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Post by coombes on Mar 25, 2020 19:35:46 GMT 1
Looking at riders who didn't quite sign for us Part One A-E What a Great Team We Nearly Had
In the early years of the BL the Rider Control committee largely dictated where a rider would race the following season. There were a few “refuseniks”, generally those being sent to Scotland! However Ivan Mauger’s stance, in demanding a move from Newcastle at the end of the sixties, tilted the balance in favour of “ride power”, bringing with it a flood of rumours each year about who would be riding where. It has to be said that Glasgow had more than its share! Let’s look at the “nearlies” and “what might have beens”
A
Australian Robin Amundson was known to Tigers promoter Les Whaley from his time at Rowley Park in Adelaide and was lined up to join the Tigers at Hampden, but, on the eve of his departure, received National Service call up papers. Two years later, after completing his stint, he headed over to the UK, but, with the Tigers team for once fairly settled, Whaley didn’t move to sign him and he duly put pen to paper for Hull. He did however make a guest appearance for the Tigers in 1972, failing to score in three starts.
B
When it was announced that Wembley wouldn’t be reopening in 1972, Glasgow hoped to sign Wayne Briggs, and indeed he was allocated to them as a replacement for the Templetons. He did move north, but into retirement! Although he turned out for Kirkcaldy in the ice racing venture at both Murrayfield (Edinburgh) and Kirkcaldy ice rinks that winter he never rode again although he was a regular at Berwick that summer and was always good company in pre speedway drinks at the storied Grove pub just up the road from Shielfield.
C
Along with Wayne Briggs, Brian Collins was also sought by Tigers for the 1972 season to cover for the retired Templetons, but Poole promoter Charles Knott managed to get him assigned to the Pirates, where he rode for two years before finally coming north to join the Tigers initial campaign in the Second Division. Like the Mounties, we finally got our man and what a signing he was, an inspirational skipper and runner up in the National League Riders Championship.
Phil Crump came over from Australia in 1971 and planned to seek rides at Glasgow, but Neil Street advised against this, citing the amount of travelling that would be involved. Thanks a heap, Neil! If only! If only!
D
German Tommy Dunker came to Glasgow’s attention following an impressive ten points for Germany in a World Team qualifier against Hungary, Australia and Finland including such notable opponents as Mick Poole and Kai Niemi. He was introduced to the crowd at Shawfield in an early meeting in 1990 and had a ride in the second half but seized his engine. That was the last we saw, or indeed heard, of him, although thanks to the advent of the internet it appears he rode one meeting the following year for Opole in Poland, scoring ten points. He seemed to concentrate on long tracking, winning the World Long Track title in 1997 and taking the Australian title later that winter. Probably it wouldn’t have worked out with Tommy as the Tigers moved to a Sunday racenight in 1991, which would have clashed with his long tracking activities.
E
Miles Evans had ridden for Glasgow during the 1983 season before losing his team place. However there was a real feeling that he would come back raring to go for 1984. He certainly was raring to go, joining Long Eaton with whom he won a league winners medal. Still remembered by fans of that time who adopted the “Glasgow’s Miles Better” stickers which were readily available from the City’s PR offices and stuck them on their cars and program boards.
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Post by benbulben on Mar 25, 2020 21:46:07 GMT 1
Great stuff, coombes. Got a Glasgows Miles Better sticker from Ian Steel when he was selling stuff in the old shop. I have also got a Tigers tie !
