During the late 1960s, there was a fairly extensive “Cycle Speedway” network in Sheffield, and I have been trying to unearth some of the details.
I have a few memories and would love anyone to give me clarification, or add to my stock.
The main span of participants was aged between 17 and 25. The guys rode mostly on self- built bikes, which had “Canadian Bends” handlebars, small cranks and cogs (32-18?) no gears or breaks, straight forks and gripster tyres.
A meeting was based on conventional speedway, with similar sized teams and the same scoring system (3-2-1-0) and the guy who got to the first bend first, was often the winner.
The teams I remember are the Parson Cross Eagles, Parson Cross Devils, Stradbroke Arrows and the Sheffield Tigers (bit pretentious I guess, but that was their name). There was many more but those brain cells aren’t what they were.
There were also teams from outside Sheffield who visited for tournaments. I can distinctly recall a team from Hull coming to Parson Cross, for the “Yorkshire Championships” (although I admit I might have got that wrong)
I have looked through a few Sheffield books to see if any further details are recorded, but can find none. Can anyone enlighten me?

Being a bike fanatic, this intrigues me! Never knew it was particularly big in Sheffield.

Any memories of where the tracks were?

The only track in The Parson Cross area as I know was on Helliwell Crescent, just past the junction of Avisford Road. I used to go down sometimes and watch them race, (or if I was honest, watch them fall off) it has long been deserted now, but you can still see where the track was.

Would the small oval track at the bottom of Wadsley Common (just up behind the Rose & Crown) be for this use?

Its about a 5th of the size of a motorcycle speedway track, and it has banks all the way round - for spectators to sit on maybe?


I've been wanting to know about that track since I was about 5!

if i remember right,there was a track up at parkwood springs.I had a go once,fell off and finished last.Good fun though

I had a Cycle Speedway bike! A relative built it for me - he raced all the time and I think was Sheffield champion at some point.

The bike was heavily built (in comparison to say - a 'racer') with the Canadian (cowhorn?) bars. In fact - it was pretty much a mountain bike without gears or suspension (before I'd ever heard of a mountain bike). I loved it - it was really fast but was a pain getting uphill 'cos of the tiny cog on the back.

This must have been back in the 80s....

Cycle Speedway in Sheffield is still going strong all be it with just the one team now. The Sheffield Stars are based at the Greaves Tennis & Leisure Centre @ Bochum Parkway, Norton, Sheffield.They race in the Northern Alliance league Div 1 along with teams from Manchester, Hull & Heckmondwike. Our practice nights are Mondays at 8.00pm and all are welcome, our youngest member is 7 and our oldest 50+. We have bikes for people to come and try it so why not give it ago? If you want to know more e mail me at shaun@swhudson.f9.co.uk

Originally posted by Bushbaby
During the late 1960s, there was a fairly extensive “Cycle Speedway” network in Sheffield, and I have been trying to unearth some of the details.


I used to go with a guy from School around 1968 Gaz Fordham his big brother raced for the Tigers I think , Gaz rode with the Stradbrook Arrows. The track was on the site of the old Birley Pit, It was an unoficial site and we were turfed off eventually. I remember building a bike with Canadian Handlebars (not Cowhorns). The wheels and Tyres were 26" X 1 3/4" gripsters, some guys used to use a fixed wheel which could be a bit dodgy on the turns. We had a proper starting gate with elastic which would fly up to start the race.

I seem to remember a track somewhere at the Richmond Rd. end of Richmond Park... in a small wooded area maybe?.... Mists of time and all that....

Graham

I used to go with a guy from School around 1968 Gaz Fordham his big brother raced for the Tigers I think , Gaz rode with the Stradbrook Arrows.
During that first phase, Gaz was the star. Best rider in Sheffield. I guess that he set the standard and most of the others caught him up over the next two years. Whenever the Arrows came to The Cross, Gaz's scalp was the target of the day

The team up at Parkwood were the Parkwood Aces. The track was right up at the top of Douglas Road on the spare ground. My brother rode for them for some time, they took it quite serious. I remember them going to meetings all over northern England. The track obviously got covered over when the ski centre was built.

Cycle speedway in Sheffield has gone from strength to strength over the past few years. 2 tracks are in regular use these days,the one on Helliwell crescent and the one at Norton-graves tennis centre.The Sheffield stars are currently one of the best teams in the country and currently boast a host of international riders,in fact the previous World champion raced for Sheffield last year and could be seen regulary training 4-5 times a night at the track on Helliwell cres.The Sheffield club are also the biggest club in the country and currently boats over 100 members.
Mondays 7.30 at the Graves
Thursdays 6.00-800 at Helliwell cres
Saturdays ( if not racing) 11-1 Helliwell cres
All are welcome-bikes and protective clothing provided free of charge

I remember the track we had in ecclesfield, late 60,s early 70,s, it was down green lane and one of the half decent riders was a lad called glenn galloway, mind you he lived across the road from the track so he got a lot more practice than the rest of us. last time i went past there was some building belonging to that jehovas lot where the track used to be.

as a young man i rode for parson cross devils and had some great times.someone mentiond gary foredam who rode for stradbroke but he had an older brother eddie who i think emigrated he was very good and we used to luv beatin him

I seem to remember a track somewhere at the Richmond Rd. end of Richmond Park... in a small wooded area maybe?.... Mists of time and all that....

Graham

Was at the top near the Normanton Springs Enterance

this is for bushbaby your remarks about cycle speedway are pretty accurate appart from howey getn all women lol he was a big mate of mine at that time irode in the same team as him and i no u no me very well used to have really long hair as we all did lol

yes as a young lad living on stradbroke, I remember the stradbroke Arrows who raced in richmond park, my mates brother raced for them.

I remember a track on foxhill field.

yea help build that richellioti rode for pc devils at the time sum mates i nocked about with wer from fox hill john beever frank furnace an a guy second name was bonnington cant recall is first name my names terry howell

as a young man i rode for parson cross devils and had some great times.someone mentiond gary foredam who rode for stradbroke but he had an older brother eddie who i think emigrated he was very good and we used to luv beatin him

Now that I know who you are - you were a good rider Terry, and the competition on The Cross was a fierce as hell wasn't it?? Pete Howe, John Bush, Terry Wilson, Ray Burns - and on his day, the best of them all, Tony Kane.
And all the lovely girls who came to watch - Bee Bee, Barbara, Marie Simpson etc

Those were definitiely the days

ahh tony cain wat a lad he was spectacular when he rode cycle speedway hed fall off in a big cloud of dust hed be grazed an sore get back up ready for his next race mind u wat u expect he was a cross lad lolamt seen him for couple of years used to see him at owlerton speedway then he got barred early 2000 so he used to climb on wall an watch it wat a charictor he used to down apint in 2 seconds incredable

A school mate of mine at Wisewood Sec Mod. in the early 60s named Barry Smith started the tigers cycle speedway in the carpark outside the speedway in Owlerton. First time I ever saw cowhorns.

A couple of fotos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/

Thought that was was you JB,is it you in the pictures?? where is the track in the pics?? its a bit before my time.
Hope to see ya soon down at Cookson....

A couple of fotos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/

thats the old parson cross track that brings alot of good old memories flooding back

During the late 1960s, there was a fairly extensive “Cycle Speedway” network in Sheffield, and I have been trying to unearth some of the details.
I have a few memories and would love anyone to give me clarification, or add to my stock.
The main span of participants was aged between 17 and 25. The guys rode mostly on self- built bikes, which had “Canadian Bends” handlebars, small cranks and cogs (32-18?) no gears or breaks, straight forks and gripster tyres.
A meeting was based on conventional speedway, with similar sized teams and the same scoring system (3-2-1-0) and the guy who got to the first bend first, was often the winner.
The teams I remember are the Parson Cross Eagles, Parson Cross Devils, Stradbroke Arrows and the Sheffield Tigers (bit pretentious I guess, but that was their name). There was many more but those brain cells aren’t what they were.
There were also teams from outside Sheffield who visited for tournaments. I can distinctly recall a team from Hull coming to Parson Cross, for the “Yorkshire Championships” (although I admit I might have got that wrong)
I have looked through a few Sheffield books to see if any further details are recorded, but can find none. Can anyone enlighten me?

px devils, px eagles, stradbroke arrows, sheffield tigers [ fir vale ], ecclesfied, wisewood, parkwood panthers, foxhill foxes, shirecliffe,

px devils, px eagles, stradbroke arrows, sheffield tigers [ fir vale ], ecclesfied, wisewood, parkwood panthers, foxhill foxes, shirecliffe,

remember em all am surprised you can after all falls and crashes you had lol

the brain has been preserved in alcohol lol

the brain has been preserved in alcohol lol

ahahah seem to remember you liked a drink ill be down boro tonight havin a few with g f she dont drink sad aint it lol

the brain has been preserved in alcohol lolgoing to put a few names on later

have a look at top of this page hope your head dunt fall off loldid you get my pm

Would the small oval track at the bottom of Wadsley Common (just up behind the Rose & Crown) be for this use?

