Wembley

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Defunct Speedway Tracks

Wembley Speedway

Wembley had 3 circuits. This page is concerned with the Wembley Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex off and on 1929-1981

A panoramic view of our once national stadium, I was there amidst a massive crowd in 1975 when Ole Olsen was crowned world champion.

Courtesy of Fred Pallett

Roger Frogley 1929

Roger Frogley won the British championship title of the 1929 Star Championship. He is shown aboard a Harley Peashooter.

As a schoolboy I used to attend the Speedway at Wembley Stadium where my father would often be on duty as a member of the British Red Cross Society.

Accidents were frequent and needed BRCS attention. I remember an occasion (I was not actually there that night) when a rider fell and was trapped with his head under the gravel board at the foot of the safety fence. My recollection is that it was Bronco Wilson, but I cannot be sure. I wonder if you can confirm this.

On a separate point I think you will find that BAOR stands for British Army of the Rhine, not as printed.

There was an aero modellers' shop at Wembley Triangle (a few hundred metres from the Stadium) during and a little after WW2 named after Wally Kilmister but we boys could never get the delightful lady who ran it to explain the
connection.

I was a pupil at Wembley Hill School destroyed but not demolished by a doodle bug (V1) in 1944. By then I had left to go to Willesden Tech.

Kind regards

Professor David Cheeseman

The Pre-War Lions

by Robert Rogers

1929, the sport of Dirt Track Racing had arrived in Great Britain in 1928, and had taken the country by storm. Sir Arthur Elvin “ Mr Wembley Stadium” decided it was time for the `Lions to Roar`, and brought the sport to the Empire Stadium.

From the start he wanted the best, and there could be no better man for the job that the `father` of Speedway, Johnnie Hoskins. John became Team Manager, but not everything started well. Other teams had already taken a lot of the top riders, but that did not stop Johnnie.

The Lions, captained by Buster Frogley, rode in red & white race jackets. The rest of the team were, Vic Deale, Len Reeves, Nobby Key, Crawley Rouse, Bert Fairweather, Alf Chick and Jack Jackson.
The expected surge of fans did not happen, but Johnnie Hoskins using all the tricks he had learnt as a Showman in Australia, soon came up with an idea, A Supporters Club! With all this involved, plus some non-speedway events during the meetings, it soon had the fans arriving. The Lions finished fifth in the Southern League, which was won by Stamford Bridge.

1930 and the Lions found a league position they liked, the top! They won the Southern League. They also won the First London Cup. This year also saw the first London Riders Championship, which was held at Crystal Palace and won by Jack Ormston of Wembley.

1931 and the Lions did it again, Southern league Champions. They were also National Trophy Winners, beating Stamford Bridge.

1932 saw the Southern & Northern League being replaced by the National League. A lot of the Northern teams dropped out, so there was also a National League Championship. Wembley came second in the National League to Stamford Bridge, but won the National League Championship. Wembley again won the National Trophy, beating Belle Vue. They also won the London Cup again. (Some books only show the one National League, and that is the Championship one).

1933 was Wembley’s worst ever season (with the exception of 1970 & 71), when they came 6^th. They were runner up in the National Trophy to Belle Vue. It was not all bad as they won the London Cup for the 3^rd time out of four.

1934 saw a lot of the top National League teams putting out second teams in the National League Division II as well as teams in Division I. Wembley came second in both Divisions. Belle Vue won Division One and West Ham won Division Two. Again they won the London Cup.

1935 saw a National League that was more like a `London League` with Belle Vue who won it being the only non-London team.

The final table was;

Belle Vue
Harringay
West Ham
Wembley
Hackney Wick
New Cross
Wimbledon

Wembley still managed to enter the records book, when they pay the first ever £1000 transfer fee for Frank Charles from Belle Vue

1936 Wembley came second to Belle Vue, but still went in to the record books by staging the first ever World Speedway Championship, which of course had to be won by a Wembley Lion, the Australian captain of Wembley, Lional Van Pragg. Lional went on to win an even greater award when he was awarded the George Medal for Bravery in World War Two.

