My Father used to take my older brother here prior to its closure. We were all big speedway fans, going to World finals at Wembley watching the likes of Mauger, Michenek, Olsen, Briggs, Collins. I still remember names such as Ken McKinley, Christor Loftquist, Ole Nygren etc. even though i was too young to go. I had my fix when the Romford bombers were formed (sadly for only a year). Great nights out with Dad. Clipboard with programme keeping score. I can still hear the engines. Smell the fumes and running from the shale being deposited over the fence. It's my Dad's birthday tomorrow. Thanks for the memories, Dad.
I can totally understand. I have walked those streets so many times wishing I had knewn the Stadium,,,in my case, it's nostalgia for times never lived because of what I have missed so this was our tribute to everybody for whom this place and this part of History meant to much
Brilliant work. My Dad was a West Ham speedway fan. I went with Mum and Dad to the reopening meeting in 1964 and was there for the last Hammers 😭 and Bombers 😥 meetings . I use our race jacket for my avatar on TH-cam. When I think of the negative reaction to having London added to the WHU badge yet the speedway did it to the race jacket in the 60's. Happy memories. Thank you.
My parents were big fans of the post war West Ham speedway team with my mum being a big fan of Eric Chitty. She even had a 78 single of him singing. Later in the mid-60s I started going myself and was thrilled to be able to follow the treble winning champions: Ken McKinlay, Reg Trott, Sverre Harrfeldt, Brian Leonard, Norman Hunter, Malcolm Simmons, Reg Trott. Great memories of the sights, smells and sounds of the stadium.
True 😢 To film footage for this movie we had to go to Kings Lynn to shoot a speedway meeting to get action shots . They had a nice crowd there but it’s worrying how many venues have closed or are struggling
Nice to see old speedway riders remembered in the street names. When the Leicester stadium was demolished and houses built, none of the heroes of the shale were remembered. Happily a new stadium was built not to far away, albeit several years after that.
It was a really nice thing to do, totally agreed. They were the heroes who braved danger at that very same location and they deserve their names remembered and linked to that magical place forever
We have a statue of Ray Wilson the Everton footballer in Newham but not the Leicester speedway rider who will hold the track record at Custom House for evermore.
Absolutely amazing video , I am a london speedway fan ,I went to white city and Wimbledon, to young to have gone to west ham . Great to see people keeping the memories alive , thank you so much for your efforts and time great video well done
I mentioned on the comments section of the 'Black Lion' episode my thought that another of its sporting connections was with Speedway through Pat Clarke. I thought I'd read about it in programme notes from my collection. I dug them out and found an entry in the 20/4/54 programme v Norwich which marked the passing of Bill Clarke ( Pat's father) of the Black Lion , Plaistow who was a founder member of the famous West Ham Speedway Supporters Club whose inauguration took place at the Black Lion. Up to the end he remained chairman of the West Ham (Speedway) Motor Club. Pat's brother Colin also rode for the Hammers.
So good to see Alf Hagen, I remember asking him for his autograph when I was a kid at a grass track meeting, he won every race he went in, that was in about 1958.
Used to watch a lot of speedway in the 70s as a kid at Brandon stadium, Coventry. Brilliant atmosphere,no trouble. Smell of methanol and Castrol R oil was addictive. Good times.
Really enjoyed that. I remember as a kid speedway would often be on TV which I enjoyed watching. Shame there isn’t any tracks in London anymore. Unfortunately if it’s not football nobody’s interested.
Wonderful Documentary, the next legacy of West Ham Licence (and Mike Sampson and Bob Coles) came to Barrow in 1972 and a similar story unfolded - twice! Still a Speedway fan and still glad I got hooked as a schoolchild
I'm sure some will remember the popular disc jockey and tv personality Pete Murray( six five special). In his book he recalled watching Thames A F C football matches at West Ham Stadium. They played a couple of seasons at football league level before folding after failing to attract support. Imagine if they had been successful and challenged the boys at the Boleyn ground - think of a Premier League derby splitting Newham's loyalty. I wonder who I would have supported as Dad was from Custom House but my first football experiences were at Hermit road and the Memorial ground which were the birthplace of the Irons and the Hammers. Apparently Pete Murray used to live at the Nottingham Arms pub, a stones throw from the stadium and as such the equivalent of the Boleyn Tavern to West Ham United. Those speedway colours that Stan Stevens mentions were those of Thames Association FC.
