BOBBATH

Hi Frigbo-do u know who Alf rode against and his scores in those 5 meetings-he'd retired before he got to Somerton Park-would have loved to have seen him-he was one of the old NL guys I never saw ride.

Brian Hamilton-nice story-what a great bloke George's dad must have been -its a little act of kindness like that that can live on in folks memory and nice to be remembered that way.

That's right mate-I'd forgotten that-I think he rode in about 3 or 4 BL matches.

Norbold-how old do you reckon Alf is-I think he retired in 64 -before the Pl-NL merger right??

Sure-but don't know the answer re Alf Hagon-recall he wore glasses-bet Martin hagon his son could be contacted by someone tho.

Not boring at all Roddy-I'm always interested in what happened to these guys

Wonderful post Hunters-enjoyed reading it-I well recall the Eddie Glennon accident-1968 I think-he was team manager of Newport at the time(I think)

Sorry I raised it-I have the same feelings about Somerton Park!!(also covered with housing-though bits of old stadium still visible)

Yeh that was a great fish and chip shop wasn't it.Vic White still lives in Long Eaton.

Starghost -as the Norwich contributor what is on the site of the old Firs stadium now??

To Ian:But surely the first appearance of the Russians at Meadowbank was in 65 when Edinburgh were in the BL-they would not have been allowed to ride there in 64 as Edinburgh and other PL tracks were blacked.

I recall Bluey from when he was at Glasgow and Middlesbro'-how is he doing??

P'raps the photo was taken 20 years ago!!Tell you what lets meet there for a beer and see if it is still standing!!I think there must be a lot of ghosts there now!!

Enjoyed the clip Grachan-thanx v. much-anyone know where to go for other 50's and 60's clips.My favourite is the Soton v Norwich on youtube.

Wonderful site on Hastings-thanx for the tip-greatly enjoyed visiting it.

Thanx folks-you are right it was The Pavilion-I also recognise the picture.I had several pints there and am sad to hear its gone-why can't things just stay the same sometimes!!

How old would Norman be now??

Is Len Silver really publishing his autobiography-if so put me down for a copy right now!! Who's publishing it? Hope it will cover his days as a rider e.g. him winning the PLRC in 1962.

This led me to then think of riders who made the WF who in a way shouldn't have-I'm thinking of just British league Scandinavian and commonwealth riders here -as in my view there were many Eastern Europeans who just lucked in. In the former category I have to put Bryan Elliot-albeit a great trier, he managed to slip into the 1960 Final-good for Bryan but no way in my view was he in the same class as the Charlie Monks Ronnie Genz's and Arne Pander's.

Thinking some more of this what about Jim Squibb, I also thought Norman Hunter was finally going to the top when he was with Wolves-but then he had that terrible accident in when was it 1969 I think.However if I had to pick just one-I would have to go with Arne Pander.

Next time I'm in UK I should go and have a pint at Ron's I was always a fan of his.

How is How doing? Does Ron still keep his pub in Great(or is it Little) Missenden?A great rider in my view-one of the linchpins of the great Oxford side of 1964-along with Arne Pander and the G-men.

Hi parsloes, although Bobby Schwartz should have nade the WF he was certainly not as tall as Graham Miles!!!!!!!!!!

I always think of Charlie Monk in this regard-was at the British Final at West Ham in1965 when he just missed out after looking like a cert earlier in the meeting.Ken McKinlay got thru who had already been at a number of World Finals aand in my view was getting on and had had his chance.I thought oh well Charlie is young and will have a number of chances and is bound to get there another time.But sadly henever got that close again.Another name I would add to the list is George Hunter,also Jack Kitchen and for sure Roy Trigg perhaps also Dave Younghusband.

Sorry you never got to go Grachan-great spot.I'm trying to recall the name of the pub just outside it sort of looked like a big manor?altho' my memory ,may be playing tricks.I'd catch a Barton's bus from Beeston to LE and would sometimes eat at a cafe called I think"Banner's Farm fare"-a local east midlands chain I think.Any forumland people out there help me with the pub and cafe name.