Its about a 5th of the size of a motorcycle speedway track, and it has banks all the way round - for spectators to sit on maybe?


I've been wanting to know about that track since I was about 5!

that is the wisewood teams track

that is the wisewood teams track

here goes see if you remember these guys pete howe ben howe johny beever terry wilson ray burns tom roebuck malc cooper terry howell tony cain steve cave johny bush pete bush

yes i have got all those names down but not steve cave so dont you mean steve camm, foxhill, bonnington, horton,trevor howell, eric howell terry howell,john beever , malc cooper, most went to join pete howe and ray byrne,to make the px eagles, ecclesfield , mick wilson,pete goddard,glen sheldon, stringer, corker, sheffield tigers fir vale, alan charmers, kieth burgin, andy mitchell, tony mitchell, rowdy yates, parkwood panthers, hickman, dennis wasden, who rode later at owlerton. stradbroke, eddie fordham, gary fordham, martin gamble, and another gamle brother, shirecliffe, furniss, hinchcliffe, o and another cross lad pete lee.

yes i have got all those names down but not steve cave so dont you mean steve camm, foxhill, bonnington, horton,trevor howell, eric howell terry howell,john beever , malc cooper, most went to join pete howe and ray byrne,to make the px eagles, ecclesfield , mick wilson,pete goddard,glen sheldon, stringer, corker, sheffield tigers fir vale, alan charmers, kieth burgin, andy mitchell, tony mitchell, rowdy yates, parkwood panthers, hickman, dennis wasden, who rode later at owlerton. stradbroke, eddie fordham, gary fordham, martin gamble, and another gamle brother, shirecliffe, furniss, hinchcliffe, o and another cross lad pete lee.

you might not know cavey he used to watch us forgot graham hoole lived near you

ahh tony cain wat a lad he was spectacular when he rode cycle speedway hed fall off in a big cloud of dust hed be grazed an sore get back up ready for his next race mind u wat u expect he was a cross lad lolamt seen him for couple of years used to see him at owlerton speedway then he got barred early 2000 so he used to climb on wall an watch it wat a charictor he used to down apint in 2 seconds incredable

Saw Tony a few months ago moved to Waterthorpe area he had just got over a heart attack

, o and another cross lad pete lee.
Pete Lee had the advantage of living closest to the PX track. His front room was 25 yards from, the gate.
Had a dog called Bengo, and his mum worked at Margo Chippy

Graham Hoole had an unfortunate nick name!! Saw him outside the Wednesday ground a few years ago

Saw Tony a few months ago moved to Waterthorpe area he had just got over a heart attack

Tony often pops in Crystal Peaks on a Sunday,,,

not on sundays everyday hes in the peaks, usually getting his larger.

not on sundays everyday hes in the peaks, usually getting his larger.

Bless yer Tony :)

do you remember cyril wittaker getting his son with the irons on his neck to go and get the smelling salts to bring me round when i got knocked out when igot rode out over the outside track and hit my head on a stone.

do you remember cyril wittaker getting his son with the irons on his neck to go and get the smelling salts to bring me round when i got knocked out when igot rode out over the outside track and hit my head on a stone.

hope stone wer ok lol yea we all had a smell and then gave em you

do you remember cyril wittaker getting his son with the irons on his neck t.

Cyril was A St John's guy at Olwerton. Used to get us freebies for the speedway, sat on the benches inside the wall. Brilliant days. Clyde Featherby was my hero!!
Ian, the son, sadly died during an operation to straighten his spine. He was just 16.

Ian Whittaker was a smashing lad. He never let his brace interfere with his joining in all the games and he could play football. An inspiration to others.

Cyril was A St John's guy at Olwerton. Used to get us freebies for the speedway, sat on the benches inside the wall. Brilliant days. Clyde Featherby was my hero!!
Ian, the son, sadly died during an operation to straighten his spine. He was just 16. sorry to hear about ian. i met and had a drink and a chat with clive featherby about 3 yrs ago his son died from drugs. you wouldnt believe he is so small and he lives in aus.

hope stone wer ok lol yea we all had a smell and then gave em you thats why it took so long to bring me round lol:hihi:

had a chat with clive featherby about 3 yrs ago - he is so small and he lives in aus.

Small??
As a 12 year old, to me he was the size of an office block.
I got his gogs once after a max. He didn't give 'em up though. Jack Kitchen picked em up off the floor and threw em over the fence. I won the ensuing scramble

I always thought he was Clyde, not Clive!! That'll teach me to buy a program

Ian Whittaker was a smashing lad. He never let his brace interfere with his joining in all the games and he could play football. An inspiration to others.
Amen to that!

sorry to hear about ian. i met and had a drink and a chat with clive featherby about 3 yrs ago his son died from drugs. you wouldnt believe he is so small and he lives in aus.

tony do you remember feathers avin a scrap with len silver on track they had to be pulled apart and when weasked him for his goggles he used to tell us to begins with f and ends with f lol miserable sod

tony do you remember feathers avin a scrap with len silver on track they had to be pulled apart and when weasked him for his goggles he used to tell us to begins with f and ends with f lol miserable sod yes i do remeber that and frank varey and ronnie cliffe parte them.

yes i do remeber that and frank varey and ronnie cliffe parte them.

gunna start callin you memory manlol

gunna start callin you memory manlol

dont say that i forgot my alziemers meeting yesterday and forgot how to spell the illness as well lol:hihi:

yes i do remeber that and frank varey and ronnie cliffe parte them.

I used to deliver Frank Varey's newspaper. He lived on the "Rocher" estate. Opposite Yew Lane school and behind Horace Ratcliffe's mansion
He once told me off for taking a short cut across his front lawn, then next day gave me a couple of comps for an Aces match :)

Do you remember the night Guy Allott got a spike through his neck?

I used to deliver Frank Varey's newspaper. He lived on the "Rocher" estate. Opposite Yew Lane school and behind Horace Ratcliffe's mansion
He once told me off for taking a short cut across his front lawn, then next day gave me a couple of comps for an Aces match :)

Do you remember the night Guy Allott got a spike through his neck?

yes frank lived in roacher close and horace was the bread man a bit chubby. frank hated people crossing the centre green at owlerton.

I used to deliver Frank Varey's newspaper. He lived on the "Rocher" estate. Opposite Yew Lane school and behind Horace Ratcliffe's mansion
He once told me off for taking a short cut across his front lawn, then next day gave me a couple of comps for an Aces match :)

Do you remember the night Guy Allott got a spike through his neck?

me and kevin o, cain went down that night and i was standing right in front of it with mick wilson when the tractor jerked he fell under the grader.

me and kevin o, cain went down that night and i was standing right in front of it with mick wilson when the tractor jerked he fell under the grader.

Cyril Whittaker was the first man on the scene. His foto appeared on the front of the star, kneeling down and holding a compression on to Guy's neck. Did his job really well. Kept him going till the Ambulance got there

Met Lynn O'Kane (Kev's sister) at Tommy More's School 50th birthday a few years ago

i was there that night had they just won a cup and were they doing alap of honour when he fell off

i was there that night had they just won a cup and were they doing alap of honour when he fell off

You have to ask - whose stupid idea was it to do a lap of honour on the top of the grit-spreader?
My money's on FV

Cyril Whittaker was the first man on the scene. His foto appeared on the front of the star, kneeling down and holding a compression on to Guy's neck. Did his job really well. Kept him going till the Ambulance got there

Met Lynn O'Kane (Kev's sister) at Tommy More's School 50th birthday a few years ago if you see lynn give her my best wishers. was ferther o riely there lol.

i was there that night had they just won a cup and were they doing alap of honour when he fell off yes it was tets the steel city cup against newcastle.

You have to ask - whose stupid idea was it to do a lap of honour on the top of the grit-spreader?
My money's on FV sorry it was ronnie cliffes idea because he had just bought it for sheff speedway for 2,000 as a gift to help them out.

sorry it was ronnie cliffes idea because he had just bought it for sheff speedway for 2,000 as a gift to help them out.

tony do you remember when we went to ride against a team in coventry on the coach cant remember the name of their side . then went round town centre drinkin

you might not know cavey he used to watch us forgot graham hoole lived near you

Hi there. Im looking for info on a Steve Cave. A collegue at work was interested when I mentioned to her about Sheffield forum which Ive recently enjoyed reading old stories about Parson Cross where I used to live. She asked if I new him but I dont. Seems he lived on Deerlands Avenue. She told me he had passed away. He had been married to her sister Glenda but they divorced and then he died. He was an only child. She has been trying to find out where his grave is. Do you think this is the same Steve. Do you know any one who might now? Thanks Julie

yes its the same steve cave i went to school with he lived opposite parson cross hotel unfortunately havent seen him for years so sorry to hear of his death hopefully there should be guys on here who new him may give u some info terry.

yes its the same steve cave i went to school with he lived opposite parson cross hotel unfortunately havent seen him for years so sorry to hear of his death hopefully there should be guys on here who new him may give u some info terry.

