Paddy Mills

[Paulco 7,100]

Can anybody give me any information about a rider who rode for norwich just after WW2 called paddy mills . My father used to talk about him a lot and i was wondering what happened to him ? He rode for norwich from 1946 till 1952 , but i cant find anything more about him before or after .

[norbold 7,141]

Paddy Mills was discovered by Arthur Westwood and Bluey Wilkinson at Sheffield before the War but never really progressed beyond novice stage.

 

He signed for Norwich in 1946 and immediately showed potential that he had not shown at Sheffield. He topped the Norwich score charts in 1947 and 48. In 1949 he was all set to make his debut for England when an horrific accident put him out for several weeks. He continued to ride for Norwich until 1952. I don't know what happened to him after that.

[moxey63 1,785]

MILLS, Paddy

1946 20 153 7.65 Norwich, Northern League

1947 28 220.5 7.87 Div 2, Norwich

1948 32 262 8.19 Div 2, Norwich

1949 33 285 8.63 Div 2, Norwich

1950 26 182 7.00 Div 2, Norwich

1951 27 163 6.03 Div 2, Norwich

1952 17 42 2.47 Div 1, Norwich

1953 6 10 1.66 Div 2, Stoke

Ginger-haired Paddy, Leicester-born in 1913, was one of the most spectacular riders in the game. He was unfortunate during 1949 when forced to miss an England chance through head injuries and a fractured leg.

[star ghost 7]

MILLS, Paddy

1946 20 153 7.65 Norwich, Northern League

1947 28 220.5 7.87 Div 2, Norwich

1948 32 262 8.19 Div 2, Norwich

1949 33 285 8.63 Div 2, Norwich

1950 26 182 7.00 Div 2, Norwich

1951 27 163 6.03 Div 2, Norwich

1952 17  42 2.47 Div 1, Norwich

1953  6  10 1.66 Div 2, Stoke

Ginger-haired Paddy, Leicester-born in 1913, was one of the most spectacular riders in the game. He was unfortunate during 1949 when forced to miss an England chance through head injuries and a fractured leg.

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The figures do not do full credit to Paddy. They are for League matches only.

My figures are full for the League, Cup and Trophy matches Paddy rode for the Stars. I understand he started at Crayford and Dagenham in the mid 30s then rode under his own name, Horace Burke, at the Leicester track when it was unlicensed. He rode under the name Paddy Mills at Leicester in 1937 but the team withdrew from the Provincial League after a few matches, Paddy scored 6 in his 4 matches. He was at Sheffield in 1938 scoring 42 in his 15 League matches. In 1939 he kept improving and got 60 in 12 matches. Wartime came and Paddy joined the R A F during which time he was awarded the B E M for his rescue of airmen from a crashed blazing bomber in the South of England. After the War he was selected from the Pool by Dick Wise for Norwich. He had a superb time with the Stars. In 1946 in all matches he scored 370 from 44 matches. In 1947 it was 462 from 52 and in 1948 he took 558 from 60 matches. 1949 he was selected for England but a crash resulting in a fractured skull cost him this honour. Scoring 317 from 39 matches he kept up his form and in 1950 he rode 45 times and scored 329. In 1951 he followed with 313.5 from 54 as Norwich took the title for the second time. 1952 saw Paddy and the Stars in Division One at last. An injury plagued season saw Paddy and most of the team struggle. He rode 20 matches for 52 points. In 1953 Paddy helped out at Stoke on a few occasions but he only totalled 10 points. 1954 found him promoting at Brafield in the new Southern Area Sunday League. Mid-season he left and started up at Long Eaton but this track was unlicensed so Paddy and his riders were all suspended.

He was at Norwich in 1960 for second-half rides for a few weeks but didn't follow up on any come-back. During his time at Norwich he ran a Decorating Business in the City. Local cartoons often showed Paddy "paste-ing" the visiting teams after he had scored yet another maximum. Many tales of Paddy abound but that is another story as they say. I think he still has a son in the Midlands somewhere.