1937 Saw the Lions second again, this time to West Ham.

1938 League Champions were the New Cross Rangers, second were West Ham and with equal Match Points were Wembley, who ended third by just 7.5 race points.

1939 Saw the Lions on the hunt for another National League Title. Lying third, one point behind Wimbledon and two behind Belle Vue, the League came to a sudden halt owing to somebody’s plans to win a greater League, domination of the World!

By the time Speedway returned in 1946 it would be a different world, one that the Lions would take full advantage of.

-----/-----

The Post-War Lions

Lions from 46-56

After the war, the world had changed, and for the next 10 years the Lions won and won, both Team and Solo events. The Lions returned, with their Manager Major Alex Jackson, forming a team of riders, who had continued to race via the various open meetings held by some clubs during the war, pre-war riders and youngsters, who had learnt to ride motorbikes in the armed forces. During World War Two Bill Kitchen & Tommy Price had ridden in the Wartime British Individual Championship. In 1941 Bill was second, in 1943 he came second again, with Tommy Price coming third. In 1945 he won it.

1946 the Lions won both the National League and the London Cup. On the solo front, there was no World Championship, but the biggest event was the British Riders Championship, which was won by Tommy Price, with the Lions Captain, Bill Kitchen, coming second. Bill made up for the second place by winner the German Championship in Hanover.

Racing in Germany was organised by the British Occupational Army of the Rhine (BOAR). As well as some of the top star of the sport going to Germany, some of the troops showed great promise. One these was a youngster called Jimmy Gooch, who was that good, he was given a contract to ride for the Lions as soon as he was demobbed.

The Laurels at Wimbledon was rode as a `Best Pairs`, which was won by Tommy Price & Bob Wells.

1947, League Champions again, plus the Div 1 British Speedway Cup. In the National Trophy, they were runners-up to Wimbledon. Again, no World Championship, but Bill Kitchen was again runner-up in the British Championship.

1948, and the poor Lions were made homeless for most of the season, as there was a minor event being held at Wembley, the 1948 Olympic games! Despite this, the Lions were in 4^thplace the league, plus won both the National Trophy and the London Cup. Most matches were held at Wimbledon, with the first home match not being held until September. This match saw 60,000 plus fans watch the Lions take on the Dons. On the solo front, Split Waterman, won the London Riders Championship.

1949 saw the first English winner of the World Championship, with the Lions Tommy Price taking the trophy. This was the first and only time that the top four riders in the world came from one Country, Tommy Price, Jack Parker, Louis Lawson & Norman Parker, all from England. The team, now back home won both the League and London Cup.

1950, a new decade, but Life with the Lions, was still a victorious one, with the Lions taking both the League and the London Cup. Another first in the World Championship, this time it was Dragon who was a Lion, when Wembley’s Welsh Wizard Freddie Williams won the title, becoming the only Welshman ever to do so. Bruce Abernethy won the New Zealand Championship back in his homeland.

1951, and the victories go on, League and London Cup yet again. The Lions were runners up in the National Trophy, again to Wimbledon. Bruce Abernathy retained his New Zealand Championship.

1952, only won the League this year! In the World Final, Lions Freddie Williams and Bob Oakley came 2^nd & 3^rd.the winner was a certain Mr Jack Young, a West Ham Hammer.

1953 saw another League Championship, another runner up in the National Trophy to Wimbledon, and another World Champion, with Freddie Williams winning it for a second time. This was the last time that Wembley won the League Title.

1954 was another successful year; with the Lions collecting the silver wear of the National Trophy and the London Cup. In the World Championship, a young Lion, Brian Crutcher took 2^nd place. Ronnie Moore, Wimbledon was the Winner, and Olly Nygren, Sweden, was 3rd.

1955, again owing to events at Wembley, over half the `home` matches were rode at their opponent’s tracks. Despite this, the Lions were 3^rd in the league. In the National Trophy they were runners up to Norwich. In the World Championship, Eric Williams became the last Lion to mount the winners’ rostrum when he came joint 3^rd with Barry Briggs.

