Tamworth

Tamworth have had speedway at 3 venues, this page concerns itself with Deer Park, Watling Street, Fazeley, Staffs which saw action between 1947 - 1950

Chris says: Tamworth speedway has long gone and the only reminder is the name of the housing estate that was built there and they named the road onto the estate Deer Park road. There is no evidence after 60 years that a stadium ever stood here. I guess that's progress. Shame as it is very close to me.

Just found your site and have been looking through a lot of the old stadium photos. Some of them are quite sad to see but bring back some good memories.

With regard to Tamworth , my father used to live in Fazeley and used to go to watch the Hounds in their day and in fact my grandmother (his mother) lived in a bungalow on Deer Park Road until her passing in 1998. The bungalow was built on the actual track. I remember digging her front garden one afternoon and coming across some hard gritty material, which my father claimed was shale from the track! Looking back on it now, it could possibly have been hardcore material but I would like to think it was the old track I had unearthed. My father was very specific about where the pits used to be, the stands, entrance, etc when standing out in the garden so I’m inclined to take his word for it!

I have visited some defunct speedway sites over the years including Leicester, Milton Keynes (both sites), Long Eaton, Cradley, Bradford (Odsal), etc but never had a camera with me but to see some of the places is a great shame and you come away wishing you hadn’t seen some of them.

John Says: It is always worth visiting this website periodically as the content is being added to all of the time

Photo taken by my father George W Bott and the originals are all in my collection. Brian Bott
Team 1947: Back row ?, Charlie Oates, Ted Gibson, Cyril Page, "Westy", Steve Langton, Bill Harris, Fred Yates. Front: Jack Baxter and Arthur Payne.

This photograph is from the opening meeting 30 April 1947. That is a hound on the racejacket as Tamworth were known as the hounds 1947-49 and the Tammies 1950 Entertainer George Formby opened the track and can be seen above pushing a rider who is unknown to me. George was a speedway fan and made appearances at tracks in the north. Yes for anyone under the age of 50 the lady is wearing a dead animal, probably fox?

Colin Greenwell says:I think the Tamworth rider with George Formby is Tamworth captain Steve Langton. The lady with the fur coat could be George's wife Beryl

Trevor Redmond (left) chatting to a Tamworth rider, can you help by advising me of the Tamworth riders name and hopefully the year and also the team Trevor was riding for John

2nd from left: Cec Hookham,
John, The chap with all the hair is Peter Orpwood on his right is Steve Langton an Aussie - not Eric - and on Peter's left is Lionel Watling who also raced for some time at Leicester with me in 1953 - 54. The others I am not sure about including Jack Baxter. Cheers, Reg Fearman

George Wallett says: I have cracked the Tamworth picture for you. It was of the 1949 Hounds team. From left to right on the photo - Ray Beaumont, Basil Harris, Cecil Hookham, Steve Langton, Peter Orpwood, Lionel Watling and Bill Dalton. On the machine Harry Saunders. Tamworth finished third in the old National League Division 3.

George Wallett says: Have almost completed the Tammies of 1950 photo. On the photo at the back from left to right unknown rider, Cecil Hookham, Dick Tolley and Lionel Watling. At the front Brian Wilson, Ivor Davies, Eric Boothroyd and Laurie Schofield. Could you send me a blown up picture of the rider on the left at the back and then I may be able to recognise him

Finally decided who the rider on the left of the photo at the top is - Bill Humphries and he only rode in the first match a challenge. I have a friend who has every Birmingham programme from 1946 onwards and also most Tamworth ones from 1947-50. Regards George Wallett
Hi my name is Carolyn Carter, my cousin was Michael Bradwell the Tamworth mascot in the photos. And my uncle was Lionel Watling. How lovely to see these photos.

Bill Harris