Hello, thank you for this post. How can I find out more about the Speedway racers in the late 60's and early 70's please. If anyone can help i would really appreciate it.
@@marietaborredacuenca7571 yes it is such a shame i hope you can do wimbledon and new cross wimbledon now is a football ground i miss that track so much
Thank you very much for the feedback and of course for watching it!! We had so many bits from interviews and informations that could not make the final cut and had to be left out as we had a maximum of lenght for that project also due to budget etc...I do think Sandra, the lady we interviewed whose father worked at the Stadium, does mention that every night it was something different and mentions that they did Stock Cars too but I apologise if I am wrong
Great video, one small criticism, the presenter stood outside west hams new football stadium and didn't mention that Hackney speedway used to be next door!
Thank you very much, appreciate the Feedback and I take responsibility for that. Apologies for that, we were so focused on the West Ham when writing my lines and doing our research and script... you are absolutely right in pointing that out and if only we could have had more time (and more budget) to cover even more stories. Noted!
@@marietaborredacuenca7571 Well its a very small criticism Marie. I enjoyed the video very much. Speedway needs all the help it can get and I especially like the interviewee who stated that speedway teams not owning their own stadiums was a big issue. Mainly because greedy local councils think more about housing than peoples well being. Ask Peterborough fans. Thanks for a doing a great speedway vid.
Really good i started watching speedway in 1972 at Wimbledon could you maybe do a Wimbledon speedway video as well.I was 10 when i started going & went to Eastbourne later on until recently.
Great Memories . My Mum was a huge Speedway fan, Wembley and for some reason Odsal Speedway. Wimbledon were my team. going to home and away meetings in the 70's 80's until it ended. And for the short time when it started up again. Booo to the greyhound lot for charging too much rent. More than any other team. Anyone remember the foul mouthed lady on the pit bend !!!! Could make a docker blush. I believe we had Speedway at Plough lane before Greyhound racing, as they couldn't get a licence in 1927. Tried going to Eastbourne , but my heart wasn't in it. The "Dons" were my team.
Thanks for watching and for the comment! We love all the conversations about that fantastic place ! Yes they did to do Stock Car racing as well, We had so many bits from interviews and informations that could not make the final cut and had to be left out as we had a maximum of lenght for that project also due to budget etc...I do think Sandra, the lady we interviewed whose father worked at the Stadium, does mention that every night it was something different and mentions that they did Stock Cars too but I apologise if I am wrong
The good old days much better than today days then when we were making things now days people are not socialising places of enjoyment are gone now with technology we are becoming dehumanised
It is so true that as you said, it was not only a sports venue...it was a Community venue bringing people together. Thank you very much for watching the film x
My Father used to take my older brother here prior to its closure. We were all big speedway fans, going to World finals at Wembley watching the likes of Mauger, Michenek, Olsen, Briggs, Collins.
I still remember names such as Ken McKinley, Christor Loftquist, Ole Nygren etc. even though i was too young to go. I had my fix when the Romford bombers were formed (sadly for only a year). Great nights out with Dad. Clipboard with programme keeping score. I can still hear the engines. Smell the fumes and running from the shale being deposited over the fence. It's my Dad's birthday tomorrow. Thanks for the memories, Dad.
brilliant thank you ever so much loved the part on the docks my dad was a huge west ham speedway fan i still have his original badge
Superb nostalgic ride into history with a sprinkling of magic 🙏🏻👏🏻👌🏻👍🏻
Nostalgia can be sad
Looking back on what we had
I look back with fondness at this great time and miss it very much 😢
I can totally understand. I have walked those streets so many times wishing I had knewn the Stadium,,,in my case, it's nostalgia for times never lived because of what I have missed so this was our tribute to everybody for whom this place and this part of History meant to much
Brilliant work. My Dad was a West Ham speedway fan. I went with Mum and Dad to the reopening meeting in 1964 and was there for the last Hammers 😭 and Bombers 😥 meetings .