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Post by coombes on Mar 26, 2020 9:34:34 GMT 1
Part 2 F - L
F Mike Ferreira rode in about a dozen meetings for Coatbridge in 1974 but struggled for points and returned home well before the end of the season. Disappointingly, he was never put on the retained list. A few years later, after some good form in South Africa, he was on the point of trying again in the UK and supporters were hopeful he would return to Glasgow, but it was not to be. Instead he signed for Canterbury, in whose colours he won the Division Two Riders Championship. Very much one that got away! Fans were excited about signing Mark Fiora when Dick Barrie presented him as our new signing and looked forward to seeing him in action the following week.. and ride he did – but at Powderhall for the Monarchs. Exactly how he was “sprung” was never clear but insult was added to injury when a photograph of Barrie introducing Fiora at Blantyre appeared on the cover of a Monarchs program just a few weeks later! Revenge was eventually gained many years later when James Grieves was spirited back to Glasgow from under the noses of the Edinburgh promotion! G Gary Gugliemi was known as “Gary Williams” when he rode in Britain in 1977, mostly at Coatbridge, Like Ferreira, supporters were looking forward to his return but he took the big jump by going First Division with Coventry and never really looked back. Dave Gatenby was strongly tipped to make a comeback with the Tigers in 1978 but Glasgow signed Mick Newton instead. The latter had a dreadful time at Blantyre and left after a couple of months. H If Charlie Monk’s replacement had proved problematic in 1968, then it was even worse when he transferred to Halifax in 1973. Bert Harkins was one of a number who were pencilled in at Coatbridge. While a return to his old stamping ground no doubt had certain attractions, he was now well settled in the south, having signed for Wimbledon, and it would be a further four years before he returned north of the border when he joined Edinburgh. He never managed to join his boyhood team. John Hack had impressed while on loan late in the 1977 season and was being widely tipped as a likely signing for 1978. Unfortunately he was retained by parent club Oxford. Another winter story that went awry! I Jacko Irving rather surprisingly moved to Berwick after a couple of seasons at Blantyre in 1982 and 1983 and there were rumours of him returning each winter thereafter until he finally did, turning out at Blantyre in their final season at Craighead Park in 1986. It all comes to those who wait! J Kelvin Jeleca came over to Blantyre for the 1986 season, and there were high hopes that the diminutive Kiwi would be the answer to our prayers. Sadly not, his scores were reflected by his size. What might have been!
K Like Hack, Denzil Kent was an Oxford/Cradley asset, and, like Hack, he had some impressive second halves at Blantyre. Like fellow Rhodesian Ferreira, he made it big at Canterbury. Only long time supporters, with an equally long memory, rue him getting away. L Coatbridge’s challenge meeting against Bert Harkins’ Globetrotters brought all kinds of issues following Ettienne Oliviere’s appearance for the visitors. That night, fans were more interested in Ulf Lovaas, whom they hoped could be persuaded to sign for “the Stripes” and they made a point of giving him a big cheer after each race. Sadly he was in line for army duty in his native Norway and it was just a pipedream. He went on to become the Norwegian champion that year and subsequently signed for Oxford, by which time Coatbridge were a Second Division outfit. Averaging nearly seven points a meeting for the Rebels, he could have been a valuable addition for the Tigers. Roger Lambert was signed from Edinburgh in mid summer 1982 to boost a toiling Tigers side. His early form wasn’t great, failing to beat an opponent in two meetings but he bowled up hoping to rectify things in the third meeting – only to find he had been dropped. He loaded his bike back on the bike rack and, after toys were thrown out the pram, headed back to Edinburgh, where legend has it he got a second half ride and later went on to re-establishing himself in the Monarchs side.
