Bavarian 767 Posted June 7, 2020 Does anyone have a chronological list of all the official England (and GB) speedway team managers we ever had through the years since 1930? Who was the longest serving, who was the most successful, who was the worst ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Bavarian said: Does anyone have a chronological list of all the official England (and GB) speedway team managers we ever had through the years since 1930? Who was the longest serving, who was the most successful, who was the worst ? I know of Len Silver, Reg Fearman, John Berry, Ian Thomas & Eric Boocock, Colin Pratt & Eric Boocock, Wally Mawdsley, Carl Glover of those during the seventies & eighties. Edited June 7, 2020 by steve roberts 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bavarian 767 Posted June 7, 2020 Are there no records kept of who was England Team Manager from year to year ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted June 7, 2020 59 minutes ago, Bavarian said: Are there no records kept of who was England Team Manager from year to year ? I think that I'm right that Len became the first "official Team Manager" as prior to that it was on an ad hoc basis? Len became manager between 1973 - 76 and again in 1981 -1983. John Berry was manager in 1977 - 79 and again in 1985. Ian Thomas and Eric Boocock in 1980. Eric Boocock and John Berry in 1981 but John resigned. Wally Mawdesly in 1984. Carl Glover in 1986. Colin Pratt and Eric Boocock in 1987 - 1989. Reg Fearman took charge on trips "Down Under" I recall as did John Berry (certainly during 1975/76) I'm only going on memory but I'm sure there are many out there who can provide a more comprehensive and/or accurate list? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bavarian 767 Posted June 7, 2020 Thanks @steve roberts I'm surprised to learn that there were no "official" England / GB team managers before 1973. I wonder who managed the England teams in the famous test series against Australia and other nations during the 1930s, '40s, '50s and 60's then ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted June 7, 2020 12 minutes ago, Bavarian said: Thanks @steve roberts I'm surprised to learn that there were no "official" England / GB team managers before 1973. I wonder who managed the England teams in the famous test series against Australia and other nations during the 1930s, '40s, '50s and 60's then ? I think that Dent Oliver's name was mentioned and Jack Parker rode as Captain and Team Manager (?) and Frank Varey may have played a role but I'm really not sure. Having read John Berry's book he did quote that when England/Great Britain rode it was often the Home Promoter/Team Manager who took charge? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 467 Posted June 7, 2020 I seem to recall that Dent Oliver "looked after" the England team for a while, but agree re John Berry's comment that it was often just the home promoter 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted June 7, 2020 For the division 2 test series of the early 1970's, a horses for courses manager was appointed for every meeting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,997 Posted June 8, 2020 21 hours ago, Bavarian said: Thanks @steve roberts I'm surprised to learn that there were no "official" England / GB team managers before 1973. I wonder who managed the England teams in the famous test series against Australia and other nations during the 1930s, '40s, '50s and 60's then ? Think the England captain pre-war was basically the man in charge. At least on the trips to Oz. Think even with the football team there was no proper manager until after WW2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,117 Posted June 8, 2020 39 minutes ago, iris123 said: Think even with the football team there was no proper manager until after WW2 Yes, Walter Winterbottom was the first England manager. Appointed in 1946. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PHILIPRISING 7,298 Posted June 8, 2020 (edited) Dave Jessup was TM for a while. And, from a fading memory, Wimbledon promoter Ronnie Greene Edited June 8, 2020 by PHILIPRISING 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,997 Posted June 8, 2020 2 minutes ago, PHILIPRISING said: Dave Jessup was TM for a while. And, from a fading memory, Wimbledon promoter Ronnie Greene I also thought Ronnie had a stint, but wasn't sure on that at all Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BL65 657 Posted June 9, 2020 The mid-1960s saw a number of team managers for Great Britain and England. In 1964 Tommy Price was team manager for the tests against USSR, which GB won 3-0. During 1965, when GB defeated USSR 5-0, Charles Foot took charge at Wimbledon and Coventry, Charles Ochiltree at Sheffield, Mike Parker at Belle Vue and Ronnie Greene at Newport. Vic Gooden was team manager when GB beat Poland 3-0 in 1966. The same year, England defeated USSR 4-1, managed by Bill Bridgett at Newcastle, Frank Varey at Halifax, Mike Parker at Wolverhampton and Charles Ochiltree at West Ham. I don't have a note of the team manager for the test at Exeter. Bill Bridgett was the losing team manager. Charles Foot managed the England team beaten by Sweden at Exeter in 1967. GB beat Poland 3-2 that year, managed by Wally Mawdsley at West Ham (lost), Ronnie Greene at Poole, Charles Ochiltree at Wolverhampton, Ron Wilson at Halifax (lost) and Ian Hoskins at Newcastle, 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBBATH 467 Posted June 9, 2020 Well done BL65-excellent research or excellent memory- Big thank you for clearing this up and taking the trouble to find this information. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BL65 657 Posted June 9, 2020 21 minutes ago, BOBBATH said: Well done BL65-excellent research or excellent memory- Big thank you for clearing this up and taking the trouble to find this information. Thanks. Not too difficult, I kept the programmes from all of them. The team manager wasn't named in the Exeter programme for some reason. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites