1980's Newcastle Riders
Robbie Blackadder Keith Bloxsome Eddie Ingels Steve Wicks
The 1980's dawned and Newcastle continued to dominate. League championships in 1982 and 1983 brought about elevation into the top flight British League for 1984. Then the bubble burst and the club closed down at the end of the 1984 British League season, when promoter, Ian Thomas pulled out. No speedway at Brough in 1985. The experts said Newcastle should lie dormant for a few years before risking any re-opening but that didn't happen. Brough was again staging speedway in 1986 and 1987, only to close again at the end of the 1987 season so maybe the experts were right? 1988 was another year of silence at the track in Byker before co promoters, Barry Wallace (long time track announcer) and Richard Bailey decided the time was right for another risky re-opening in time for the 1989 season.
Newcastle 1980
1980 team: Robbie Blackadder, Derek Richardson, Tom Owen, Rod Hunter, Nigel Crabtree, Keith Bloxsome, David Bargh and team manager Dave Younghusband
Courtesy of Barry Stephenson
back Derek Richardson Tom Owen Rod Hunter. front Nigel Crabtree David Bargh Keith Bloxsome ?? Mick Easton ??
Kym Mauger with dad Ivan in 1980
Derek Richardson and Andy Reid at Glasgow Blantyre in 1980
Newcastle 1981
Courtesy of Barry Stephenson
Glen Mcdonald Robbie Blackadder Alan Emerson Dave Younghusband Keith Bloxsome Kym Mauger David Bargh Rod Hunter
Photo from Nick Short: Could the cup be the Tyne Tees Trophy?
1981. No prizes for guessing the sponsors name. Unfortunately for the Russian car makers the Lada is no more but the Diamonds still survive. Back row: David Bargh, Alan Emerson, Rod Hunter, Front: Robbie Blackadder, Glen MacDonald, Local rider Paul McHale and Keith Bloxsome. The site needs something from Barghy, Alan, Rod and Robbie so if you are in contact with them tell them about the History Site and maybe they will contribute to these pages!
1980 Tyne Tees Trophy Keith Bloxsome, Derek Richardson, David Bargh (almost hidden) Nigel Crabtree with in the foreground the 2 captains waiting for the toss of the coin looks like it was raining or very windy
Robbie Blackadder
Rob Best our trackman has been in touch about Robbie Blackadder. Rob has this to say: -
I went to Crayford with Robbie and Rod Hunter in the early
1980's for a Tuesday night match. The plan being that I drove all the way
allowing the 2
riders to rest before the match. In them days Newcastle's
matches were always Mondays, meaning I had already done a full days work
(nothing has changed). Crayford is a long way, so our plan was that I got to
Robbie's house at 9.30am to get a good start to avoid traffic on the London
North Circular (pre M25). I got there in good time to wash Robbie's bike
and load up for the trip. When I got there I found him with his one and
only bike in bits. He had decided to put his engine etc back into his
tried and tested twin tubed diamond frame. This delayed us until lunch
time.
We then had to go to Byker to pick up Rod Hunter and then over to Gateshead to pick up Rod's trailer & bike. We were eventually heading south (A1 in Gateshead) with me driving and them resting, by about 1.30pm, so much for an early start!
When we got on the M1 near London, with me driving still and them resting still, the traffic was heavy. Robbie demanded that I drive faster (already doing 70-80 with the trailer) and that I pass other cars on the hard shoulder!
We got to Crayford (South London) just in time. I acted as Mechanic for both, we were winning and towards the end of the meeting Rod fell off, so I was sorting his bike out during the next heat when I looked over to the far end of the track to see Robbie doing somersaults! The doc ruled both of them out of the rest of the meeting and both of them refused to go to hospital. Oh yeah we won the meeting!
As they were injured I had to drive on the way home too! I got as far as the M18 in Yorkshire when I heard "thud, thud, thud" It was the trailer wheels knocking over traffic cones at a road works. I had fallen asleep at the wheel! I stopped woke them up and Robbie finished the drive off. We got back to Robbie's at 4.30am, I got home at 5am and was at my day job for 7.30am the next morning.
Sounds like fun Rob!!!!
Robbie riding a smooth looking track but hey he's wearing a white helmet cover. He relished the bumpy Brough Park where he took some beating
I think Tom Owen but maybe not! Can you confirm and put a year to it John
Craig C McCurdy says: -
John, having had another look at your excellent site, I think the rider putting
on his cut-out wearing the red helmet cover is Robbie Blackadder and the year is
1981.
