek 65.2 5-1 20-4
Ht 5: Collins, Jessup, Plech, Glucklich 68.0 5-1 25-5
Ht 6: Thomas, Wilson, Fabiszewski, Mucha 68.0 5-1 30-6
Ht 7: Jessup, Collins, Jancarz, Waloszek 67.2 5-1 35-7
Ht 8: Thomas, Wilson, Plech, Glucklich 67.0 5-1 40-8
Ht 9: Louis, Betts, Mucha, Fabiszewski 65.8 5-1 45-9
Ht 10: Wilson, Thomas, Jancarz, Waloszek 67.0 5-1 50-10
Ht 11: Louis, Betts, Glucklich, Plech 66.8 5-1 55-11
Ht 12: Collins, Jessup, Fabiszewski, Mucha 67.2 5-1 60-12
Ht 13: Louis, Betts, Jancarz, Waloszek 66.8 5-1 65-13
Ht 14: Jessup, Collins, Glucklich, Plech 67.0 5-1 70-14
Ht 15: Wilson, Thomas, Mucha, Fabiszewski (f exc) 67.2 5-1 75-15
Ht 16: Collins, Jessup, Jancarz, Waloszek 67.0 5-1 80-16
Ht 17: Thomas, Glucklich, Plech (f exc), Wilson (f exc) 67.2 3-2 83-18
Ht 18: Louis, Betts, Mucha, Waloszek 66.8 5-1 88-19

Edited March 9, 2017 by iris123

[Sidney the robin]

1983 Midland cup semi final Cradley v Swindon 60-18 a real battering the Heathens were a great side.For Swindon i think Crump got 9 of the total.?If i remember right it was a double header with Belle Vue on first ( i remember Scarisbrick riding) i think Belle Vue scored 21 points.?

[Terry]

1980 Spring Gold Cup Hackney 20 King's Lynn 57. Even Lynn's reserve Pete Smith scored a max, while Bo Petersen top scored for the Hawks with 6.

I suppose it could've been a good thing, because it spurred us on to our best league finish!

 

Obviously not my team,but possibly the worst score i ever saw at a speedway meeting was my visit across the river to see England take on Poland in the first test at Hackney.England gained a 5-1 in every heat apart from the second to last when unfortunately Ray Wilson fell and was escluded.Plech for Poland was also excluded so the heat finished 3-2 to England and Poland managed to avoid an embarassing score line

 

details thanks to Brian Collins internationalspeedway site

 

1st Test at Hackney 12th July 1974
Ht 1: Wilson, Thomas, Jancarz, Filipiak (f exc) 66.4 5-1 5-1
Ht 2: Louis, Betts, Plach, Glucklich 66.6 5-1 10-2
Ht 3: Jessup, Collins, Mucha, Fabiszewski 67.0 5-1 15-3
Ht 4: Louis, Betts, Jancarz, Waloszek 65.2 5-1 20-4
Ht 5: Collins, Jessup, Plech, Glucklich 68.0 5-1 25-5
Ht 6: Thomas, Wilson, Fabiszewski, Mucha 68.0 5-1 30-6
Ht 7: Jessup, Collins, Jancarz, Waloszek 67.2 5-1 35-7
Ht 8: Thomas, Wilson, Plech, Glucklich 67.0 5-1 40-8
Ht 9: Louis, Betts, Mucha, Fabiszewski 65.8 5-1 45-9
Ht 10: Wilson, Thomas, Jancarz, Waloszek 67.0 5-1 50-10
Ht 11: Louis, Betts, Glucklich, Plech 66.8 5-1 55-11
Ht 12: Collins, Jessup, Fabiszewski, Mucha 67.2 5-1 60-12
Ht 13: Louis, Betts, Jancarz, Waloszek 66.8 5-1 65-13
Ht 14: Jessup, Collins, Glucklich, Plech 67.0 5-1 70-14
Ht 15: Wilson, Thomas, Mucha, Fabiszewski (f exc) 67.2 5-1 75-15
Ht 16: Collins, Jessup, Jancarz, Waloszek 67.0 5-1 80-16
Ht 17: Thomas, Glucklich, Plech (f exc), Wilson (f exc) 67.2 3-2 83-18
Ht 18: Louis, Betts, Mucha, Waloszek 66.8 5-1 88-19

 

That scoreline would probably be reversed today. (Unless Woffinden could be arsed to ride!)

[steve roberts]

In 1978 when White City were beaten at home by Ipswich in the 2nd leg of the KO Cup 23-54!

 

Although White City's away record that season still stood up well their home record was showing signs of impending doom...and so it proved with the imminent closure of speedway at Wood Lane. Sad occasion for me as I used to enjoy my visits to White City.

[iris123]

 

 

That scoreline would probably be reversed today. (Unless Woffinden could be arsed to ride!)

Sad to say,but i think you are spot on

[Grachan]

Seen Swindon thumped many times. It's all part of being a Robins fan.

