THE PROVINCIAL LEAGUE ERA

 PROVINCIAL LEAGUE ACTION 1960s STYLE

The Middlesbrough riders are Alan Butterfield & Dave Younghusband (second & fourth left)

Opposition was the Glasgow Tigers (thanks to Bob Bath exiled in Toronto)

The badge the club produced for the Provincial League era

Eric Boocock & Eric Boothroyd roar from the tapes against St.Austell Gulls at Cleveland Park in 1963

The houses in the background were demolished in 1975

THE PROVINCIAL LEAGUE ERA 1961 - 1964

 MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1961

Maurice Morley, Eric Boothroyd, Don Wilkinson, Rick France, Vic Lonsdale, Tommy Roper, Geoff Pymar (on bike), Fred Greenwell (kneeling)

Reg Fearman brought league speedway back to Middlesbrough after 13 years absence. Together with his co-promoter Mike Parker they also ran Bradford, Liverpool, Stoke and Newcastle with mixed fortunes. Reg often rode for Stoke in 1961. Parker was the scourge of the speedway authorities, a former midget car driver who set up the Provincial League in direct opposition to the existing National League, he was often at odds with everyone, including his partner Fearman!

ERIC BOOTHROYD was top points scorer in 1962 averaging over 10pts a match

He rode for three seasons (1961 - 1963)

He promoted ten 'Open Licence' meetings at Cleveland Park in 1966

He promoted speedway at Halifax and Bradford for over two decades

This era saw the introduction of Fred Greenwell, Tommy Roper, Eric Boocock, Dave Younghusband alongside Eric Boothroyd and Cleveland Park thrill merchant Clive Hitch. Aussies Brian McKeown, Kevin Torpie and Bluey Scott also featured. The team wasn't particularly successful but the crowds flocked to Cleveland Park in their thousands.  Hitchy seemed to find gaps that no-one else did and often dived under opposing riders, a style that won him many admirers on the terraces.  We understand Clive is in ill health these days but plenty of older supporters have contacted us to say that the Provincial League was their favourite period.  We will try and give a bit more background detail about the riders.

Fred Greenwell in action against Sheffield Tigers

After four successful years crowd wise the 'Shawcross Report' deemed Middlesbrough not good enough to enter the newly formed British League in 1965 and so Fearman moved the whole operation to Halifax. Middlesbrough operated under 'open licence' but only ran three meetings before the plug was pulled. Former Bears captain Eric Boothroyd had to fight the speedway authorities to stage 'open licence' meetings at Cleveland Park in 1966 and after about 10 meetings and mediocre attendances no more meetings were staged after July. It was the year that Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park hosted qualifying matches of the World Cup.  The fans wanted to watch league racing and voted with their feet. It was a disappointing reward for Boothroyd whose efforts to bring speedway back to Middlesbrough deserved far more than what he inherited. Mind you, it didn't exactly get off to a good start when two of the riders booked to appear as guests for the Bears in the opening encounter against arch rivals Newcastle failed to turn up.  One of them Olle Nygren (Wimbledon) wasn't informed and the Bears had to borrow the Diamonds Brian Brett as they were trounced 27-50. It wouldn't be until the birth of a Second Division in 1968 that the bikes would roar round Cleveland Park again.

Provincial League Favourites - DAVE YOUNGHUSBAND - ERIC BOOCOCK - CLIVE HITCH

Provincial League Information on Middlesbrough Riders

written by COLIN GREENWELL

Several visitors to the website have requested more information on the days of the  Provincial League, well, we will try our best to find more information.  Colin begins with a New Zealander.

Here is a start:  Reading the write up, a few things to mention. BRIAN McKEOWN was from New Zealand. He came over here in 1952 and rode for Southampton where he was top scorer in his first season. I don't know if he rode for anyone else as yet. I will do some browsing. I got that info from the new Southampton book. I know he broke his leg riding for Southampton in 1963 (doubling up with Middlesbrough). Not sure if he rode again but he was team manager of the Newport Wasps in 1964.  (Born, June 12th 1927)

Brian McKeown

JOHN FITZPATRICK  John was not an Aussie. He was from London, from The Old Kent Road area.(info from old Speedway Star) Some of the teams he rode for (not in right order though) Great Yarmouth, Southampton, Ipswich, Rayleigh, Stoke & Middlesbrough.

 John Fitzpatrick

WAL MORTON - I think had the distinction of being the first rider to be approached by Mike Parker to ride for Middlesbrough when Middlesbrough opened in 1961.  Wal was born in Birmingham in 1911. He rode as a novice at Brandon,Coventry in 1933 and joined West Ham in 1934. In 1935 he was at Wimbledon and the following season went to Norwich where he remained until the outbreak of war. In 1946 he went to Glasgow and was then transferred to Harringay in 1947. Loaned back to Norwich in 1948 and recalled to Harringay in 1949. Turned out for Newcastle in 1951, West Ham in 1952. The next teams I can find that Wal rode for are Ipswich and Norwich in 1957. Ipswich in 1959 and Liverpool in 1960. He of course signed for Middlesbrough in 1961. He moved on to Bradford in 1962 before hanging up his leathers. Wal died in 1995.

WAL MORTON

More to Follow

PROVINCIAL LEAGUE PHOTOGRAPHS

JOHN FITZPATRICK leads into the third bend at Cleveland Park - opposition unknown

Bluey Scott and 'Slant' Payling riding in a meeting at Sunderland in 1964 (note the Sunderland Saints racejacket behind them!)

The unmistakable style of CLIVE HITCH going into the first turn

Is this DAVE YOUNGHUSBAND?  It most certainly is.

One for you to work out!

Middlesbrough v Sheffield 1964

MIDDLESBROUGH V WOLVERHAMPTON 1961

ERIC BOOCOCK when he was a young 'un

                      Actress/Model SABRINA pictured with the team  and promoter Reg Fearman in 1964 before the match with Newport

Possibly Middlesbrough v Norwich 1964

CLIVE HITCH lays his bike down as an Exeter rider falls off in front of him

MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS 1962

Dave Younghusband, Clive Hitch, Kevin Torpie, Reg Fearman (promoter), Brian McKeown, Eric Boothroyd (on bike), Eric Boocock, John Fitzpatrick

Photos copyright of R.Spencer-Oliver