I cannot disagree or confirm what you say Craig, anyone else able to
assist? send me an email
John
Update: Rider is Robbie alias
"Death" This was part of the Australasian era at Newcastle, I spent 3 years as
mechanic for David Bargh. Regards John Abel. Brisbane Australia.
Time to agree that this is Mr Blackadder, I have moved this item from
Name the rider to Riders 1980 part 1
Courtesy Lyn Thompson
Robbie Blackadder going sideways at speed in 1981
Courtesy of Lyn Thompson
Mildenhall v Newcastle 1980 Mike Baldwin ( I thought he ran a knicker factory in Coronation Street!) leading Robbie Blackadder
Photo from Nick Short:
Photo from Nick Short:
Left to right: Alan Emmerson, Tom Owen, Joe Owen, Paul Mchale, Bobby Beaton, Robbie Blackadder, Keith Bloxsome.
When I looked at the photo I thought my eyes were playing tricks
on me! Paul McHale in the centre looks very much like Tom Owen and I had to look
twice before accepting that it was Paul. However, as Tom is also in the
picture and on comparison to Paul then the difference is noticeable! I never had
any trouble recognizing the two on the track of course!
This team line up consisted of 5 heat leaders and wiped
the floor with the opposition in 1982 winning the League Championship,
Supernational & KO Cup.
Triple trophy winners Newcastle Speedway were invited to the
civic centre for a civic reception to celebrate their achievements Joe Owen Alan Emerson Keith Bloxsome Rod Hunter Bobby Beaton
Unknown Front Dave Younghusband Ian Thomas The Lord Mayor and his Wife Tom
Owen and Brian Larner
Helen Charlesworth says: Hi John,
Just to let you know the 'unknown rider' in the Part 1 1980's section of the
team at the Civic Centre reception is Robbie Foy
Thanks Helen, Now you mention it I can see it is him. Thank you, John
Glen McDonald
2 Pictures from 1981
Glen leading Keith Pritchard of Crayford in 1981
Keith was kept at reserve by a very powerful team. His double figure scoring from reserve was a match winner away from home
Dave Younghusband (Manager), Alan Emerson, Tom Owen (Capt.), Joe Owen, ..Front: Rod Hunter, Keith Bloxsome, Bobby Beaton and Robbie Foy,
That is a Lada on the track in the background A Russian made car based upon the old fiat 124 design. Brough Park was owned by Ladbrokes then who spent a lot of money on the place and we watched our team from quite a luxurious stadium. The team was brilliant, crowds were big. Happy days!We ain't sure what season this team shot was or what the cup was for, because the Diamonds won many titles during this period. Anyone help us out here?
Update: Barry
Wallace says the cup was the 4 team trophy but I forgot to ask if he knew the
year.
2nd Update: Glasgow fan Derek Watson has suggested that this
photo must be from 1982 as Tom Owen and Bobby Beaton only rode together in 1982.
Bobby Beaton
Scotland's Bobby Beaton part of the all-conquering Newcastle Diamonds side of 1982
Courtesy of Steve Wicks
Bobby Beaton
1982 press day. Bobby Beaton, Robbie Blackadder, Keith Bloxsome, Paul
McHale, Joe Owen, Alan Emerson and Tom Owen on the bike
Newcastle 1983
Courtesy of Barry Stephenson
Ian Thomas David Walsh ?? Joe Owen Bernie Collier Dave Younghusband. front Alan Emerson Martin Scarisbrick Rod Hunter Bobby Beaton
Courtesy of Steve Wicks
Steve taking advice from Newcastle's Californian Eddie Ingels
Courtesy of Steve Wicks
Steve Wicks with 80's Promoter Eric Stead
Steve at Berwick battling it out with Bandits Wayne Ross and Rob Woffinden.
Courtesy of Steve Wicks
Courtesy of Steve Wicks
Pictures from Paul Brassell: Eddie the eagle
Eddie came to us for the British League campaign in 1984 from sunny California. He was quite a character and got himself married on the Brough Park track! He and Joe Owen were the riders that the crowd wanted to see. Eddie was based on Tyneside and he ran some training schools at a track at Felton in Northumberland. Eddie never reached the heights of some of his countrymen but we all thought him capable of it.
Brough closed its doors yet again at the end of the top flight season and Eddie moved on. So did our promoter and entrepreneur Ian Thomas. With Thomas leaving Newcastle's most successful spell ever came to an end. Thank you Ian for what you achieved in your time here. None of us will forget the top teams you assembled for us. 1975 to 1984 if you missed it, you missed a helluva lot!