(L to R) Laslo Munkasci, Peter Thorn, Peter Wrathall, Pete Seaton (Captain on machine) Trevor Buswell, Ted Spittles, (kneeling at front) Wayne Barry and Ian Champion.

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Action from Brafield

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BRAFIELD “FLYING FOXES” SPEEDWAY TEAM

 

My interest in this team stemmed from the fact that one of the men behind the operation was Paddy Mills who I had watched riding for Norwich Stars since I first went to Speedway, aged 6, in 1946

 The track was at Brafield on the Green in Northamptonshire, measuring 335 yards to the lap

During 1954 & 55 the team operated in the Southern Area League which was in the main “Amateur” racing on Sunday afternoons. This conflicted with the “Lords Day Observation Society” and numerous problems arose because of this. Various ways had to be tried, like collections or forming a Club, to circumvent these problems as there was an embargo on charging entry fees on the Sabbath. Nowadays sporting events of all types are allowed on Sundays, but it was not so in the 1950s

The S A L commenced operation in 1954 comprising 6 teams – Aldershot, Brafield, California, Eastbourne, Ringwood & Rye House. Aldershot fell by the wayside and this was unfortunate for Brafield as they had already beaten the Shots home and away. In June an injunction was issued to stop Speedway at the Brafield track and Paddy Mills resigned his position. The injunction was fought and beaten by Harry Beaumont, the track owner, so the team could continue. However Paddy had applied to open Long Eaton and had staged racing there, but no licence was forthcoming. Johnny Jones and Frank Greasley were banned for competing at Station Road. This break in racing at Brafield meant the team could no longer stage all their matches and some had to be raced for double points. This was a benefit if they won, as they did against Ringwood but losing to Eastbourne was the other side of the coin. At the end of the season the Flying Foxes had racked up 9 victories in the 16 matches that counted. This saw the team occupy 4^th place in the final table.

Top rider was Vic Hall who topped 120 points, averaging over 9 a match. Greasley & Jones also did a good job before suspension came their way. The other top rider in the team was the relative veteran, Sid George. A number of Midland Juniors gained rides with the Foxes and these included Eric Eadon, Dave Hankins & Brian Meredith. Seasons League scorers were – Vic Hall 127.5, Sid George 88, Frank Greasley 88, Johnny Jones 54, Tony Wintour 42, Doug Jackson 36, Brian Meredith 30, Dave Hankins 20, Eric Eadon 19, Nick Nicholls 18, John Cherry 18, Neil Roberts 15, Eric Croft 8, John Day 4 & John Benson 2

1955 saw the S A L commence with the 5 remaining teams again in the Competition.  This time Ringwood folded in mid-season and again Brafield were robbed of two victories as they had twice beaten Ringwood in Hampshire. The season ended with 6 of the 12 matches won and 3^rd place in the League. Vic Hall was injured during the season and this meant his retirement which was a bad blow. Frank Greasley came back from suspension then retired due to the rising costs of racing. Brian Meredith proved to be the top man of the season ably backed by Dave Hankins, Brian Miller, Neil Roberts and newcomer Colin Gooddy. Crowds were not good and again the possibility of moving, this time to Earls Barton, were mentioned. However the team saw the season through. Seasons League scorers were – Brian Meredith 102, Vic Hall 98, Dave Hankins 58, Brian Miller 45, Colin Gooddy 40, Frank Greasley 38, Neil Roberts 34, Alan Pearce 16, Hank Bird 10, Eric Eadon 9, Mike Kerry 7, Nick Nicholls 6, Eric Croft 6, Tony Eadon 5 & Mike Lawrence 2

1956 came and there was no Brafield in the Competition. The records show that they were replaced by a “Nomadic” line-up called Southern Rovers. The team included a number of the Flying Foxes riders. The team finished 3^rd of the 4 entrants but Vic Hall was injured in the first match, his comeback, and that was the end of his season. 4 victories and 2 draws were gained in the 12 matches raced in the League. Colin Goody and Eric Eadon came good and led the scorers. Seasons League scorers were – Colin Gooddy 81, Eric Eadon 71, Eric Hockaday 64, Neil Roberts 38, Tony Eadon 31, Tommy Sweetman 24, Brian Meredith 23, Mike Lawrence 15, Bert Little 10, Hank Bird 8, Graham White 6, Brian Miller 5, Leo Ramm 3, Jim Preddy 2, Dave Hankins 2, Vic Hall 0 & Loanees 8

The Rovers carried on their nomadic existence for the 1957 season before, in June, being invited to race at Rayleigh and they accepted this offer from Vic Gooden, thus becoming “Rayleigh Rovers.” Oddly enough the team won the S A L title that season

Bryan Tungate

Acknowledgement to Peter Morrish for point-score detail

(British Speedway Leagues 1946-1964)

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Tyburn Gallows

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