History of Brandon 1949-1952 Johnnie Reason arrives

[Bee 1]

1949

 

The Bees entered their second season with a place in Division Two, Promoted on the strength of their crowds, and ambition. The C.O. (still manager at the time.) felt concerned at the end of ‘48 that the Bees would not be strong enough for Division Two

 

One has to remember that Division Three in them days was really of junior standard, similar to the Academy/Conference League’s of today.

 

The Bees had been made up from Belle Vue Juniors in ‘48 and promotion into Division Two was going to be hard to adapt too, on track.Not surprisingly the Bees finished BOTTOM of Division Two...

 

Pre-season efforts to strengthen up the team were not that successful. New face’s JACK GORDON from Bristol/Fleetwood, J.D. WHITE from Sheffield, and ROY MORETON from Cradley were the first to be added. They then signed LES WOOTON from Wimbledon.From the 1948 team, the Bees lost Vic Emms, who was re-called by Halifax.They also lost a talented teenager, George Smith who Belle Vue snatched back.

 

It was certainly a troubled season as the Bees struggled on track, and all efforts to strengthen the side, were doomed to failure.

 

Belle Vue agreed, eventually too sell Coventry Fletcher, Lacey and John Yates outright. They joined Crusty Pye and Derrick Tailby. Those along with Gordon and White formed the basis of the team.

 

 

With poor results the Bees added during the season, JACK WINSTANLEY in exchange for Fred Yates, and Australian LES HEWITT was drafted into the side.

 

Also during 1949 a local hero was discovered and made an impact on the scene. JOHNNIE REASON.

 

The Bees started O.K. with a win at Brandon over Newcastle 47-37. but, in their second match the 1948 Division Two Champions, Bristol came and beat us at Brandon 35-48.

 

By May Lionel Levy was allowed to re-join us from Wimbledon, having earlier been re-called, but to no avail.

 

The Bees took some hammering’s on their travels and after three successive defeats at Brandon, won only their second match of the season against Cradley 42-40.By mid-season Jack (J.D.) White had lost his form and place in the team. Jack Gordon likewise.

 

Hewitt, the Aussie was finding it hard riding on tight tracks compared to his country’s big circuits. The bulk of the scoring was down to Fletcher and Levy.

 

Offers were made for several riders, but nothing materialised, and the Bees struggled on.The team continued to lose matches, three more at home, before we won two successive meetings at Brandon over Glasgow White City and Fleetwood.

 

Away from home, still more hammering’s... 16-67 at Norwich, and the same again at Walthamstow.It was around now that WOOTON and MORETON were added to the team but, again both struggled and failed to average more than six per match.

 

Hewitt began to score better as the season progressed, and as late as October Johnnie Reason came to the fore with 11 match winning points AT Glasgow White City, where the Bees won their only Away match of 1949.

Dispite all the defeats the average crowd size at Brandon actually increased to a staggering 20,000 in 1949. And the record crowd for the Stadium was shattered in August when 27,000 people saw JACK PARKER win the first BRANDONAPOLIS and lower the track record in the process from 75.00 too 72.4 seconds.....

 

The “White Ghost”, KEN LE BRETTON won a World Championship qualifier at Brandon that year too.

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE

Division Two 1949.

 

P W D L For Ag Pts

1. Bristol 44 34 1 9 2290.5 1393.5 69

2. Sheffield 44 29 1 14 2015.5 1667.5 59

3. Norwich 44 27 0 17 2031 1649 54

4. Cradley 44 25 0 19 1908.5 1772.5 50

5. Edinburgh 44 24 0 20 1804 1877 48

6. Walthamstow 44 21 3 20 1841.5 1833.5 45

7. Southampton 44 21 3 20 1741.5 1924.5 45

8. Glasgow 44 20 0 24 1757.5 1924.5 40

9. Fleetwood 44 18 1 25 1765 1916 37

10. Newcastle 44 17 1 26 1735 1949 35

11. Ashfield 44 12 1 31 1645 2034 25

12. Coventry 44 10 1 33 1540 2134 21

 

Coventry Bees scorer’s 1949

1. Bob Fletcher (Capt) 317

2. Bert Lacey 245

3. Lionel Levy 155

4. Jack Gordon 152

5. John Yates 133.5

6. Les Hewitt 129

7. Derrick Tailby 126

8. Les Wooton 63.5

9. Ray Moreton 56

10. Ed Pye 55

11. Jack D White 54

12. Jack Winstanley 34

13. Johnnie Reason 20

 

1950

 

Tyre regulations.!!! A problem of the game today ?? WRONG... Like most of the Sports problems, tyre regulations were with us long ago.