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Post by coombes on Mar 27, 2020 10:05:31 GMT 1
Part 3 M - Q M After Jim Airey refused to come north, the Rider Allocation Committee next nominated Gunnar Malmquist. This was a really cynical move as Exeter had already been given Martin Ashby to replace Malmquist who had business commitments in Sweden until June. In the end Les Whaley signed Lars Jansson, who, despite a promising start, toiled on the slicker tracks and was released in June, by which time Malmquist seemed to be available. Initially, he said he was prepared to join the Tigers, but then got cold feet. After being strung along for nearly two weeks, Les Whaley lost patience and signed Ake Andersson. Not a great signing as it turned out. He failed to score in three away meetings – remember he was the consequential replacement for Charlie Monk! There can’t be many teams that get the “knock back” from two World Champions in successive months but that was what happened to Coatbridge in 1973. The Tigers were a weak team, even before Charlie Monk left and were given permission to approach Ivan Mauger who had been released by Belle Vue. For Mauger, it was a straight choice between Coatbridge and Exeter and he chose the delights of Devon. Strangely he said later that, if Coatbridge had been a Monday night track, he would have signed up. Surely a Friday night would have simplified his continental trips on Sundays and avoided the rather manic arrangements to get him back each Monday. At least he helped in contacting Egon Muller. The West German came over one weekend and rode on borrowed machinery in league meetings at both Coatbridge and Swindon, but barely scored a point. This was definitely not for him! However he would go on to win the World Final in his native Germany some years later and ride for Hull in the British League for a spell. N Eric Linden wrote a thought provoking article in the Speedway Star in early 1965, listing rider reallocation proposals, which sent a National League heat leader to nearly every Provincial League track, including Olle Nygren to Glasgow. It was obviously no more than an interesting piece of journalism and was never likely to happen although Nygren had an affinity with the Hoskins family having ridden for Johnnie at New Cross and was a regular choice for guest and open events in Scotland. Daniel Nermark was keen to come for 2001 but the Ashfield budget just wouldn’t stretch to meeting his travelling costs. He signed for Elite League Wolverhampton instead and four years later came to Scotland – but to Edinburgh. O After all the aggravation in persuading the authorities and the SRA to allow Ettienne Oliviere to ride at Coatbridge, fans were expecting him to return to line up for the Tigers, particularly now they had dropped into the lower division. Sadly he returned home to South Africa and drifted out of the sport. The Tigers had a fallow season in 1996 when the Scottish Monarchs squatted in Shawfield! However by the next year the combined British League had split back into its constituent parts, with the new leagues being named Elite and Premier. The latter was to be a low cost version of the former Division Two and Neil MacFarlane was heading a move funded by Shawfield stadium owner Billy King to bring the Tigers back. He outlined his plans saying he hoped to recruit former Tigers Mick Powell and Jesper Olsen to lead the new team. He did remark that some tough negotiating was required, particularly with the latter. Mick duly signed but Jesper got a better deal at Newcastle and went on to serve the Diamonds with distinction for some years. Very much one that got away! P Dom Perry was a team mate of Trevor Remond in the 1950s and had bought a farm in Ireland once he retired from the sport. Despite being out the saddle for a number of years, Redmond had asked him to get a ferry over from Ireland each week to ride for his fledgling Tigers in the Provincial League. It was a case of “Thanks, but no thanks” but it did show how desperate Redmond was to beef up his line-up. Graham Plant was on the comeback trail in 1979 but, after a couple of second half rides at Blantyre, decided not to take it any further. Fans were undecided whether the projected signing of Tony Primmer for 2000 was a good move. He had shown some promise but his form had flattened out. However they didn’t get the chance to find out as a “wonderful job offer” too good to refuse stopped him in his tracks and he stayed put in Australia. Q Chris Quigley, the only “Q” to have ridden for Glasgow. He returned home for the winter nursing a badly broken arm and was expected to return but never did!
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Post by coombes on Mar 28, 2020 14:34:30 GMT 1
Part 4 R-Z R Cyril Roger, like Terry Betts, was banned by the SCB for 1964 and like Betts was a Tigers target. Trevor Redmond pursued him doggedly and the program assured us that he would definitely ride the following week. However he never did. Apparently he had problems trying to find some one to tend his strawberry farm! How difficult is it to look after berries! Glasgow were finding it difficult to replace the Templeton brothers in 1972. Neither Paul O’Neill nor Kjell Gimre were impressing and the latter had been released. Preben Rosenkilde was signed and despite failing to score at Hackney, there was optimism over his signing. Then came the bombshell. He had been banned by the DMU following an incident in a meeting in Denmark. S Moving to Coatbridge did little to enhance Tigers’ prospects of persuading a Scandinavian to come to Scotland. A couple were tried. Belle Vue initially were prepared to release Soren Sjosten for whom there was the added “carrot” of riding in the same team as younger brother Christer. This one looked a “goer” until the Belle Vue management took the sensational decision to retain the Swede, releasing world Champion Ivan Mauger instead. Jan Simenssen was the next to be approached but he flatly refused to come and sat out the early months of the season before joining injury hit Cradley There are many things that Tigers fans blame promoter Brian Sands for but perhaps his most glaring mistake was not signing Carl Stonehewer when he had the chance. Carl actually called him looking for a place, and his wife famously said there was a “Carol” on the phone for him! Sadly the team was close to completion by then. Stonehewer would go on to ride in GPs while still a Premier League rider. T Usually when it is announced that a rider has signed then there is little to worry about. Certainly in more recent times promotions have been careful to have things tied up before making any statements in the press. So when we were told that Paul Thorp was going to be a Tiger in 2000, we were looking forward to seeing him, but then things changed. His old pal Eric Boocock had taken over the team manager’s post at Hull and Paul asked to be released to go to Craven Park instead. As there was little point in holding on to an unsettled rider the promotion acceded to his request. They did however have Richard Juul waiting in the wings – but that’s another story for another day!
