Brandon re-opens - History of Brandon part two (post war)

[Bee 1]

A History of Brandon...50 years with the C.O.

 

1947.

 

In 1946 Coventry were issued with a permit for Racing at Brandon. However, the track and the Stadium needed massive construction work before they could open the doors to the Shale shifters once more.

 

The legendary Jack Parker held the promoting rights at this time and employed one, Charles Ochiltree as Technical Advisor.

 

The Stadium itself had been used during the War by Aircraft Companies with workshops. The construction work hit problems immediately with the lack of a building permit.!

 

Permits were issued at this time, for constructions using cement. More valuable than Gold at the time... It was refused, and Parker’s plans were put on hold for the 1947 season.

 

The actual Promoter’s license was held by Mrs Jack Parker and the C.O. who had moved up from Hackney and Haringey. The C.O. being appointed Manager.

 

Parker himself was not allowed to Promote as he was still riding at Belle Vue.During 1947, Jack himself hit upon the idea of using self-locking prefab slabs. Hence No cement, and No Permit required.

 

Those slabs are still in evidence to this day in places....

With all the work completed, and the new track ready, everything was set for the Grand re-opening in May 1948.

 

1948

 

The Team was made up mainly from Belle Vue assets, another connection of Jack’s. six of the first “Bees” team were from Hyde Road.

BOB FLETCHER (via a spell at Cradley in ‘47) RALPH HORNE, BERT LACEY, BERNARD TENNANT JOHN YATES, and ALEC EDWARDS.

 

The Grand Opening was scheduled for April 24th but, a problem with the track lighting pushed back opening day until May 1st.

 

The “Bees” first ever match, was Away at Hanley (Stoke) and resulted as 1n 1929 with a hammering. Losing 28-55. That was also their first League match.

 

They did not have to wait long for an opportunity of revenge, as they travelled back to Sun Street the following week in a National Trophy Match.

 

They lost this as well 43-64. They also lost the services of Ralph Horne who picked up an injury and missed the first match of the new era at Brandon.

 

The very first match at Brandon was the 2nd leg of the National Trophy against Hanley. On Saturday May 1st 1948.

 

Bob Fletcher led the side, and won the opening heat setting up a track record of 80.8 seconds. Just as in 1928, the weather was wet and cold. The Brandon track in 1948 was 375 yards and of a Black Ash surface.

Coventry lost at home that night 48-59.

 

The next Home meeting, saw Plymouth visit in the League, on May 8th. The Bees lost this match too, 37-45.

 

On May 15th the Bees won their first Home match, when they beat Yarmouth 45-38 in the League. Another Belle Vue asset, GEORGE SMITH made his debut for the Bees in this match..

 

Later in the season, VIC EMMS was signed from Bradford and shortly afterwards LIONEL LEVY was signed from Wimbledon.

 

Although the Bees struggled in those early weeks, they did manage THREE Away wins in the League. (more than any other of the newcomers that year managed together.)

 

Those wins coming at Wombwell 47-37 on September 3rd. Poole and Yarmouth.

 

ED (CRUSTY) PYE also signed in August from Newcastle. The Bees 65-18 victory over Hastings at Brandon in September was the Bees biggest win of the season.

 

Vic Emms won the Supporters Trophy meeting the fore-runner of the BRANDONAPOLIS.

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE

 

Division Three 1948

P W D L For Ag Pts

1. Exeter 44 32 1 11 2150 1523 65

2. Cradley Heath 44 29 2 13 1979.5 1702 60

3. Southampton 44 29 0 15 2113.5 1568.5 58

4. Tamworth 44 23 4 17 1954.5 1725.5 50

5 Hanley 44 24 1 19 1925 1751 49

6. Hastings 44 22 0 22 1756 1924 44

7. Plymouth 44 21 1 22 1861.5 1812.5 43

8 Coventry 44 19 1 24 1670.5 1998.5 39

9. Hull 44 19 0 25 1757 1909 38

10. Poole 44 17 0 27 1760.5 1916.5 34

11. Yarmouth 44 13 1 30 1606.5 2058.5 27

12. Wombwell 44 10 1 33 1514.5 2159.5 21

 

Coventry Bees Scorer’s 1948

1. Bob Fletcher (capt) 303

2. Bert Lacey 221

3. Lionel Levy 209.5

4. Vic Emms 188

5. George Smith 173

6. Ed Pye 126

7. Ralph Horne 120

8. Bernard Tennant 103

9. John Yates 103

10. Fred Yates 97

11. Derick Tailby 18

12. B. Greaves 7 13. O Greenwood 1 14. R.Carvill 0

15. A . Edwards 0

 

Crowds at Coventry continued to rise all season. By the end of 1948 the average crowds were around the 15,000 mark. As with today, promotion and relegation was more down to finance than results. At the end of the season the Bees were “invited” to move upto Division Two on the strength of those crowds. The team’s strength and ability too hold there own in the higher sphere, was another question.........

 

to be continued.......