Guest Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 (edited) I have failed to trace the actual recorded attendances, but I am certain that both Wembley and West Ham had crowds in excessive of 80,000 for meetings in the 1946 season - or it could just have been a Wembley v West Ham clash? I would very much appreciate clarification of this matter please. Edited March 21, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 I have failed to trace the actual recorded attendances, but I am certain that both Wembley and West Ham had crowds in excessive of 80,000 for meetings in the 1946 season - or it could just have been a Wembley v West Ham clash? I would very much appreciate clarification of this matter please. Certainly, when speaking to Freddie Williams he told me that he could remember riding in front of 70,000 plus at Wembley. Hope this help gustix. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 I am pretty certain West Ham had a crowd of 80,00 on more than one occasion. Norbold will know for sure, I am pretty certain West Ham had a crowd of 80,00 on more than one occasion. Norbold will know for sure, 80,000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HertsRacer Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Certainly, when speaking to Freddie Williams he told me that he could remember riding in front of 70,000 plus at Wembley. Hope this help gustix. My late father in law was a Wembley fan after the war and a member of their supporters club. He kept his membership card and some of their newsletters (which I now have) which show that in 1946 the supporters club had over 62000 members, so crowds of 80000 could have been very possible. I do remember reading of a London Cup match between Wembley and West Ham attracting 80000 with a further 20000 listening to a radio broadcast of the match in the car park. Can't remember the year though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) My late father in law was a Wembley fan after the war and a member of their supporters club. He kept his membership card and some of their newsletters (which I now have) which show that in 1946 the supporters club had over 62000 members, so crowds of 80000 could have been very possible. I do remember reading of a London Cup match between Wembley and West Ham attracting 80000 with a further 20000 listening to a radio broadcast of the match in the car park. Can't remember the year though. That may well have been the match in 1946 that I was trying to recollect in the OP. Wembley v West Ham does now come to mind as one of the massive attendances of 1946 which was the first post-war season. Edited March 22, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) My late father in law was a Wembley fan after the war and a member of their supporters club. He kept his membership card and some of their newsletters (which I now have) which show that in 1946 the supporters club had over 62000 members, so crowds of 80000 could have been very possible. I do remember reading of a London Cup match between Wembley and West Ham attracting 80000 with a further 20000 listening to a radio broadcast of the match in the car park. Can't remember the year though. The lock-out with 20,000 outside was the final match of the 1946 season, and it was actually Wembley v Wimbledon. There was also a 85,000 crowd reported for Wembley v West Ham earlier in the 1946 season. All the best Rob Edited March 22, 2017 by lucifer sam 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 Not counting World Finals (the 1981 World Final at Wembley was the meeting I attended with the highest number of people of any meeting I went to) but the Australia vs. Poland Daily Mirror Tournament meeting at Cowley in 1973 was packed to the rafters I recall. A capacity of 10,000 has often been quoted...not sure how accurate that figure is but it seemed like it at the time! Probably the best supported meeting at Cowley in my life time but Dad talks of crowds somewhat larger during Oxford's formative years and if you weren't inside the stadium by 6pm then you could forget it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) Not counting World Finals (the 1981 World Final at Wembley was the meeting I attended with the highest number of people of any meeting I went to) but the Australia vs. Poland Daily Mirror Tournament meeting at Cowley in 1973 was packed to the rafters I recall. A capacity of 10,000 has often been quoted...not sure how accurate that figure is but it seemed like it at the time! Probably the best supported meeting at Cowley in my life time but Dad talks of crowds somewhat larger during Oxford's formative years and if you weren't inside the stadium by 6pm then you could forget it! An interesting Post steve roberts but IMO a little off topic - the tread is 1946 80,000-plus Attendances. But I suppose the 'usual gang' are poised to jump on me for making this comment! Edited March 23, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 27 June 1946 Wembley v West Ham (ACU Cup) attendance 85,000 11 July 1946 Wembley v West Ham (London Cup) attendance 85,000 3 October 1946 Wembley v Wimbledon (ACU Cup) attendance 85,000 Source: When the Lions Roared - Lush and Chaplin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 Sorry Gustix I'm going off topic, does anyone know the attendance for the first Golden Ommer at Dudley Wood. I've got it in my head it was 20,000. Proberly a senile moment. Apologies again Gustix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) On a slight parallel, West Ham had a crowd of 82,000 in 1933 for an England v Australia test match. I'm not sure if this was the highest-ever speedway attendance at Custom House or not. Over to you, Norbold! PS I'm also wondering what was the best crowd at the huge Odsal bowl in 1946. Could that have topped 80,000? All the best Rob Edited March 23, 2017 by lucifer sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 On a slight parallel, West Ham had a crowd of 82,000 in 1933 for an England v Australia test match. I'm not sure if this was the highest-ever speedway attendance at Custom House or not. Over to you, Norbold! PS I'm also wondering what was the best crowd at the huge Odsal bowl in 1946. Could that have topped 80,000? All the best Rob It's generally accepted now that many of those huge pre-war crowds were exaggerated. That West Ham example for instance is thought to have been closer to 40,000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 The crowd at Wembley in 1981 sometimes gets questioned the place was heaving as i can remember.An amazing atmosphere god knows how many coaches were outside from all over the country.Great days, as good as Cardiff is it is not on par with Wembley never will be. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 The crowd at Wembley in 1981 sometimes gets questioned the place was heaving as i can remember.An amazing atmosphere god knows how many coaches were outside from all over the country.Great days, as good as Cardiff is it is not on par with Wembley never will be. Tremendous atmosphere...remember it well and although I went to many other World Finals around Europe it was never the same. When Wembley no longer became a speedway venue I feel that was start of the decline of the sport although there were many other factors also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 Tremendous atmosphere...remember it well and although I went to many other World Finals around Europe it was never the same. When Wembley no longer became a speedway venue I feel that was start of the decline of the sport although there were many other factors also.To be honest Steve i was not a fan of the track but everytime i went there there was always a buzz.I have been to about twenty football matches at the new Wembley and again it is not the same as the old one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 To be honest Steve i was not a fan of the track but everytime i went there there was always a buzz.I have been to about twenty football matches at the new Wembley and again it is not the same as the old one. I did a tour of the old Wembley before it was pulled down...and glad that I did! Even got to see the crossbar that was stuck by the ball (Geoff Hurst) during the 66 World Cup causing debate ever since...did it cross the line or not? Been to the old Wembley three times. Once for Speedway and twice American Football but never for football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 One of the greatest experiences of my life was being at Wembley in 1972 for the World Final. My only disappointment was Briggo's injury. I have been to Cardiff too. It simply doesn't compare. Great occasions at Wembley, sadly now lost to Speedway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 Would have loved to have been at that twk to see Bernie come second, I know your views are totally different to that because of what happened but each to their own. I managed to get a copy of the program which I've still got despite getting rid of most of my other momentos from the past 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 Would have loved to have been at that twk to see Bernie come second, I know your views are totally different to that because of what happened but each to their own. I managed to get a copy of the program which I've still got despite getting rid of most of my other momentos from the past I have a copy of the Programme somewhere in my cupboards too Bruno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 (edited) Persson's move on Briggs was disgraceful. The '72 and '73 finals had perhaps the worst-ever referee for World Finals (the starts were an utter joke). It beggers belief that Persson wasn't excluded from the re-run by George Transpurger. All the best Rob Edited March 24, 2017 by lucifer sam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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