I use our race jacket for my avatar on TH-cam. When I think of the negative reaction to having London added to the WHU badge yet the speedway did it to the race jacket in the 60's. Happy memories. Thank you.
Thank YOU for sharing your beautiful memories- loving all of the comments thank you ❤
My parents were big fans of the post war West Ham speedway team with my mum being a big fan of Eric Chitty. She even had a 78 single of him singing. Later in the mid-60s I started going myself and was thrilled to be able to follow the treble winning champions: Ken McKinlay, Reg Trott, Sverre Harrfeldt, Brian Leonard, Norman Hunter, Malcolm Simmons, Reg Trott. Great memories of the sights, smells and sounds of the stadium.
Thank you for sharing these memories!
It's sad that London has no tracks anymore. UK speedway sadly misses teams like Wimbledon, Hackney., West Ham, Newcross ect.
True 😢 To film footage for this movie we had to go to Kings Lynn to shoot a speedway meeting to get action shots . They had a nice crowd there but it’s worrying how many venues have closed or are struggling
Thank you, liked shared❤
thank YOU so very much!!!!
Nice to see old speedway riders remembered in the street names. When the Leicester stadium was demolished and houses built, none of the heroes of the shale were remembered.
Happily a new stadium was built not to far away, albeit several years after that.
It was a really nice thing to do, totally agreed. They were the heroes who braved danger at that very same location and they deserve their names remembered and linked to that magical place forever
We have a statue of Ray Wilson the Everton footballer in Newham but not the Leicester speedway rider who will hold the track record at Custom House for evermore.
Absolutely amazing video , I am a london speedway fan ,I went to white city and Wimbledon, to young to have gone to west ham . Great to see people keeping the memories alive , thank you so much for your efforts and time great video well done
Means a lot to get feedback like this - thank you so very much, those were the golden years of Speedway and these stories need to be remembered ❤
Fantastic video thanks for sharing big Wimbledon fan from 1960s then Eastbourne great to keep all this heritage
Thank you very much for watching it ! So happy that you enjoyed it and so happy that we could do our bit to keep Speedway memories alive !
I mentioned on the comments section of the 'Black Lion' episode my thought that another of its sporting connections was with Speedway through Pat Clarke. I thought I'd read about it in programme notes from my collection. I dug them out and found an entry in the 20/4/54 programme v Norwich which marked the passing of Bill Clarke ( Pat's father) of the Black Lion , Plaistow who was a founder member of the famous West Ham Speedway Supporters Club whose inauguration took place at the Black Lion. Up to the end he remained chairman of the West Ham (Speedway) Motor Club.
Pat's brother Colin also rode for the Hammers.
So good to see Alf Hagen, I remember asking him for his autograph when I was a kid at a grass track meeting, he won every race he went in, that was in about 1958.
It was a pleasure to interview these legends !
Used to watch a lot of speedway in the 70s as a kid at Brandon stadium, Coventry. Brilliant atmosphere,no trouble. Smell of methanol and Castrol R oil was addictive. Good times.
That smell 🤩
Really enjoyed that. I remember as a kid speedway would often be on TV which I enjoyed watching. Shame there isn’t any tracks in London anymore. Unfortunately if it’s not football nobody’s interested.
Thank you so very much!! So many sports do not get the coverage they deserve compared to Football...that's so true x
Wonderful Documentary, the next legacy of West Ham Licence (and Mike Sampson and Bob Coles) came to Barrow in 1972 and a similar story unfolded - twice! Still a Speedway fan and still glad I got hooked as a schoolchild
Thank you so very much for your feedback and for watching it ❤
I'm sure some will remember the popular disc jockey and tv personality Pete Murray( six five special). In his book he recalled watching Thames A F C football matches at West Ham Stadium.