1956 was the last year that the Lions would race in the National League, when they came second. Brian Crutcher won the London Riders Championship.

1957, saw a very different Speedway World, no Lions! In February, Sir Arthur Elvin died. He had always championed the Lions cause, despite objections from the other Wembley Directors. In March it was announced that the Lions would no longer take part in Speedway, and all riders were sold off, or retired. It proved that in Speedway, even being one of the best, does not mean you will go on forever.

Even the League was different, after many years of top London Clubs `holding court`; with Manchester’s Belle Vue Aces being the only real challenge, it was now just the Dons from Wimbledon who represented the Capital in Division One.

The stadium was still used for World Final events, but was now just one of the stadiums to hold the World Final. In 1964 it saw the first test between Great Britain and the USSR. It will be the 1970`s before the Lions would return to the World of Speedway, and then only for two seasons, but no more a Championship Team. In 1971 they could not even take part in the London Cup because their home season was too short.

Wembley Stadium, like the Lions is now only just a memory in the minds of the older fans.

Daily Mail Trophy winners. Back row: Cliff Parkinson, Col Stewart, Wally Kilmister, Lionel Van Praag, Charlie Shelton, Jack Jackson. Front Row. Buster Frogley, Norman Evans, Colin Watson (capt) Johnnie Hoskins, Jack Ormston, George Greenwood, Harry Whitfield. The mascot is Ian Hoskins.

1932 Team, league champions: Lionel Van Praag, Reg Bounds, Ginger Lees, Colin Watson (captain) Jack Ormston, George Greenwood, Harry Whitfield

Harry Whitfield

Courtesy of Colin Greenwell

Harry Whitfield with an extremely large trophy he won in 1930 at the Edinburgh Marine Gardens track. The trophy is 3 feet 6 inches in height and Harry was allowed to keep it plus the £100 prize money! Is there a taller trophy in speedway?

1929 Left: Harry Whitfield Right: George Greenwood

1929 Left: Jack Jackson Right: Wally Kilmister

Gordon Byers

Gordon is at the time of writing this (2008) the oldest (96yr old) living ex rider

Gordon Byers Ginger Lees

Ginger Lees

1929 The correct spelling of Charlie's surname is Barrett he came from West Hartlepool and was captain of his local side Middlesbrough before moving to Wembley.

L-R Dicky Smythe, Vic Huxley, Jack Parker and Eric Langton, pre war at Wembley

Stenners 1947/48

We have to have sympathy for the pioneer riders, Norman Evans came crashing down on his shoulder/head wearing no more than a leather jacket and a cork pudding basin helmet. A tough guy despite his "Pansy" nickname

Terrific first bend action from 1934, the guy at the back is showing track skills by cutting back to the inside line. I bet he didn't finish last. I have no idea who the riders are, do you? John

Wembley 1937 Wally Kilmister, Lionel Van Praag, Tommy Price Cliff Parkinson Alec Jackson Frank Charles Eric Gregory Ginger Lees & Wally Lloyd

Eric Gregory 1937

Hi there,
My grandpa has just died aged 96 and I have found amongst his stuff two b/w postcards photos of Eric Gregory. Both are publicity shots....one of him on his bike on the Speedway track at Wembley and another head and shoulders shot sporting a tan and his big moustache, with a racing bib on.

No doubt his descendants would be delighted to see these pictures, if indeed they don't have a pile of them already!

Would you like me to scan and send them to you?

No catches, no cost - i would just like them to end up where they belong.

I don't think my grandpa supported Speedway particularly, but since these must be dated around 1937, they might have been given to him by Eric if/when they spent time together as POWs during WW2.

You might be able to shed light on this.

I have contacted you because by Googling his name, I spotted Eric on your existing website photos.

They've come out well, haven't they?