 

The one performance that stands out for me as truly dreadful is NOT losing 21-56 to home to Oxford because if I said that it would set Rob Peasley off agan. (Plus Oxford were all conquering anyway at that time so it was expected we would lose)

 

No. The worst for me is losing the 2007 play-offs at Coventry after going into a 10 point lead with a 5-1 in the first heat. I just remember standing there towards the end watching Coventry in front time after time and wanting the ground to swallow me up.

[Sotonian]

It has to be 1998, Poole 27 Ipswich 63, during Ipswich's all conquering season. Yes, they were very strong but Poole were awful that night.

[lucifer sam]

 

The one performance that stands out for me as truly dreadful is NOT losing 21-56 to home to Oxford because if I said that it would set Rob Peasley off agan. (Plus Oxford were all conquering anyway at that time so it was expected we would lose)

 

 

It wasn't expected that you'd lose by as many as 21-56 though. What a night!!!!!!!!! Oxford went into the meeting needing just 21 points to clinch the bonus point to win the league. We never through for a minute that the Robins would finish the 13 races on 21 points. And that Per Sorensen would get a paid max on his return to the team who sacked him earlier that year. (Sorry Grachan, you seem to have set me off anyway )

 

Mine is Oxford 28 Coventry 64 from early 2007. Live on Sky. Utterly embarrassing.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited March 10, 2017 by lucifer sam

[Grachan]

 

It wasn't expected that you'd lose by as many as 21-56 though. What a night!!!!!!!!! Oxford went into the meeting needing just 21 points to clinch the bonus point to win the league. We never through for a minute that the Robins would finish the 13 races on 21 points. And that Per Sorensen would get a paid max on his return to the team who sacked him earlier that year. (Sorry Grachan, you seem to have set me off anyway )

 

Mine is Oxford 28 Coventry 64 from early 2007. Live on Sky. Utterly embarrassing.

 

All the best

Rob

 

We got the tactics wrong. We thought WE only needed to get 21 points to STOP you winning the league.

[customhouseregular]

West Ham put in a poor performance?...never!

[norbold]

West Ham put in a poor performance?...never!

Very well put, chr. I have been trying to rack my brains thinking of one but so far none come to mind!

[lucifer sam]

Very well put, chr. I have been trying to rack my brains thinking of one but so far none come to mind!

 

I would have thought there were a few in 1955...

 

All the best

Rob

[BOBBATH]

Read with interest your post BL about Wolves end of season run- I had totally forgotten that, they ended up 7th I notice -one place behind the Wasps I ent back and read the report of the meeting in the Star and you are right -there are comments made about the quality of the racing-including PV being overtaken by Sweetmanand partner after a lightning gate. I see Alby Golden prevented a whitewash (no racist comment intended) and even then that was because Jim Airey had been bumped into the fence by Geoff Penniket who then dropped out due to e.f.

Blimey BL65-you must have attended a whole pile of meetings in 1965-how many do you reckon?

 

 

I would have thought there were a few in 1955...

 

All the best

Rob

Sorry Lucifer- just looked at the 1955 results for the Hammers and though they finished bottom- there didn't seem to be any blowouts along the lines of others mentioned here. -so reckon CHR and norbold have a point here.

[norbold]

I would have thought there were a few in 1955...

 

All the best

Rob

They weren't my team then.

[Paulco]

That's an easy one . Away to Edinburgh in the league in June 2010 . There was rumours we were average fixing to fit in Joe Screen , but I thought " no , we wouldn't do that " .

But what followed was the most embarrassing two hours in my speedway supporting life . I lost count at the number of riders having an ( ef ) at the tapes and riders pulling up with bike problems .

The culmination was the most farcical heat 15 ever . James Grieves crawled away from the tapes , Matthew Wethers ( Edinburgh were well aware of what we were up to by this point ) followed him and when James pulled onto the grass , Wethers followed suit . That left Travis McGowan for us and Kalle Katajisto for them , couple of laps into the race Katajisto falls leaving McGowan unsure whether to finish , but he did and the resulting Glasgow 3-0 ( although we got well hammered ) mucked up calculations somewhat .

But the whole meeting left a sour taste in the mouths of both sets of fans who were in attendance that sorry night and I hope I never see anything like it again .

[BL65]

 

Blimey BL65-you must have attended a whole pile of meetings in 1965-how many do you reckon?

 

It varied from two to four meetings per week in those days, around 80 meetings in 1965. As more tracks opened over the years it was sometimes up to six in a week at times.

[BOBBATH]

That's great BL65- I managed over 30 in 65, but sadly had no transport (or money)-did you keep all the programmes (like me)-which tracks did you go to on a regular basis- I would guess CH and Wolves and maybe Coventry- a lucky guy indeed. Did you get to all of the tracks at one time or another in 1965? I'd forgotten Plant was in the Leicester team in 1968-any memories of Malcolm Shakespeare spring to mind? Seeing the six tracks a week makes me think I should have stayed in the UK for a few more years.