Thank you x Julie x

tony do you remember when we went to ride against a team in coventry on the coach cant remember the name of their side . then went round town centre drinkini think it was beeston bees or perry barr from birmingham but ithink it was the first one.

yea think your right tony beeston bees remember getn dropd off near forty foot and all goin home together a bit weary lol

yea think your right tony beeston bees remember getn dropd off near forty foot and all goin home together a bit weary loldid you ride with us in the match against stoke at the sun stadium and my brother mick paid for the van.

cant recall that tony must have been workin or boozin matey lol

cant recall that tony must have been workin or boozin matey lolmaybee the second tets lol

Nice article on Cycle Speedway in last night's final.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

Nice article on Cycle Speedway in last night's final.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1
WOW, do you mind if I put something on our website about this ??

not had chance to give it a good read yet as its lop sided in the pics,but will definatly bring back memories for some and will be interesting for the kids down at the track.:)

WOW, do you mind if I put something on our website about this ??

not had chance to give it a good read yet as its lop sided in the pics,but will definatly bring back memories for some and will be interesting for the kids down at the track.:)

Feel free
By the way, John Bush, shown in the article, has recently started riding again, at the grand old age of 60!!
I've redone the foto - right way up this time, after three attempts!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

Please give us a link to the website

Feel free
By the way, John Bush, shown in the article, has recently started riding again, at the grand old age of 60!!
I've redone the foto - right way up this time, after three attempts!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

Please give us a link to the website

lets hope hes a bit faster than when he was younger lol

lets hope hes a bit faster than when he was younger lol

He's still got the "Silver Sash" he won as Yorkshire Champion. He seems to be really enjoying the veteran's circuit. Maybe you should think about it Terry??

He's still got the "Silver Sash" he won as Yorkshire Champion. He seems to be really enjoying the veteran's circuit. Maybe you should think about it Terry??

naa i like em with engines these days prefer motorcycle yam r1 1000 cc more my cup of tea lol

shall we all have a go at the vetrans but do they give you a start if you have had heart attacts.

shall we all have a go at the vetrans but do they give you a start if you have had heart attacts.

They do Tony!
They've also got special bikes fitted with stabilizers and catheters :)

no e.c.g machines, iam disappointed lol. but all joking aside i would love a go.

no e.c.g machines, iam disappointed lol. but all joking aside i would love a go.
I'm quite sure you would give 'em a run for their money

I'm quite sure you would give 'em a run for their money

yes i can cus am still trainin

yea help build that richellioti rode for pc devils at the time sum mates i nocked about with wer from fox hill john beever frank furnace an a guy second name was bonnington cant recall is first name my names terry howell

Hi Terry John here. 2 brothers Ray & Dave bonnington, Ray was the cycle speedway rider.by the way what happened to my bike that I sold you for a quid. I now ride with the vets opposite forty foot pub on Wordsworth Ave.

Hi Terry John here. 2 brothers Ray & Dave bonnington, Ray was the cycle speedway rider.by the way what happened to my bike that I sold you for a quid. I now ride with the vets opposite forty foot pub on Wordsworth Ave.

ok john how u keepin il have to come and watch you mite learn a bit lol dont know what happened to that bike i no i won a lot of races on it

Thought that was was you JB,is it you in the pictures?? where is the track in the pics?? its a bit before my time.
Hope to see ya soon down at Cookson....

Hi Lucario. Yes it is me in 1965. That bike cost £30-00 brand new.It was an Elswick Hopper made in Hull.The track was opposite the petrol station on Wordsworth Avenue. It is behind some bungalows that were built much later on.I must call round and see if there is any sign of where the track used to be.
The track was unusual because it went downhill from the gate then uphill on the back straight. The surface was just hard packed mud, so not good when wet.
This was really early days, I remember a team coming over from Manchester.
They were older than us and had proper bikes with canadian bends,which we had never seen. Obviously they thrashed us that day, but it made us get proper bikes and train hard.
The team that day would have been Me, Terry Howell. Terry Wilson, Pete Howe, Ken Howe,John Beever and Tony Cain.

I can tell you my new bike never left my side, If my Dad wasn't looking it went to bed with me.

They were fantastic times, a great bunch of lads.
We live life now, but, I wish I could re live those early cycle speedway days.

Live long and prosper.

hi john its t.c it was openshaw the manchester team and i couldnt get a good bike as my mum and dad was ill and dieing. i am ill at the moment but i will try to come to see you at the track. do you know pat cain if you do say hello to him from me. yes you can still se the outline of the track as i have had a look at it a few months ago. well god bless see you soon t.c

hi john its t.c it was openshaw the manchester team and i couldnt get a good bike as my mum and dad was ill and dieing. i am ill at the moment but i will try to come to see you at the track. do you know pat cain if you do say hello to him from me. yes you can still se the outline of the track as i have had a look at it a few months ago. well god bless see you soon t.c

sorry to hear ur not very well matey hope ur ok soon id like to see you on a bike again you nutter lol

Hi Lucario. Yes it is me in 1965. I must call round and see if there is any sign of where the track used to be.


I was round there last week, just before I went to The Beagle for Smicker's 50th. The grass is very long, and it seems the kids don't play on the fields anymore. There are some trees growing where the track was but you can just make out the outline of where it was.
The good news is that The Beagle still does a lovely pint and it was a great night in there. Well after 2am, and a gallon+ when I left.
Took some fotos of The Eightfoot. One of the railings near Carr's front door has still got our Pete's teethmarks on it

That was cruel.

That was cruel.

Maybe you're right....:rolleyes:

That was cruel.

By the way, the book's mentioned in today's Star (Wed 11th page 10)

Have seen it. Well done No1 best seller in Waterstones local section. Not bad.

sorry to hear ur not very well matey hope ur ok soon id like to see you on a bike again you nutter lol

I am hols tomorow hope i feel better soon because iam gunna tek that silver sash off bushy first race we have, even if i have to take him out lol tc

Have seen it. Well done No1 best seller in Waterstones local section. Not bad.

what dus tha ex peked from a cross lad.

Hiya TC its good to see your still around. I'm still sat at the same table in the Sportsman Tavern on the first bend at Owlerton but it's a lot quieter these days. I keep looking for that red pen to see if yuo've got in. Still see Sav and Mitch & Gemma but that's about it from the old gang. I'm regularly down at the Cycle Speedway on Wordsworth Avenue so look forward to seeing you down there one day. I'm usually on the tannoy so I'll give you an introduction to the assembled crowd when you get down there.

I'm regularly down at the Cycle Speedway on Wordsworth Avenue so look forward to seeing you down there one day. .
Terry, let us know when the next meet is and I'll try and get over..

when is the next meeting or the date of the one after t c

Hiya Tigerman , the next 2 meetings at the Wordsworth avenue track are Northern league matches against Bury , Sunday 10th July 1.00pm start and Edinburgh , Sunday 17th July 2.00pm start. Hope you're feeling well and can make it for one of them.

Hiya Tigerman , the next 2 meetings at the Wordsworth avenue track are Sunday 10th July against Bury 1.00pm start and Sunday 17th July against Edinburgh 2.00pm start. Hope you're well and can make it to one of them.

Hiya Tigerman , the next 2 meetings at the Wordsworth avenue track are Sunday 10th July against Bury 1.00pm start and Sunday 17th July against Edinburgh 2.00pm start. Hope you're well and can make it to one of them.

Iam not that bad you have to tell me twice but is there a pub lol tc

Hiya Tigerman , pilot error , pilot error. Yes there is a pub about 200 yards from the fourth bend. It's called the Forty Foot.

Hiya Tigerman , pilot error , pilot error. Yes there is a pub about 200 yards from the fourth bend. It's called the Forty Foot.

I will see you i n the forty foot that first m.atch on the 10th ok . got to go to bed bye.

I will see you i n the forty foot that first m.atch on the 10th ok . got to go to bed bye.
I'll be there too

I'll be there too

carnt wait it should be an eventful day, do you go in the pub before the match.

can we muster a few of the lads together for the two matches.

went to watch on sunday 19 june i was a bit dissapointed realy not the charge to first corner like it used to be and not much in the way of racing as i used to know it seem to give up if not first to corner whats happend to the shoving and barging t c and myself and most of pc devils always got stuck in happy days

We built such a track in 1954 and had such bikes, my dad built mine for me.