 

In 1950 the rules were changed and riders were told to use one make or another with different width’s etc. And like the saga of 1996, there were those in favour and those against.The Bees entered their third season still in Division Two, dispite finishing BOTTOM of the League in ‘49. Out of the team went, Lacey and Gordon, and in came STAN WILLIAMS and CYRIL COOPER.

 

Les Hewitt continued to improve, and showed he was one of the best Aussies around in the U.K. Also on the improvement front were locals, JOHNNIE REASON, DERRICK TAILBY and newcomer PETER BROUGH.

Bob Fletcher again led the side as Captain, but he did not have the most successful of season’s in 1950.

 

The Bees however, rocketed up the table to finish fourth. With four Away wins, at Cradley, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Fleetwood.The Championship could have been won, only narrow defeats at Glasgow Ashfield (40-43) Southampton (40-44)| and Hanley (40-43) prevented us being possible Champions....

 

Johnnie Reason broke the track record, previously held by Jack Parker, in April with a time of 71.0 seconds.

 

Stan Williams suffered a knee injury, which opened the way for PETER BROUGH to make his debut. The title seemed to go beyond us when Norwich won at Brandon 33-51 in August. This came only a few days after Bees had won at Fleetwood with Les Hewitt scoring a maximum, and breaking the Fleetwood Track Record on THREE occasions...

 

Another defeat at home to Southampton in September, finished off Coventry’s hopes, and eventually they finished just five points behind Champions, Norwich.Les Hewitt won the 1950 Brandonapolis, beating First Division stars SPLIT WATERMAN and RONNIE MOORE in the process.

 

Only Bob Fletcher and Lionel Levy remained from the 1948 team and the Bees were beginning to establish themselves on track as well as on the terraces, with the crowds still amongst the highest in Speedway at that time.

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE

Division Two 1950

 

1. Norwich 28 18 1 9 1310.5 1038.5 37

2. Glasgow White City 28 18 0 10 1272 1074 36

3. Cradley Heath 28 18 0 10 1258 1090.5 36.

4. Coventry 28 16 0 12 1273 1072 32

5. Walthamstow 28 16 0 12 1212 1127 32

6. Halifax 28 16 0 12 1212 1134 32

7.Southampton 28 14 1 13 1215.5 1133.5 29

8. Edinburgh 28 14 1 13 1176 1166 29

9. Plymouth 28 13 0 15 1170 1177 26

10. Shefffield 28 13 0 15 1158 1193 26

11. Ashfield 28 12 0 16 1141 1205 24

12. Yarmouth 28 12 0 16 1059 1287 24

13. Newcastle 28 10 0 18 1072.5 1274.5 20

14. Hanley 28 9 2 17 1046 1295 20

15. Fleetwood 28 8 1 19 1020 1329 17

 

Coventry scorer’s 1950

 

1. Les Hewitt 220

2. Johnnie Reason 198

3. Cyril Cooper 178

4. Stan Williams 168

5. Derek Tailby 164

6. Bob Fletcher (Capt) 160

7. Lionel Levy 109

8. Peter Brough 39

9. Roy Moreton 36

10 R. Jackson 1

 

1951

 

The Sport was hitting troubled times. The Government Entertainment Tax was crippling most clubs. (V.A.T. as it is today) inevitably some clubs fell by the wayside, unable to survive financially.

 

In June, Division Two side, Southampton closed after only seven league matches. Before that Sheffield folded. As a result a certain CHARLIE NEW came to Brandon from the defunct Yorkshire club.

 

The Tax was a crippling 48% !! of income. It was raised to the ridiculous figure of 52.5%. If that were applied today there would be NO SPEEDWAY, OR ADMISSIONS PRICE’S WOULD BE AT LEAST DOUBLE....(And you thought V.A.T. was bad enough.)A long with the Tax problem, the God’s above decided to throw as much of the wet stuff at us as possible.! in the wettest summer since 1939.

 

With the closure of Southampton and Sheffield the League was reduced to 16 by mid-season.However, it was an optimistic Bees that went to the tapes, hopeful of doing well following their 4th place in 1950.

 

Just one enforced change after LIONEL LEVY decided to quit because of a business he’d started up, back in Sydney.

 

Initially the Bees promoted reserves to replace Lionel, but it all started to go wrong from day one, when Les Hewitt was injured at Leicester in the first match of the season.

 

Then Stan Williams struggled with a reoccurrence of the knee injury of 1950. Then as early as in the second week of April, local flyer Johnnie Reason fractured his ankle in an Open meeting in Dublin.

 

JOHN YATES was recalled from third Division St Austell, and we also drafted in WILF PLANT from Fleetwood. We bought JACK WRIGHT from first Division Wimbledon, as well.

 

None performed too well, and in the early season Britannia Shield (Southern Section) The Bees finished Bottom of their group with only one win.

 

Before the start of the League campaign Charlie New had come in from Sheffield and some of the early season injured riders returned. The Bees released CYRIL COOPER to Glasgow Ashfield and ROY MORETON to third Division, Wolverhampton.

 

The first League match was won against the ill-fated Southampton, and the Bees were unbeaten in their first 8 matches...

 

Wins at Edinburgh, Halifax, and Newcastle, along with Draws at Liverpool and Oxford helped consolidate the Bees with another 4th placing in the final table.

 

The biggest Home win coming against Fleetwood 60-23 and although we beat Norwich 45-39 at Brandon this time, the Stars were runaway winners of the League.

 

Bob Fletcher again Captained the side, Wilf Plant was later released to join Long Eaton and Johnnie Reason equalled the track record of 69.1 seconds in July.

 

The signing of Charlie New from defunct Sheffield was no real surprise, as just after they closed down, New rode at Brandon in a Challenge Match representing Lancs & Yorks. Charlie scored 8 points after a pointless first ride, helping the visitors to two 5-1’s and a 4-2. His last ride being in a match winning 5-1. He then qualified for the scratch race final and beat Bob Fletcher twice, no doubt this convinced the C.O. to sign him up.....

 

Coventry won the first staging of the East Midlands Bowl beating Leicester 91-77. Brandon also staged its first Test Match between Great Britain and the Overseas. Jack Young led the Oversea’s to a 60- 48 victory.

 

Sweden’s Sune Carlsson won a World Championship Qualifier at Brandon, and First Divisions Eddie Rigg won the Brandonapolis, from Cyril Brine and Ronnie Moore.

 

The first Midland Cup competition was staged with the Bees drawing Oxford in the first round. They lost at Cowley 38-58, but managed a remarkable 59-37 win at Brandon to go through to meet Leicester. However, The Hunters won that on the strength of just a 4 point defeat at Brandon.

 

Coventry Bees scorer’s 1951.

 

1. Les Hewitt 232 8.53

2. Bob Fletcher (Capt) 217 8.20 ave

3. Johnnie Reason 188 8.04

4. Stan Williams 181 7.05

5. Charlie New 141 6.50

6. Derrick Tailby 140 5.71

7. John Yates 84 5.57

8. Peter Brough 66 5.00

9. Jack Wright 53 5.95

10. Wilf Plant 9 N.A.

11. Alan Hailstone D.N.R.

 

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE

 

Division Two 1951.

1. Norwich 30 24 0 6 1526 990 48

2.Leicester 30 19 0 11 1350 1169 38

3.Edinburgh 30 18 0 12 1333 1179 36

4.Coventry 30 16 3 11 1311 1199 35

5. Walthamstow 30 17 0 13 1394 1116 34

6. Halifax 30 17 0 13 1300 1219 34

7.Motherwell 30 16 1 13 1277 1237 33

8. Ashfield 30 16 0 14 1287 1228 32

9. Hanley 30 15 0 15 1242 1268 30

10.Glasgow W.C. 30 14 1 15 1303 1215 29

11. Yarmouth 30 13 1 16 1158 1355 27

12. Oxford 30 12 2 16 1183 1330 26

13. Liverpool 30 12 1 17 1211 1300 25

14 Fleetwood 30 9 2 19 1049 1453 20

15.Cradley Heath 30 9 0 21 1139 1372 18

16. Newcastle 30 7 1 21 1039 1472 15

Sothampton record deleted 7 4 0 3 297 291 8

 

1952

 

Once again the Bees improved. Which was surprising as First Division Belle Vue, finally decided to recall our No1 and skipper, Bob Fletcher.

This left just Derrick Tailby from the 48’ squad. VIC EMMS returned as Bob’s replacement. Emms joined when he was left out in the cold with Halifax’s closure during the winter.

 

The Bees upped their form and finished runners-up in the League to Poole, and if it were not for a three month injury to Johnnie Reason, with some slip ups both home, and away, once again we COULD have been Champions.

 

 

Wins away at Edinburgh, Leicester, (twice), Liverpool, Oxford, Stoke and Glasgow White City, with draws at Glasgow Ashfield, Liverpool and Motherwell set us up for the title.