U Unwanted ! No riders with a surname beginning with “U” have ever been linked with Glasgow V Claus Vissing had impressed at Ashfield and there seemed a strong possibility of him becoming a Tiger in 2013. However terms couldn’t be agreed and he joined Edinburgh where he had a chequered season. Glasgow instead signed James Wright who had an even worse time, losing confidence and enthusiasm and retiring mid season. Tigers never found their third heatleader and rarely found a home win either in a season of unremitting woe. Buy cheap, buy dear! W Don Wilkinson was tipped to return to the White City during the injury marred summer of 1964. He had ridden for Newcastle prior to his retirement a couple of years earlier and had previously starred for the Tigers in the 50s. He had a second half outing at Edinburgh, and indeed may well have joined them following Wayne Briggs’ big crash at Newport, but after a disappointing couple of races, decided to stay retired. More recently, David Walsh, a member of the revered “double double” squad looked to be heading back to Glasgow town in 2001 until Hull, who held his registration , decided they had plans to use him that year.
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Post by md on Mar 28, 2020 17:31:38 GMT 1
Leon Madsen is another though his chequered character back then may have shortened his potential career with the Tigers should he never have visited Armadale that time!
Davey Watt is another of alleged dubious character that we were apparently close to signing around 2004 but he eventually said no due to the travelling from his south coast base, and soon after signed for Newcastle.
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Post by coombes on Mar 28, 2020 17:58:56 GMT 1
I think we were close to signing Robert Eriksen until Edinburgh discovered we had acquired James Grieves from under their noses.
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Post by benbulben on Mar 28, 2020 18:26:59 GMT 1
I give you Hell....Csaba Hell but Robbie Nagy was the man.
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Post by md on Mar 28, 2020 19:15:56 GMT 1
Turn the clock back around 10 years, there was the annual Lee Complin to Glasgow rumour and Jason Bunyan's name got banded about for a season or two as well.
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Post by benbulben on Mar 28, 2020 21:16:55 GMT 1
I recall for 1995 Dougie Hopes saying he would try and get Henrik Gustafsson in. Not a great problem, said he, with regular flights Glasgow to Sweden. Maybe later we could start a thread on our promoters from Ian Hoskins to date. To be fair i think by and large we have had good guys in charge but one or two were more in the charlatan group.
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Post by coombes on Mar 29, 2020 12:46:57 GMT 1
From memory, but might have got a few wrong. Was Bill Harold part of the promotion at one time? Hoskins Miller/Bainbridge Redmond/Hoskins Taylor/ Hoskins Whaley/ Hoskins Whaley/ Beaton/ Macfarlane Beaton/Macfarlane/Wallace Beaton/DLT Beaton Beaton/ Barrie / Grant Beaton /Macfarlane McBride/Macfarlane Hopes King/Macfarlane Sands Dick/Dickson Dick/Dickson/ Pairman Biggart Pairman /Hamilton Facennas
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Post by benbulben on Mar 31, 2020 10:34:26 GMT 1
And another...programme for opening meeting of 2002 page 15..."a change to the UK Department of Employment policy directly influenced Glasgow with the Josef Franc loan deal from Berwick having to be abandoned when the real effects of the policy were understood"
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