The track was just below the Iron Bridge on Retford Road, on the Woodhouse Mill side of the bridge. It was a piece of waste land between the end semi-detached house and a left turn onto what was then a fairly new housing estate, but I cannot remember the name of it.

Many years ago now when we were all lads at Woodhouse Grammar School. I now live in the sun in Malaysia

Best Wishes - Grey Eminence - Subang Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Just remembered, I think the housing estate I refered to is either Coalbrook Estate or Colebrook Estate

At the time our Saturday afternoon races were often in the Sheffield Star

Best Wishes - Grey Eminence

went to watch on sunday 19 june i was a bit dissapointed realy not the charge to first corner like it used to be and not much in the way of racing as i used to know it seem to give up if not first to corner whats happend to the shoving and barging t c and myself and most of pc devils always got stuck in happy days

Yeh, sorry, it was a limited ability match as the Sheffield first team were away at Sandwell in the premier league(hammered em!), and not a lot of people from other clubs turned up as most were riding on Saturday aswell.
Wev'e had to re-arrange a few northern league home matches at cookson this year as the firstly the world championships(USA) and then cup runs have got in the way, the team at Cookson are currently on top of the northern league so promise a few good home matches as the league progresses.

I'll keep you all informed as also our next league match has had to be re-scheduled due to the cup being riden at the other end of town.
theres still plenty of barging-elbows-headbutting- especially if I'm riding !!!:)

I'll keep you all informed as also our next league match has had to be re-scheduled due to the cup being riden at the other end of town.
theres still plenty of barging-elbows-headbutting- especially if I'm riding !!!:)

I certainly hope so! There's nothing better than a three bike pile up on the first bend
Keep us info'd. I'm looking forward to my first pint in the Fortyfoot since 1969 when I used to clean their windows

Have a look at this web site....

http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/

loads of the older Sheffield teams are listed,some from way back,some have rider names attached which may be familiar.

Perhaps some of you could add a few more clubs, riders names and pictures if possible :)

il def go and take another look interested to see more if only for the beer lol

Have a look at this web site....

http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/

loads of the older Sheffield teams are listed,some from way back,some have rider names attached which may be familiar.

Perhaps some of you could add a few more clubs, riders names and pictures if possible :)

Nothing on there about Devils and Eagles....

Yet!

You should try a Premier league match if you want some X rated action. The next one is Sheffield v. Poole on Sunday 3rd July 2.00pm start.
Premier league matches are ridden at our other track at Graves Tennis & Leisure Centre at Meadowhead. (It's close to the Norton Hotel if you need strong refreshments.).

il def go and take another look interested to see more if only for the beer lol

Terry, there's a picture on this site of the Sheffield Tigers Team
It's got Alan Chalmers and B Saunby ( as you'd expect) but it's also got Pete and Ben Howe, Johnny Fountain and Malc Cooper :confused:

Was this before we built the track on Wordsworth?
Any idea where this picture was taken? Looks a bit like Manor

http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/

Pete and Steve Wragg made a track on the field behind Knutton Cres(not the one at the side of the Beagle the one behind Wragg`s and Odam`s houses) by digging up turf and laying it in an oval shape .It lasted about a summer but us football mad kids soon ran it off .
The Wragg family moved to the Sutton Estate at Wisewood ,just wondered if they were invovled in the aformentioned team from Wisewood

I certainly hope so! There's nothing better than a three bike pile up on the first bend
Keep us info'd. I'm looking forward to my first pint in the Fortyfoot since 1969 when I used to clean their windows1969 was the last time i was in there as well but i thought it was dark the windows was mucky lol

Terry, there's a picture on this site of the Sheffield Tigers Team
It's got Alan Chalmers and B Saunby ( as you'd expect) but it's also got Pete and Ben Howe, Johnny Fountain and Malc Cooper :confused:

Was this before we built the track on Wordsworth?
Any idea where this picture was taken? Looks a bit like Manor

http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/

yes i saw that yesterday,and i can tell you we had a fall out and i packed in, in1963 and tom roebuck asked me to join in building a track at the side of the ritz and joining that club i went to the place and helped out then there was a meeting and i went to that and i told tom iwas giving it in. one of the riders finished up as a bull fighter in spain. pete howe, ben howe,john fountain,malc cooper, and the one you missed was terry wilson they all joined the tigers. dont know where that site was.

You should try a Premier league match if you want some X rated action. The next one is Sheffield v. Poole on Sunday 3rd July 2.00pm start.
Premier league matches are ridden at our other track at Graves Tennis & Leisure Centre at Meadowhead. (It's close to the Norton Hotel if you need strong refreshments.).

where is the norton hotel lol

pete howe, ben howe,john fountain,malc cooper, and the one you missed was terry wilson they all joined the tigers.
Looking a bit closer, is that our John peeking out behind Pet Howe?

Looking a bit closer, is that our John peeking out behind Pet Howe? no that was alan charmers.

no that was alan charmers.

yeah, I realise that now on closer inspection
Any idea where the foto was taken?

yeah, I realise that now on closer inspection
Any idea where the foto was taken?the site of the tigers track was at fir vale on two disused tennis courts and on the first bend you dropped down 3 foot and on the third bend you came up three foot. but that photo was not took there, it looks like the old shireciffe track, will find out ok. tc

the site of the tigers track was at fir vale on two disused tennis courts and on the first bend you dropped down 3 foot and on the third bend you came up three foot. but that photo was not took there, it looks like the old shireciffe track, will find out ok. tc

it was me and tom roebuck who started the track digging it out when a load of kids turned up asking what we were doing.

it was me and tom roebuck who started the track digging it out when a load of kids turned up asking what we were doing.

When the Cross track was built there was about 20 guys digging and stuff. I had the wheelbarrow (bear in mind that I was about 9 or 10) and took the sods that our John and Pete Howe dug up, and wheeled them to Pete Lee and Ray Burns who stacked up the insides of the bends. I even helped to stack them up around the washpole that acted as the starting gate for the next 100 years (I reckon Sandy Burns still doesn't know where all her spare knicker elastic disappeared to :))

nice to see you today tony will see you next week at the track and we will ave a drink in forty foot

nice to see you today tony will see you next week at the track and we will ave a drink in forty foot yes terry same here but it wuold have been better if the bushes, howes, would have been there even though the racing was not what we expected. but the grandkids want a go. when i got home i went on a site terry you would think it was more like we used to race, go on sheffield stars cycle speedway videos and look at euro championship 2010 and others there is barginig and peggling to the end and crashes. i will be there next sunday 12 in the 40 ft even if the let downs are not there.see you pal:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I'll be there too

you didnt come but terry howell came and i told him i will be there on the 17th.

nice to see you today tony will see you next week at the track and we will ave a drink in forty foottets it looks like its gunna rain so i mite make it the next match ok pal.

Edinburgh falcon are the visitors tommorow(17th) at Cookson park,looks like being a good match,Its basically the Scotish international side,last year we ran em close and we have a couple of big hitters added to the ranks this year.Hopefully Jono Birks will ride for Sheffield who is arguably the best rider in the world at the moment,and also Radek Handke who recently fished 3rd in the world final will also be in the starting line up.

Edinburgh falcon are the visitors tommorow(17th) at Cookson park,looks like being a good match,Its basically the Scotish international side,last year we ran em close and we have a couple of big hitters added to the ranks this year.Hopefully Jono Birks will ride for Sheffield who is arguably the best rider in the world at the moment,and also Radek Handke who recently fished 3rd in the world final will also be in the starting line up.sounds like youve tempted me.

Re: history of cycle speedway in Sheffield circa 1960+ = round about 1961/62 a group of lads from the Cross would cycle over to Fir Vale to race round the track there at the back of the Cannon Hall. From this we decided to build a track on Wordsworth Ave.
Benny Howe was a great driving force in getting the track built and organising contact with other teams. I remember when we were deciding what to call our team – Parson Cross Devils - it was soon realised that there were too many riders for one team and so it was decided that Pete Howe could have his own team and decide their own name – which became Parson Cross Eagles.
Things moved quickly and a Sheffield league was started, which included, PCDevils, PCEagles, Sheffield Tigers, Parkwood, Fir Vale and Hackenthorpe. There were other teams who were struggling to get a team together and have their own track.
In these early days Sheffield Tigers entered into other leagues and KO comps and would form teams from other Sheffield teams – hence the photograph of Sheffield Tigers with riders from PCDevils (Benny Howe, Terry Wilson, Johnny Fountain) PCEagles (Pete Howe, Malc Cooper) Fir Vale (Tony Mitchell) Sheffield Tigers (Alan Chalmers, Brian Saunby) –date 1965 – venue Shelton, Stoke on Trent.
I was a founding member of the Sheffield Stars and helped build the track in Hillsborough park and then at Cookson Road – but the driving force for these projects belongs to Les Sheldon – Parkwood team. During this period Les worked tirelessly to establish cycle speedway in Sheffield.
An interesting point about this is that the sport was organised by young people (14-17) without any adults. Perhaps there's a lesson here?
Ps Cainy and Howly racing at their age - should social services be there?