Do let me know if you manage to track down a member of his family. I did notice a Jim (I think it was) Gregory on the website photos, so maybe he is his son?

I am intrigued, especially if it turns out he was a POW with my grandpa. His name was Ralph Cager

Sally Helvey

John Skinner says: Thank you Sally for sending the scans. If anyone has anything to add I will post it on here

Wembley's Tommy Price leads in the Lions v West Ham meet. Eric Chitty is about to be unseated by Wembley's Bob Wells

Courtesy of Archie Cooper
Vic Duggan left and Bill Kitchen at Wembley

Bill Kitchen

Fred Pallett says: In the 1951 Wembley team photo, the man in the white coat on the right is Tommy Barnett, who was the team’s chief mechanic.
Fred also says: the caption for which states that the fourth person from the right is Rune Sormander. I have my doubts about this, as my recollection is that he was a British Wembley junior rider, but I cannot recall his name. Stenner’s Annual for 1952 does not include Sormander in the list of Wembley riders for 1951. In his book “Speedway in London”, Norman Jacobs states that Sormander joined Wembley in 1953. Stenner’s Annual for 1954, in reviewing the 1953 season, states that Wembley “bought 18-year-old Brian Crutcher from Second Division team Poole for £2,500. A week later, with George Wilks temporarily out of action, they ‘borrowed’ Swedish rider Rune Sormander”. It seems clear, therefore, that the mystery guy in the 1951 Wembley team photo is not Rune Sormander, as the photo was taken two years before he arrived at Wembley.
Fred Pallett says: In the 1951 photo, the fourth person from the right was unknown to me at the time (I had previously disputed the claim by someone else that it was Rune Sormander). I have researched this further and can now tell you that the unknown person was Dennis, or possibly Denis, Cross. Cross never made it to Wembley’s first team, but represented the Lions in various Junior League races during that year, invariably partnered by Den Cosby. Poor Dennis never made the grade and I believe that he was not retained by Wembley at the end of the 1951 season. As far as I am aware, apart than those who appeared in the team photo for 1951, no other rider was on Wembley’s books for that year.

Fred Pallett's Memories

As a teenager, I was an avid Wembley supporter from about 1947, until 1952 when I was called up for my National Service. Although then living on the opposite side of Greater London at Bexleyheath, I travelled the 25 miles to the “twin towers” stadium by public transport every Thursday evening for Wembley’s home matches, not returning home until after midnight. Additionally, I followed the Lions to most of their away matches in London which, at the time, boasted five tracks. Consequently, I could be found at Wimbledon on a Monday, West Ham on a Tuesday, New Cross on a Wednesday, or Harringay on a Friday – although not all in the same week! It was fortunate that Wembley’s colours were red and white, so I was able to use my scarf and rattle for Charlton Athletic, of which I am still an active supporter.

Fred Palletts Team Photos

Wembley team 1946 (left to right: Tommy Price, Charlie May, Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), Roy Craighead, Bill Gilbert, Alec Jackson (Team manager), Alf Bottoms, Bronco Wilson, Bob Wells, George Wilks, and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on bike.

Wembley 1947: Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), Tommy Price, Bill Gilbert, George Wilks, Charlie May, Alec Jackson (Team manager), Alf Bottoms, Split Waterman, Roy Craighead, Bob Wells, Bronco Wilson, and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.

Wembley 1948: Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), Bill Gilbert, Fred Williams, Unknown (possibly Kemp), George Saunders, Roy Craighead, Bruce Abernethy, George Wilks, Bob Wells, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Tommy Price, Split Waterman, Alec Jackson (Team manager), and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.

Wembley 1949: Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), Fred Williams, Jack Gates, Alec Jackson (Team manager), Bruce Abernethy, Den Cosby, Alf Bottoms, Bob Wells, Bill Gilbert, Tommy Price, Buster Brown, Split Waterman, and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.

Wembley 1950: Tommy Price, Jimmy Gooch, Alf Bottoms, George Wilks, Bob Wells, Duncan King (Team manager), Bruce Abernethy, Eric Williams, Jack Gates, Fred Williams, Den Cosby, Bill Gilbert, Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.

