Charlie Barsby (RIP)

[BOBBATH]

Charlie passed away recently -born in 1932. One of the last of the old Leicester Hunters team of the fifties.  Charlie's last season for them was 1961-the year they finally dropped out of the NL. A great servant of the Hunters over many years. R.I.P. Charlie

[tigerowl]

BARSBY, Charles Robert (Charlie)

Born: April 29, 1930, Lowesby, Leicestershire, England.*

Charlie was an exciting and occasionally wild riding performer who devoted the whole of his racing career to his local club, Leicester. He started his career at a Wilf Jay Training School near Chesterfield and had practice rides at Sheffield before making his debut for the ‘Hunters’ in April 1952. Once established in the side he cemented his place with a string of heart warming shows but his hectic style upset many rival riders and fans alike. 

Charlie’s best season came in 1956 when he finished with an average of 6.27 points per match, a figure which put him third in the ‘Hunters’ averages behind Ken McKinlay and Gordon McGregor and included twelve paid double figure scores. That winter he travelled for a racing season in Australia but suffered a fractured skull in a track accident and a combination of the recovery from the injury along with the fact that Leicester were now a top flight club meant his scoring never reached the same levels again. Charlie managed to retain his immense popularity at Blackbird Road and retired after ten years with the club had seen him make 239 league and cup appearances.

1952    Leicester    NL2    44    92    82    18    100    4.35    
1953    Leicester    NL2    36    138    178    22    200    5.80    
1954    Leicester    NL2    20    74    87    10    97    5.24    
1955    Leicester    NL2    34    143    158    26    184    5.15    
1956    Leicester    NL2    32    169    225    40    265    6.27    
1957    Leicester    NL    19    69    49    17    66    3.83    
1958    Leicester    NL    12    43    37    9    46    4.28    
1959    Leicester    NL    12    48    40    11    51    4.25    
1960    Leicester    NL    19    57    51    13    64    4.49    -
1961    Leicester    NL    11    39    40    8    48    4.92    
 

[jrs]

As a Brandon supporter I remember Charlie Barsby well, and along with any Leicester rider in the fifties and sixties they were the sworn enemy. And he never failed to entertain us and rile us at the same time.

RIP Charlie, thoughts are with your family and friends.

Edited April 11, 2020 by jrs