Re: history of cycle speedway in Sheffield circa 1960+ = round about 1961/62 a group of lads from the Cross would cycle over to Fir Vale to race round the track there at the back of the Cannon Hall. From this we decided to build a track on Wordsworth Ave.
Benny Howe was a great driving force in getting the track built and organising contact with other teams. I remember when we were deciding what to call our team – Parson Cross Devils - it was soon realised that there were too many riders for one team and so it was decided that Pete Howe could have his own team and decide their own name – which became Parson Cross Eagles.
Things moved quickly and a Sheffield league was started, which included, PCDevils, PCEagles, Sheffield Tigers, Parkwood, Fir Vale and Hackenthorpe. There were other teams who were struggling to get a team together and have their own track.
In these early days Sheffield Tigers entered into other leagues and KO comps and would form teams from other Sheffield teams – hence the photograph of Sheffield Tigers with riders from PCDevils (Benny Howe, Terry Wilson, Johnny Fountain) PCEagles (Pete Howe, Malc Cooper) Fir Vale (Tony Mitchell) Sheffield Tigers (Alan Chalmers, Brian Saunby) –date 1965 – venue Shelton, Stoke on Trent.
I was a founding member of the Sheffield Stars and helped build the track in Hillsborough park and then at Cookson Road – but the driving force for these projects belongs to Les Sheldon – Parkwood team. During this period Les worked tirelessly to establish cycle speedway in Sheffield.
An interesting point about this is that the sport was organised by young people (14-17) without any adults. Perhaps there's a lesson here?
Ps Cainy and Howly racing at their age - should social services be there?nice to hear from you tom but i think you have got it wrong i dont ride now and havent been on a bike for 50yrs.

erm think you got it wrong old mate i just go to watch if it aint got an engine i dont ride it lol nice to hear from you tom let me know how you are . terry

tets it looks like its gunna rain so i mite make it the next match ok pal.

went sunday tony better meeting mate but you wouldnt have got a pint in fortyfoot it was shut . i heard its because of a cockup by the owners that they forgot to renew their licences on quite a few pubs and are closed for 2 weeks malthouse aswell used to be fighting cock ecclesfield anyone knows any more info would be gratefull to hear it .

went sunday tony better meeting mate but you wouldnt have got a pint in fortyfoot it was shut . i heard its because of a cockup by the owners that they forgot to renew their licences on quite a few pubs and are closed for 2 weeks malthouse aswell used to be fighting cock ecclesfield anyone knows any more info would be gratefull to hear it .thank god i didnt come number 1 wouldnt have got a pint 2 10 mins before i set off was a family crisis 3 i took a turn for the worse but ok now terry. ithought it would be a better meeting from what i gathered was bushbaby there. did you look at the site which i told you about with some good racing vidios on. if we can find out when the next one is we should try to get together ok old pal:thumbsup:

Re: history of cycle speedway in Sheffield circa 1960+

Great piece of documentation Tommy. Being 5 years younger than you guys there was lots here that I wasn't aware of, especially relating to the origins of the movement. Thanks also for the Foto info. I'll get that recorded.
I do remember Ken Howe driving it all, and Pete was...well, Pete! A legend in his own..........
The oldie still riding was our John,(no surprise there then) who had a few veteran races last year but has now called it a day.

It was a special time in the 60s and I wouldn't have missed it for the world!!

Heard today that Pete Howe has died following renal failure. Really sad news. He was a legend on the Cross as well as for his cycle speedway ability.

Count Ballie in at the next meetin, Forty foot reopens on Thursday 28th July
nice ta see Terry in Railway last week, see you soon T C for a chinwag of old times, lot to talk about.

Baldie, you missed a cracker of a match in the Div 1 event,saw you leave( heard you first!!) while I was refin the combi.
Sorry about timings but Edinburgh had a few travel problems on the way down.
We ended up losing by 3 points in the end,but gave em a good run for their money with a much depleated -young side.
15 year old rockets captain, local lad 'Aiden Owen' fell in the first heat while challenging for the lead against Scotlands top rider,then fell while leading in another race.He did eventually get the better of both their big hitters in the final heat though.
Probably cost us the match but entertaining all the same.
Shows that s5-s6 can still produce great talent,a couple of other young kids had a great match-beating Scots top riders aswell.

How about some of you 'old uns' having a go at some point.
sure we can arrange something !!!:D

I'll keep you upto date on the next fixtures.

Heard today that Pete Howe has died following renal failure. Really sad news. He was a legend on the Cross as well as for his cycle speedway ability.at this moment i carnt say too much as iam so dumbstuct by that news its turned me over but i will come back again with my memories of such a good friend. R.I.P Pete Howe from t.c.

Heard today that Pete Howe has died following renal failure. .

Bummer!! :( He was a genuine hero of mine! Please let us know if you get any funeral details
Parson Cross will the worse for his passing

Yo - I'm real sad to hear about Pete - got lots of memories about him. If anyone gets to know the funeral date I'll get down from Scotland to pay my respects. I’ve got some photos (cycle speedway and there’s a great one of Pete), which I’m going to publish on the site.
Nice to hear from you TC and TH (I was only joking about you both racing on bikes).
Bushbaby – the 60’s on the cross where the best time ever – we never locked our door – anyone remember going next door to borrow a drop of milk and then taking it back in the evening. I and my brother (Peter) still laugh about these times and the fun we had.
I’m writing a longer narrative about the “Cycle Speedway” years and I’ll let you have a copy.

Yo - I'm real sad to hear about Pete - got lots of memories about him. If anyone gets to know the funeral date I'll get down from Scotland to pay my respects. I’ve got some photos (cycle speedway and there’s a great one of Pete), which I’m going to publish on the site.
Nice to hear from you TC and TH (I was only joking about you both racing on bikes).
Bushbaby – the 60’s on the cross where the best time ever – we never locked our door – anyone remember going next door to borrow a drop of milk and then taking it back in the evening. I and my brother (Peter) still laugh about these times and the fun we had.
I’m writing a longer narrative about the “Cycle Speedway” years and I’ll let you have a copy.I know you was joking and i think terry knows that but iam still reeling about petes death and i couldnt sleep last night. what a lad and a big part of the 60s on the cross. yes i remember milk, sugar and other things if you did that now they would not take kindley to it now. nice to hear from you as i got banned off the site for a while for sticking up for an old lady.

Yo - I'm real sad to hear about Pete - got lots of memories about him.
I’m writing a longer narrative about the “Cycle Speedway” years and I’ll let you have a copy.
Please do that Tommy, and I'll get a copy of my book "Gee'or Ruwerin' - Growing up in 60s Parson Cross" http://www.acmretro.com/geeor.html to you
There's a chapter on Cycle Speedway, taken from a slightly bemused onlooker's point of view

Great Foto of Pete Howe!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/page2/

His charisma is there for all to see

Bummer!! :( He was a genuine hero of mine! Please let us know if you get any funeral details
Parson Cross will the worse for his passing

only just found out about pete when i came on tonight guys im so sad knocked about with him in my younger days as most of u know what a guy beb sadly missed please let me know of funeral arrangements. terry howell

Really sad to hear about Pete Howe. He'd just about finished racing cycke speedway by the time I started around 1970. Still remember him though. I'm editing the match programme for next Saturday's British Open and Women's Club Championships at the Graves, Bochum Parkway, so I will mention Pete in the programme notes.
Incidentally, you missed a real humdinger of a match at the Graves today (Sunday) as Sheffield lost out narrowly to Premier League leaders, Horspath of Oxford.

only just found out about pete when i came on tonight guys im so sad knocked about with him in my younger days as most of u know what a guy beb sadly missed please let me know of funeral arrangements. terry howellPete Howe will be cremated on Friday 29th of july at 2.30 at grenoside crematorium south chapel. R.I.P Pete. T.C.

Hi Bushbaby The pics of you on the cycle speedwey track,where was that track? Was it the one on the field Behind Holgate rd near Black Hill ?

Hi Bushbaby The pics of you on the cycle speedwey track,where was that track? Was it the one on the field Behind Holgate rd near Black Hill ?

No it's on Wordsworth opposite the filling station - bottom of Dave Baldwin's garden
It's not me it's my brother John

Pete Howe will be cremated on Friday 29th of july at 2.30 at grenoside crematorium south chapel. R.I.P Pete. T.C.