Wembley 1951: Jimmy Gooch, Eric Williams, Bob Oakley, Duncan King (Team manager), Tommy Price, Bruce Abernethy, Fred Williams, Unknown, George Wilks, Den Cosby, Tommy Barnett (Chief mechanic), and Bill Kitchen (Captain) on the bike.

Split Waterman (left) and George Wilks (right), holding off West Ham’s Aussie Cliff Watson (circa 1947).

Bill Kitchen

These 6 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

Bill Kitchen (left) discussing tactics with Tommy Price (1946).

One of England's best: Bill Kitchen

Tommy Price

These 6 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

One of England's best: Tommy Price the photos span 1946-1951

George Wilks

These 4 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

These 4 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

Split Waterman

These 2 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

Left: 1947 Right: 1949

Bill Gilbert

These 2 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

Both from 1949

Fred Williams

These 4 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

1949 - 1950

Eric Williams

These 2 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

Late 40's early 50's

Bob Oakley

These 2 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

Bob Oakley arrived at Wembley from Southampton in 1951 and made an immediate impact.

Bruce Abernethy

New Zealander Abernethy had arrived in 1948 and was a dashing and flamboyant rider, and always enjoyed life, as can be seen by the effervescent smile on his face. The shot of him riding in a black and white jumper is rather puzzling and I can only assume that he was representing his country.

Bob Wells

These 3 photo's are from the collection of Fred Pallett

1948/49 Bob Wells. He never established himself in the first team, but he stuck with the club and they stuck with him

Other Wembley riders from the late 40's early 50's

Trevor Redmond was another New Zealander and joined the Lions, I think, about the time that Bill Kitchen retired

2 Pictures of Alf Bottoms from 1949. He died away from speedway, in a racing car accident.

Jimmy Gooch 1951 ish!

Jack Gates 1949

Den Cosby 1950 ish

Buster Brown 1949

A great portrait of the flamboyant Wembley team manager of 1949: Alec Jackson

Not sure about the above photo. Is it genuine or trick photography? John
Update: Terry Stone says this is Alec Jackson of Wembley

Fred Pallett's Snapshots

These are the photos shot with my box camera back in 1950 (the fuzzy ones), when the Wembley Speedway management hired a British Railways train to take the Supporters Club and most of the Wembley riders to Southend-on-Sea for the day. This made an early start for me and my fellow Wembley supporting pal Ralph Ambrose, since we had to travel right across London first, by train and underground train, to make the special BR train. All the shots were taken in the Kursaal (some indoors without flash), which was a permanent amusement centre that was more like a glorified fairground, although it had other attractions, including a ballroom. The Kursaal is still there, although only about a quarter of its original size, because the remainder of the site was sold off for a housing development.

Wembley Outing (Bill Kitchen (partly hidden) mixing with the fans)

Wembley Outing (Bill Gilbert, wandering among the fans)

Wembley Outing (Bruce Abernethy, a female fan, Fred Williams, Jack Gates and Bill Gilbert)

Wembley Outing (Fred Williams (centre), Bruce Abernethy (right) with a fairground ride operator)

Wembley Outing (Bruce Abernethy (left) with Fred Pallett’s pal Ralph Ambrose)

TC's Programmes Etc.

Wimbledon's Ronnie Moore with Bruce Abernethy

Split Waterman with Newcastle's Derek Close

West Ham's Malcolm Craven and Wembley's Split Waterman

Ronnie Moore Tommy Price Pete Moore Freddie Williams
Gordon Jack Says: The third rider is not Pete Moore. I am almost certain that it is Norman Parker.

The list covers 1929 to 1948

Courtesy of Robert Rogers
Bruce Abernethy and Split Waterman

Courtesy of Robert Rogers
Gote Nordin

Courtesy of Robert Rogers
Sverre Harrfeldt and Brian Leonard

If you can scan any pictures, programmes or badges send me an email John

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