 

 

Narrow defeats at Ashfield 41-43 and Oxford 40-44, along with home points dropped against Ashfield and Leicester both matches being drawn, were to cost the Bees dearly.

 

The second Division had lost Norwich, (promoted) and had also lost through closure, Walthamstow, Fleetwood and Newcastle. Only gaining Poole from the third Division. The league consisted of 12 teams racing over the two at home, two away format.

 

The Bees opening League Match at Brandon resulted in defeat 41-43 at the Hands of Glasgow Ashfield. The result was down in no small way to Charlie New not returning in time from Australia. The Bees continued to struggle until he did arrive in May.

 

 

When New finally arrived, the Bees lost the services of Johnnie Reason again, this time out with a broken shin-bone.

In June, Leicester came to Brandon and hammered us by 20 points and they also put us out of the National Trophy (K.O.Cup.) One point from out first 11 away matches and things did not look to hopeful.

 

LIONEL LEVY returned, but was almost immediately injured. He didn’t regain his form and that lost him his team place.New, Williams and Hewitt did the baulk of the scoring with Vic Emms, and when we finally hit a purple patch the Bees shot up the table and finished 2nd.

 

In the Midland Cup we beat Cradley, then Oxford in the semi-final and had the First Division Birmingham Brummies in the Final. We held the to just 10 points in the first leg.

 

At Brandon in the second leg we had a six point lead after heat 7 and was battling hard to try and keep in contention. But, then we exploded into life, with six 5-1’s and two 4-2’s in the final eight heats to win with ease 110-82.England beat Scotland 62-46 in an international at Brandon. Vic Emms won the World Championship Qualifier, and Ronnie Moore won the Brandonapolis at his third attempt.

 

The absence of New early on, and the injury to Reason in particular cost Coventry that elusive title. One should remember, that in those days no Guests, or Rider Replacement was allowed, only reserves moving up or new signings could help an injury hit team.

 

Amongst the names in the second half junior events that year was non other than JIM LIGHTFOOT who was to go on to be a major star at Brandon.

Coventry scorer’s 1952

 

1.Vic Emms 391

2.Les Hewitt 365

3.Stan Williams 257

4. Charlie New 204

5. Pete Brough 191

6. Derrick Tailby 189

7. Johnnie Reason 181

8. Jack Wright 76

9. John Yates 73

10. Lionel Levy 7

11. Tommy Anderson 4

12. Reg Reeves 0

 

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE

 

Division Two 1952

1. Poole 44 31 1 12 2217 1477 63

2. Coventry 44 25 5 14 1938 1756 55

3. Leicester 44 25 2 17 1882 1756 52

4. Cradley 44 24 0 20 1870 1821 48

5. Glasgow w.c. 44 23 1 20 1837 1853 47

6. Edinburgh 44 21 4 19 1926 1763 46

7. Ashfield 44 19 3 22 1752 1940 41

8. Motherwell 44 19 2 23 1825 1861 40

9. Yarmouth 44 20 0 24 1812 1883 40

10. Stoke 44 18 1 25 1774 1916 37

11. Liverpool 44 16 3 25 1726 1967 35

12. Oxford 44 11 2 31 1587 2101 24

 

 

To be continued -- If there is any interest?

[howling gorgon 1]

yes, keep it coming

[Team Man 32]

I remember Johnnie Reason!!!!!! He had a brother Pete who did second halfs, its all flooding back now.

[Guest Sir Lunchalot]

Bee, how did you go with the more recnt history that you though you lost (since 1964 ?) .. any luck rescuing them ?

 

I enjoy reading them although some (ok nearly all) of the names are not all that familiar to me.

[Gemini 4,894]

Definitely getting more interesting now as you have reached my era. I started going to Speedway in 1949 when I was eight so unfortunately recognise all the names now.

Hope you will be able to carry on.

[Bee 1]

I'm not even a Coventry fan, yet, wait until the end of Septemeber, but love reading all this stuff, keep it coming!

 

Unless you are one of the older people on the forum you must have done some research, any chance of doding a bot for Newport You're welcome to come and riffle around in our attic! Thers a few old programs and books, banners, flags and a few other intretsing things, I'll have to scan them one day, theres a fair bit up there about Freddie Williams and his world championships, My grandparent (dads side) were Welmbley fans who lived in Newport!

 

Yes it was done with a lot of research from old Stenners annuals and magazines and programme collection.

 

All of which I no longer have As I sold up and moved to the Philippines. The history of Brandon was stuff I was working on with the Speedway Star and was planning on doing a video and usinga lot of this info on a video. Unfortunately that has all gone by the wayside now.

 

Coming over to do your Newport stuff would be too costly I'm affraid LOL.

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Also I'm affraid it ends at 64. Don't know what happened to the stuff from then to the 80's and 90's seems to have been lost in transit here 5 years ago.

[Guest Sir Lunchalot]

Reading those tables I couldn't help but think our friends north of the border were rather well catered for speedway wise around 1951.

 

Glasgow (White City), Ashfield, Edinburgh, and Motherwell should keep any speedway fan rather happy (at least for 4 nights a week anyway). Wouldn't mind betting Pammie would have lost her voice by about age 21 if she had 4 tracks to go to.

[Lioness 1,477]

I rather think she may have been even louder Lunchy with all the additional shouting practice she got..... :?

[BOBBATH 467]

Bee, scrolling thru' message boards that were posted before I joined forumland(gotta get a life). Anyway am really enjoying your history of the Bees-thought you'd like to know.

[star ghost 7]

Reading through the Coventry listings is like a book from the past. It is in fact like reading the excellent Speedway Researcher Website with all the Speedway Results of the past. I remember those matches with Coventry at the Firs here in Norwich, Bees may have been heavily beaten, but Bob Fletcher, Jack Gordon & J D White put up a fight every time and that was what the supporters looked for in them days. The entertainment counted first & formost

Edited June 28, 2009 by star ghost

[Bee 1]

Bee, scrolling thru' message boards that were posted before I joined forumland(gotta get a life). Anyway am really enjoying your history of the Bees-thought you'd like to know.

 

 

Thanks Bob.... Like I said I lost and/or sold a lot of memrobilia and reserch work already had for 65 onwards When I moved to the Philippines. I was lucky enough to have had what I did and posted here on a floppy disk (remember them lol)

 

I had a complete collection of all of Coventry's programmes from 48, books, mags (speedway stars complete collection from Vol 1 # 1 through tl the colour covers came out in early 70's.) Stenners and handbooks, pictures badges rosettes, and about 500 videos of matches .....So much stuff.

 

Really regret having to sell it all, but no way could I transport it all here.

 

Of course I still have memories but not all the research and details.

 

I have though recently gotten the 'bug' back big time and I'm currently trying to work on some stuff.... including more receny years that I missed altogether since being here.

 

I am buying up DVD's of Coventry and having a friend bring them over once a year. That makes it good for me at Xmas (when he comes) and I have caught up with the Bees over last 2 years have all of 2007 matches and 2008. Will get 2009 this year and get 2006 as well.

 

I am writing up 2007 at the moment and about to start writing up 2008. It will be a case of working backwards from there.

 

[Bee 1]

I should add - I am going to put all I have on the web and will post details when I have that done, then it will be work in progress and I will appeal for pics and info to add from early days. Should keep me busy in my retirement. LOL

[Bee 1]

Reading through the Coventry listings is like a book from the past. It is in fact like reading the excellent Speedway Researcher Website with all the Speedway Results of the past. I remember those matches with Coventry at the Firs here in Norwich, Bees may have been heavily beaten, but Bob Fletcher, Jack Gordon & J D White put up a fight every time and that was what the supporters looked for in them days. The entertainment counted first & formost

 

WOW Starghost your my hero! have just done a search for Speedway Researcher and by God your right. I had not seen this before, and it will help me TREMENDOUSLY put together seasons 65 onwards. I can not thank you enough.

[star ghost 7]

WOW Starghost your my hero! have just done a search for Speedway Researcher and by God your right. I had not seen this before, and it will help me TREMENDOUSLY put together seasons 65 onwards. I can not thank you enough.

The Researcher is the brainchild of Ron McNeil, Jim Henry & Graham Fraser who have gathered a dedicated bunch of fanatics? and they are gradually working towards getting all results from the History of Speedway to go on the site. Please remember to acknowledge any details you use from the site. Putting results onto the site is a finger-consuming time but it is well worth it in the end

 

[Bee 1]

The Researcher is the brainchild of Ron McNeil, Jim Henry & Graham Fraser who have gathered a dedicated bunch of fanatics? and they are gradually working towards getting all results from the History of Speedway to go on the site. Please remember to acknowledge any details you use from the site. Putting results onto the site is a finger-consuming time but it is well worth it in the end

 

Absolutely mate 100% when I get my web site done I'll ad a banner link for them as well.