Should be a good turnout - I'll be there

Sheffield club arranging one minute silence for Pete Howe at the British Open Club Championships at The Graves Tennis Centre on Saturday.

Sheffield club arranging one minute silence for Pete Howe at the British Open Club Championships at The Graves Tennis Centre on Saturday.

Nice one guys!! I'm hoping there will be a good turnout at Greno on Friday#

Nice to see the old sport is being remembered. All a bit before my time but here goes with some names and teams and a few memories.
Firstly, I got interested as did a load of lads from Greno (Reg Wilson see....) by watching the Ecclesfield Jokers race on Sunday afternoons adjacent to the White Bear. They got big crowds and took loads of dosh with a bucket which went round the crowds sitting atop the old wine cellars or whatever they were. We formed Ecclesfield Kings and initially raced on the track aforementioned on Green Lane Ecclesfield. It was the only limestone track in the UK as far as I know.
Anyway, teams and riders I remember:
Ecclesfield Jokers: Pete Smith, Mick Mole
Stradbroke Arrows: Eddie Fordham (emigrated to Australia) and Gary Fordham.
Parkwood Aces: Pete Smith, Chris Simmerson, *** Wadsworth, Glenn Galloway. A kid called Ivan Haywood who tragically died.
Sheffield Stars: Les Sheldon, Phil White, Ray Carlton, Danny Prior, Shaun Gartland.
Wadsley Lions: Martin Gamble, Steve Green, Dave Robinson.
Ecclesfield Kings: Glynn Stringer, Rob Knight, Pete Marriott, Neil Edwards, John Sykes, myself Mick Marsh, Paul O' Malley, Neil Bailey.
Later myself and the Ecclesfield Kings committee contacted councillor Hanwell and he got us a track built at Foxhill. Riders included refugees from the now defunct Parkwood, Aces. Stars and Wadsley. I stand to be corrected here. Anyway riders names I remember were Ian Bennett, Chris Cottingham, Shaun Gartland, Richard Simmerson.
Ecclesfield Kings continued with the name and entered the Northern League? riding at Offerton, Blackley, Denton, Gorton, New Mills, Heckmondwyke, Hull etc. Later we entered a Midlands league, racing at Stoke, Long Eaton, Hull and Heywood amongst others.
We were banned from the Midland?? National? can't remember the proper name; for fighting at Heckmondwyke and at Heywood. At one meeting at Foxhill, the Fox pub turned out and invaded the track after a kid called Mason from Stoke got a bit too cocky with the local p***heads. The team all bar broke up but by that time the scene on Sheffield had whittled down to just the one team. I lost touch for a bit but from what I recall, after Glynn Stringer left the sport Martin Gamble single handedly dragged it back and is to be credited with keeping it alive in the city.
I recall an All Sheffield select going down to the Speedway World Team Cup at Wembley and riding at Morden, Uxbridge and Wimbledon over the weekend. I was gobsmacked at the Wimbledon rider's bikes. chrome plated, metallic painted frames the dogs danglies. By this time, booze and match angling took over my life and although I popped along to the odd meeting, it never had the appeal it once had and I looked back fondly at a sport I did as a kid and enjoyed. I built my own bikes, straightened forks by heating them in my mum's oven then straightening them behind the lamppost and wanging it in a bucket of water to temper them. Cotterless sets.....we all aspired to cotterless sets. I remember changing back cogs (sprockets?) from 16s to 21's depending on the size of the track we were racing on. Halcyon days. I now follow F1 stockcars with their 7 litre engines, 650 bhp of power and loads of noise. Well you've got to do summat ain't yer?

myself Mick Marsh, Paul O' Malley, ?
Is Paul O'Malley from Grenoside? He'd be about 52 now?
If so, his son is the Arctic Monkeys base guitarist

Interesting read from ZEPSTOX, some of the names mentioned are still knocking about,Martin Gamble still is the driving force with the current clubs in Sheffield.Dave Robinson and Glyn Stringer still pop down to the tracks now and again, Robbo recently top scored in an 'old boys v new lads' freindly last year and can be seen annually at the Greno chase-think he's done everyone for the last 25-30 years.

This Saturday see's the biggest cycle speedway event ever to take place in Sheffield at the Graves track in Norton.
The British open club championship brings together the top teams and riders in the country, and also the British ladies club champs take place on the same day at the same venue.

Sheffield have a good chance in both,if all our top riders are there to take part,as a couple of our lads will be involved in the Motor Speedway event at Stoke on the same day.

I think the semi finals begin around 11am with the finals starting around 3pm.
Should be a good day out if anyone fancies it.

Is Paul O'Malley from Grenoside? He'd be about 52 now?
If so, his son is the Arctic Monkeys base guitarist
Yep, that's the one. I never knew his son was a musician though, great.
Just remembered the biggest name in the sport when I was racing; Denis Naylor. He was a real star at the time. The Stradbroke 1, 3 & 5 were virtually unbeatable at their home track.

quote-At one meeting at Foxhill, the Fox pub turned out and invaded the track after a kid called Mason from Stoke.


Are you sure this wasn't Rob Machin- not Mason,hes still rides now and agian for Stoke and I think he also rode for Stradbroke one season in the seventies when they tried to build a super team to win the national league-but eventually finished bottom because the lads they'd signed from Stoke never turned up for matches.

Should be a good turnout - I'll be there

i am sorry to say i carnt make it to petes funeral and iam realy realy gutted.will you tell ken and his mum iam sorry and my thoughts are with them.

i am sorry to say i carnt make it to petes funeral and iam realy realy gutted.will you tell ken and his mum iam sorry and my thoughts are with them.

Will do Tony - I'll pass your message on

Pete Howe: 1948-2011

Because he was such a flamboyant character, such a charismatic guy, everyone will have different memories of Pete. Here are a few of mine:
Firstly, in about 1964, when a group of “Long Haired Layabouts” (as my dad would have called them) were building a cycle speedway track on Wordsworth, a marvellous piece of engineering and very much driven by Pete and Ken. Pete was always active. One minute, pushing a barrow full of turf sods down to the bottom corner to build up the bank on that all important first bend. Two minutes later he’d be having a competition with our John to see who could do the best flying hand spring – then shortly after that he would have his guitar out and he’d be singing Beatles’ songs to Bee-bee and Barbara

A few years later I was on Deerlands Avenue with Steve Bower when Pete got off the 53, carrying the new Pink Floyd album, “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” under his arm. He had a shock of bleached blond hair and was wearing a pair of purple corduroy jeans, which were quite a tight fit, but he’d done that magic thing of cutting up the seam at the bottom and putting in some extra material to make them into flares – material he’d cut from his Mum’s best paisley headscarfe. We went into his dad’s house on The Mount and listened to the album. Pete really enjoyed the quirky Syd Barratt songs, “Scarecrow”, “Bike” and “Interstellar Overdrive” and wore a big smile all the way through them.

But my favourite memory of Pete’s is when he brought his band up to Mansell Youth Club to play for us. They set their stuff up in the corner of the little dark disco, Dave Heyward’s “Dave Clarke Five Junior Drum Kit” pushed right into the corner, and Pete and Phil Johnson out front with guitars and mic’s. There was no spotlight, just the spinning mirror ball throwing fast moving coloured lights all around the place, as Pete belted out the popular choices, “Loves to Love the Loved”, “King of the Saucepans” and of course, that perennial old standard, “Hit me over the head, with a Fire Extinguisher”

Great memories - great days. Thanks Pete

Great send off for Pete yesterday, a pleasant service followed by a few pints of Sam Smith’s in the Cow and Calf
Met some great old friends – Terry Howell, Deso, Manx, Keith Atkinson, Tommy Roebuck, Phil Stocks, George Stocks, Les Richardson, our Pete and John, and the still gorgeous Sandie Burns. Pete’s mum still looks great and Ken is fine.
Bumped into Ted Taylor and Pat Brown a bit later and continued drinking well into the night.

Yo - I'm real sad to hear about Pete -.
Great seeing you again Tommy, although a sad occasion

Thanks for the fotos. I'll get them scanned in later and put them somewhere were everyone can see 'em

Hope you got home OK. I haven't drunk that much since I was in the Sgt's Mess:)

I have put Tommy Roebuck’s fotos onto my foto website. I have put as much info as I can on them. Please add further info by clicking “comments” underneath each pic, especially names if you have them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

When I have all the info, I will send them to the “History of Cycle Speedway” site

http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/

Tommy’s group foto of the tigers isn’t exactly the same as the one we’ve already seen, but was taken a few seconds before or after that one
If anybody wants a copy of any of the fotos, email me at Bushbaby387@yahoo.co.uk, and I’ll be happy to oblige

Big thanks to Tommy

Hi Bushbaby,

If you go on to the Sheffield Stars website (haven't posted enough on the Forum yet to allow me to include URLs, but search for "Sheffield Stars Cycle Speedway" and you find it), send an email to the club secretary and include your snail mail address. He'll send you a copy of the match programme from Saturday's Open/Women's Championships.