They played a couple of seasons at football league level before folding after failing to attract support. Imagine if they had been successful and challenged the boys at the Boleyn ground - think of a Premier League derby splitting Newham's loyalty.
I wonder who I would have supported as Dad was from Custom House but my first football experiences were at Hermit road and the Memorial ground which were the birthplace of the Irons and the Hammers.
Apparently Pete Murray used to live at the Nottingham Arms pub, a stones throw from the stadium and as such the equivalent of the Boleyn Tavern to West Ham United. Those speedway colours that Stan Stevens mentions were those of Thames Association FC.
Hello, thank you for this post. How can I find out more about the Speedway racers in the late 60's and early 70's please. If anyone can help i would really appreciate it.
it would be nice to go back in time
… I keep re watching it just for the same reason. Thank you for watching the documentary and letting us know your thoughts xxx❤
Family west ham United
hello i love your upload can you new cross and wimbledon and looking at where the sradiums where
oh I would love to get more funding to do more films like this - soooo many stories to be told before they disappear
@@marietaborredacuenca7571 yes it is such a shame i hope you can do wimbledon and new cross wimbledon now is a football ground i miss that track so much
Fantastic documentary, but sadly not a mention of Stock Car Racing that ran there between 1954 & 1966, a total of 80 meetings.
Thank you very much for the feedback and of course for watching it!! We had so many bits from interviews and informations that could not make the final cut and had to be left out as we had a maximum of lenght for that project also due to budget etc...I do think Sandra, the lady we interviewed whose father worked at the Stadium, does mention that every night it was something different and mentions that they did Stock Cars too but I apologise if I am wrong
Great video, one small criticism, the presenter stood outside west hams new football stadium and didn't mention that Hackney speedway used to be next door!
Thank you very much, appreciate the Feedback and I take responsibility for that. Apologies for that, we were so focused on the West Ham when writing my lines and doing our research and script... you are absolutely right in pointing that out and if only we could have had more time (and more budget) to cover even more stories. Noted!
@@marietaborredacuenca7571 Well its a very small criticism Marie. I enjoyed the video very much. Speedway needs all the help it can get and I especially like the interviewee who stated that speedway teams not owning their own stadiums was a big issue. Mainly because greedy local councils think more about housing than peoples well being. Ask Peterborough fans. Thanks for a doing a great speedway vid.
Really good i started watching speedway in 1972 at Wimbledon could you maybe do a Wimbledon speedway video as well.I was 10 when i started going & went to Eastbourne later on until recently.
Thank you for watching it and we hope that it brought back nice memories
Fantastic video thanks for sharing big Wimbledon fan from 1960s and then Eastbourne fan great that people keep up the heritage
Great Memories . My Mum was a huge Speedway fan, Wembley and for some reason Odsal Speedway.
Wimbledon were my team. going to home and away meetings in the 70's 80's until it ended. And for the short time when it started up again. Booo to the greyhound lot for charging too much rent. More than any other team. Anyone remember the foul mouthed lady on the pit bend !!!! Could make a docker blush. I believe we had Speedway at Plough lane before Greyhound racing, as they couldn't get a licence in 1927. Tried going to Eastbourne , but my heart wasn't in it. The "Dons" were my team.
@@kevintookey2469 oooh thanks for watching it means a lot that we can share our work and the memories with more people
@@sloanelouch393 precious memories thank you so very much for sharing your own stories with us and thanks for watching it x
Was the stadium used for stock car racing?.
Thanks for watching and for the comment! We love all the conversations about that fantastic place ! Yes they did to do Stock Car racing as well, We had so many bits from interviews and informations that could not make the final cut and had to be left out as we had a maximum of lenght for that project also due to budget etc...I do think Sandra, the lady we interviewed whose father worked at the Stadium, does mention that every night it was something different and mentions that they did Stock Cars too but I apologise if I am wrong
The good old days much better than today days then when we were making things now days people are not socialising places of enjoyment are gone now with technology we are becoming dehumanised
It is so true that as you said, it was not only a sports venue...it was a Community venue bringing people together. Thank you very much for watching the film x