Hi Bushbaby,
He'll send you a copy of the match programme from Saturday's Open/Women's Championships.

Thanks, I'll have a go at that

I have put Tommy Roebuck’s fotos onto my foto website. I have put as much info as I can on them. Please add further info by clicking “comments” underneath each pic, especially names if you have them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

When I have all the info, I will send them to the “History of Cycle Speedway” site

http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/

Tommy’s group foto of the tigers isn’t exactly the same as the one we’ve already seen, but was taken a few seconds before or after that one
If anybody wants a copy of any of the fotos, email me at Bushbaby387@yahoo.co.uk, and I’ll be happy to oblige

Big thanks to Tommytall guy is tony mitchell

tall guy is tony mitchell

Cheers Tony
I'm getting a copy of last Sunday's program from the meeting. Pete is mentioned. I'll scan it and stick a link on to it
I passed your regards on to Ken by the way

Cheers Tony
I'm getting a copy of last Sunday's program from the meeting. Pete is mentioned. I'll scan it and stick a link on to it
I passed your regards on to Ken by the waythanks steve did ken say anyting, prob not because he had alot on his mind

thanks steve did ken say anyting, prob not because he had alot on his mind

No - He was a bit quiet and he was chaperoning his mum.

Hi everyone - Bushbaby I didn't think you would have the photo's done so quickly, not after the amount of drink we put away in the Cow and Calf, anyway it was a good turnout and really good to remember Pete and tell stories about him to his younger nieces.
Never thought the negative was my sister Jean - I actually thought it was Terry Howell before he started shaving his head. Tigerman was right about "Tall man" - Tony Mitchell (Fir Vale) (sorry I didn't get to see u Tony - will make sure next time I'm down in Sheffield) SPOTTY SHIRT is Brian Saunby (Sheffield Tigers) and QUIFF is Eddie Fordham (Hackenthorpe) The missing name AT THE GATE is Brian Saunby.

I had a long conversation with Ken on Sunday night when I got home - obviously he was upset about the loss of Pete - but we had a long talk about the old days and the times we had. We've agreed to meet up next time I'm in Sheffield - he has loads of photos of the cycle speedway days, so I'll get them to you Bushbaby.

Bushbaby - you need to empty your private mail box in order to receive more private mail from me

This Sunday sees Stockport visit Cookson park for a northern league fixture,Stockport are currently leading the league and its a bit of a grudge match so should have plenty of action especially if Sheffields big names turn up.
We slaughtered em in the recent British club championships on the way to reaching the final,but the reverse fixture at Stockport earlier in the year proved too much for a young depleated Sheffield squad,Stockport took 7-3's in every race( 5-1's in pre decimal currency).
Derek Garnett is a name that some of you old un's will remember from the 60s'-70's,he still rides on a regular basis,even after 3 hip replacments.
Div 1 match starts around 2.30pm if anyone fancies visit !!

Bushbaby - you need to empty your private mail box in order to receive more private mail from me

Hi Tommy - I've edited the fotos. All the names are complete now. I've also emptied my PM box. If I can get hold of Ken's fotos they'll be on the web faster than you can say Tom Roddis. :)

Whatever happened to Tom Roddis?. He had a green bike I seem to remember.

If you go back to my Flickr page, I've added the tribute to Pete which featured in the Program for the British Open Club Championships. held at Graves Park, just a couple o'days after Pete's funeral. It's nice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

Hi everyone - Bushbaby I didn't think you would have the photo's done so quickly, not after the amount of drink we put away in the Cow and Calf, anyway it was a good turnout and really good to remember Pete and tell stories about him to his younger nieces.
Never thought the negative was my sister Jean - I actually thought it was Terry Howell before he started shaving his head. Tigerman was right about "Tall man" - Tony Mitchell (Fir Vale) (sorry I didn't get to see u Tony - will make sure next time I'm down in Sheffield) SPOTTY SHIRT is Brian Saunby (Sheffield Tigers) and QUIFF is Eddie Fordham (Hackenthorpe) The missing name AT THE GATE is Brian Saunby.

I had a long conversation with Ken on Sunday night when I got home - obviously he was upset about the loss of Pete - but we had a long talk about the old days and the times we had. We've agreed to meet up next time I'm in Sheffield - he has loads of photos of the cycle speedway days, so I'll get them to you Bushbaby.yes terry howell does look like your sister, lol and tigerman is always right, we need those photos off ken to put it all together, i have just come out of hospital and doing fine at the moment but it seems like petes funeral as stopped us all talking like terry as not been on since, come on terry lets hear from you pal.

hia tc hope your ok mate bin abit busy thats why i havent been on

hia tc hope your ok mate bin abit busy thats why i havent been onhi tets ok for now have not been too well but got some more tests but feel i might get better this week with some exersize yeh spelt wrong but not as clever as them bushes lol.

yeh spelt wrong but not as clever as them bushes lol.

Ha-Ha!! Nice one Tony. them bushes were only pretending to be clever...:)

Ha-Ha!! Nice one Tony. them bushes were only pretending to be clever...:)made a good job of it and iam not joking.

I have put Tommy Roebuck’s fotos onto my foto website. I have put as much info as I can on them. Please add further info by clicking “comments” underneath each pic, especially names if you have them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

When I have all the info, I will send them to the “History of Cycle Speedway” site

http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/

Tommy’s group foto of the tigers isn’t exactly the same as the one we’ve already seen, but was taken a few seconds before or after that one
If anybody wants a copy of any of the fotos, email me at Bushbaby387@yahoo.co.uk, and I’ll be happy to oblige

Big thanks to Tommy

I just had a look at the pics after bro Tommy told me they were up here. I well remember having my pic taken that day. We'd traveled to the event in my dads Bedford van if memory serves.? good old days:D

I dont know if anyone on this thread remembers John Priestley who rode for Stradbroke Arrows, Sadly john passed away on the 10th of this month in London where he worked, just found out it was his funeral yesterday at Woodhouse, Sheffield. So sad.

Rip John. :sad:

Sadly john passed away on the 10th of this month
Rip John. :sad:

Amen to that. RIP John

I dont know if anyone on this thread remembers John Priestley who rode for Stradbroke Arrows, Sadly john passed away on the 10th of this month in London where he worked, just found out it was his funeral yesterday at Woodhouse, Sheffield. So sad.

Rip John. :sad: rip john from an old pal

Please do that Tommy, and I'll get a copy of my book "Gee'or Ruwerin' - Growing up in 60s Parson Cross" http://www.acmretro.com/geeor.html to you
There's a chapter on Cycle Speedway, taken from a slightly bemused onlooker's point of viewcould you do the same for me as i carnt get out of my house not yet any way

Hi everyone - Bushbaby I didn't think you would have the photo's done so quickly, not after the amount of drink we put away in the Cow and Calf, anyway it was a good turnout and really good to remember Pete and tell stories about him to his younger nieces.
Never thought the negative was my sister Jean - I actually thought it was Terry Howell before he started shaving his head. Tigerman was right about "Tall man" - Tony Mitchell (Fir Vale) (sorry I didn't get to see u Tony - will make sure next time I'm down in Sheffield) SPOTTY SHIRT is Brian Saunby (Sheffield Tigers) and QUIFF is Eddie Fordham (Hackenthorpe) The missing name AT THE GATE is Brian Saunby.

I had a long conversation with Ken on Sunday night when I got home - obviously he was upset about the loss of Pete - but we had a long talk about the old days and the times we had. We've agreed to meet up next time I'm in Sheffield - he has loads of photos of the cycle speedway days, so I'll get them to you Bushbaby.tom have you got them photos yet off ken if you have them let us all see them please

tom have you got them photos yet off ken if you have them let us all see them please

I can get them scanned and online within minutes - so let's have 'em Tommy

I can get them scanned and online within minutes - so let's have 'em Tommy just found out today my wife as got cancer so i will not be on for a while; dont think iam ignoring you lads see you all later take care from t c.

just found out today my wife as got cancer so i will not be on for a while; dont think iam ignoring you lads see you all later take care from t c.

Bugger!! Good luck with it Tony!

sorry to hear about your wife tony all the best matey

sorry to hear about your wife tony all the best mateythanks terry and steve just dont know where iam at, at this moment.

thanks terry and steve just dont know where iam at, at this moment.she is in for the op tomorro to try and take it away, keep me up to date with the latest lads. god bless.

Bugger!! Good luck with it Tony!

she had it took away but we will find out in three weeks some results. by the way how are you all and has anyone got any more photos of the team.

Hello Tony, i'm so very sorry to hear the news about your wife..I hope the results are favourable..Take care..Jean x

Hello Tony, i'm so very sorry to hear the news about your wife..I hope the results are favourable..Take care..Jean xthanks jean hows your tom and i hope you are well and you take care from t.c x

Hi all.Petes funeral was a great day but sad.I met some old freinds and could have talked for hours.This site should stay busy. We are all getting older but age is only numbers. can I just wish TC's wife all the best.

Hi all.Petes funeral was a great day but sad.I met some old freinds and could have talked for hours.This site should stay busy. We are all getting older but age is only numbers. can I just wish TC's wife all the best.thanks bush senior that means a lot to me as all your family does i hold them in high esteem, have i siad that right.

thanks bush senior that means a lot to me as all your family does i hold them in high esteem, have i siad that right.

Perfect Tony! And the feeling is mutual

Perfect Tony! And the feeling is mutual

love you all.

love you all.what i mean is all the people from my cross days.

hia tony hope everythins ok started to worry about you when you said you love everybody ahahahah

hia tony hope everythins ok started to worry about you when you said you love everybody ahahahahsorry i have not been on for some time as we go on the 1st of dec for the results of the op. but what i meant tets was i dont hate any of them. [only you ] lol

Hi all.Petes funeral was a great day but sad.I met some old freinds and could have talked for hours.This site should stay busy. We are all getting older but age is only numbers. can I just wish TC's wife all the best.thanks to you all for your support. she as had the all clear but we have got to go back on tuesday to go under general aner stetic to say gone but they are 99.99 sure its gone thank god.

thanks to you all for your support. she as had the all clear but we have got to go back on tuesday to go under general aner stetic to say gone but they are 99.99 sure its gone thank god.

Great news Tony - still keeping fingers X'd for Tuesday

Great news Tony - still keeping fingers X'd for Tuesdaythanks bushbaby hope your family have a nice christmas from t.c.

Great news Tony - still keeping fingers X'd for Tuesdayyour fingers didnt work but thanks anyway. she is back in for another op on the 21st of dec and i have got my grand daughter due to give birth on the day after and she is 21 and lived with me from birth.

Words fail me Tony except to say, good luck with it all. The new baby will be a delight I'm sure, and I sincerely hope things go well for your wife. Thinking of you mate..

Words fail me Tony except to say, good luck with it all. The new baby will be a delight I'm sure, and I sincerely hope things go well for your wife. Thinking of you mate..thankyou bushy that means a lot to me. have you heard from tom roebuck.

hey up tony sorry not bin on for a while workin away from home hope everthin ok with your wife and family and yourself we will have to meet up in new year and have a few and a good old talk matey all the best your old mate terry

hey up tony sorry not bin on for a while workin away from home hope everthin ok with your wife and family and yourself we will have to meet up in new year and have a few and a good old talk matey all the best your old mate terrythanks tets just come from jessops and i am great grandad again. and one day i will take you up on that offer for a chat and drink i would realy love to.

Words fail me Tony except to say, good luck with it all. The new baby will be a delight I'm sure, and I sincerely hope things go well for your wife. Thinking of you mate..thanks its realy nice to know you still have pals.

thanks tets just come from jessops and i am great grandad again. and one day i will take you up on that offer for a chat and drink i would realy love to.wife had another op on 21st and they want her back to talk to her on the 9th of jan so i will speak to you all then so to all a merry christmas and a happy new year from t.c.

wife had another op on 21st and they want her back to talk to her on the 9th of jan so i will speak to you all then so to all a merry christmas and a happy new year from t.c.grand dauhter just been rushed back in to hospital what christmas.

grand dauhter just been rushed back in to hospital what christmas.

Tony, what a time you,re having old mate!

Thoughts and best wishes go to you as we drift into the new year. Hope to see you soon maybe.

Tony, what a time you,re having old mate!

Thoughts and best wishes go to you as we drift into the new year. Hope to see you soon maybe.grandson just been admitted with a temp of 39. 80 and thats my new year started 35mins ago, so here we go for next year steve and thanks pal for being there. happy new year to all from t.c and i would love a pint with you all but at the moment iam too busy, but ill let you know.

Tony, what a time you,re having old mate!

Thoughts and best wishes go to you as we drift into the new year. Hope to see you soon maybe.can you remember a bloke who used to hang round the cross and he wore a flat cap and had goofy teeth and he was always on about doris day, his coat and trousers always looked to small for him.

can you remember a bloke who used to hang round the cross and he wore a flat cap and had goofy teeth and he was always on about doris day, his coat and trousers always looked to small for him.

Tony, I think you mean Dennis Craggs, sometimes called "Dick". Always cadging fags. Lived right on the end of Wordsworth Close with his mum. A nice guy and totally harmless, although young kids and girls tended to avoid him. He died in 1987. There is a bit of stuff about him on the Parson Cross link if you do a search.

Tony, I think you mean Dennis Craggs, sometimes called "Dick". Always cadging fags. Lived right on the end of Wordsworth Close with his mum. A nice guy and totally harmless, although young kids and girls tended to avoid him. He died in 1987. There is a bit of stuff about him on the Parson Cross link if you do a search.yes thats him and he used to walk all over the cross. he was a nice bloke and some of my friends used to be doggy with him but i always spoke to him.he was doris day mad.

yes thats him and he used to walk all over the cross. he was a nice bloke and some of my friends used to be doggy with him but i always spoke to him.he was doris day mad.

Question for you Tony.

When I did my book reading at the new Learning Zone in December, the girl interviewing me, Trisha Cooper from BBC Radio, asked me if we ever got permission to build the track where and when we did.

I guess Ken Howe would be the most knowledgeable, but do you know if there was any official exchanges with the council?

Question for you Tony.

When I did my book reading at the new Learning Zone in December, the girl interviewing me, Trisha Cooper from BBC Radio, asked me if we ever got permission to build the track where and when we did.

I guess Ken Howe would be the most knowledgeable, but do you know if there was any official exchanges with the council?no we didnt we just thought it was a field like kids do so we thought we could play on it, because god gave us that field not the council or the goverment. by the way my wife was cleared with cancer today so wwoooooooooh iam havin a big drink lets hope it doesnt kill me:hihi::hihi::hihi:

no we didnt we just thought it was a field like kids do so we thought we could play on it, because god gave us that field not the council or the goverment. by the way my wife was cleared with cancer today so wwoooooooooh iam havin a big drink lets hope it doesnt kill me:hihi::hihi::hihi:

wwoooooooooh from me too - I'll have a drink for you later :headbang:

Thanks for the field info - I thought that was the case

wwoooooooooh from me too - I'll have a drink for you later :headbang:

Thanks for the field info - I thought that was the caseok bushy, carnt write too much at the moment,as ive just done my record of 2.48 secs for my last three pints, each that is:hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi:

Ha-Ha!! Enjoy old mate!

Ha-Ha!! Enjoy old mate!I have enjoyed old mate and suffered but it did not kill me but i felt dead. bye the way have you heard anything from tom roebuck or ben howe over them photos.

I have enjoyed old mate and suffered but it did not kill me but i felt dead. bye the way have you heard anything from tom roebuck or ben howe over them photos.

No - I think Tommy's crawled back into obscurity..
I must try and get hold of him

No - I think Tommy's crawled back into obscurity..
I must try and get hold of himi have lost how to get in touch with him as i dont know too much about laptops.

No - I think Tommy's crawled back into obscurity..
I must try and get hold of himdo you know when the new cycle speedway season starts.

Northern League Sunday 18th March Cookson Park. Sheff Rockets v. Sheff Phantoms.
Elite League Sunday 8th April Graves Tennis Centre. Sheff v. Poole.
Both matches start 2.00pm.

Northern League Sunday 18th March Cookson Park. Sheff Rockets v. Sheff Phantoms.
Elite League Sunday 8th April Graves Tennis Centre. Sheff v. Poole.
Both matches start 2.00pm.thanks tigerboy and you will grow up into tigerman lol:hihi::hihi::hihi:

What a week for Sheffield !!!
last Sunday gave us a Welsh open champion and 3rd place-Vicky Brown and sandra Tomborska,
Monday the first team travelled to Poland to take part in the European club championships,where they narrowly lost in the final,Lezsno finished on top,
then on Saturday the u10s team finished in 4th place in the nationals,
Sunday the u13s finished as runners up in the nationals.
Monday gave us a British champion-Ellie Sullivan -girls u13- and two 3rd places -Billie Owen girls u13 and Adam Watson boys u13-

seems like all the hard work is paying off again :):):):):):)

Shame about the Euro's though-came so close:roll: