Pre War

Newcastle Brough only operated for 4 years before the war. 1929 - 1930 and 1938 - 1939. This page shows a few other items outside the first period 1929 - 1931. Gosforth operated in 1931. Part 2 concentrates on the 2nd period 1938 -1939

I am looking for any good quality pictures of the 3 tracks to include in this section but I suspect the majority of pictures from this era will be from scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings like the ones shown below: -

Winner of the first ever race at Brough Park

The card back should read Gordon rode at Middlesbrough in 1928 as he was a Newcastle rider in 1929

Sunderland born Gordon was a member of the Newcastle Brough Park 1929 team. In fact Gordon was the first rider to win a race at Brough Park when he was 17 years old! The cigarette cards shown above are a source of historical information and pictures from the early days and are kindly supplied by Colin Greenwell.

Here is Gordon's letter to my friend Colin Greenwell. I have obliterated Gordon's address to preserve his families privacy. I can say that Gordon lived in Gosforth a suburb of Newcastle.

I would like to think that this photograph was showing Gordon winning the first ever race at Brough Park but I don't know when it was taken? It is from Gordon's own collection so many thanks to our most senior rider.

Another of Gordon's pictures. Gordon is centre at the back, these were his team mates whom toured New Zealand and Australia in 1932 -33. care to name them anyone?

One of Gordon Byers photographs. I only know 3 names here. Jack Ormston seated in centre, Parker and Johnnie Hoskins so if you can name the rest and say what the occasion was then please get in touch.
Gordon died late December 2008 aged 97.

This is the earliest Newcastle Team line up that I know of. They rode together at Brough during June 1929. Left to right : Fred Creasor, Phil Blake, Walter Creasor, Ernie Smith, Tommy Storey and Percy Dunn

Newcastle and Middlesbrough occupying lowly spots in the 1929 Northern League tables. Boro closed and we inherited their riders and did no better in 1930

Middlesborough born brothers Walter and Fred became Brough Parks first big names when they signed up for the Newcastle outfit's inaugural season 1929. The brothers are reported to have had a butchers business on Teeside and they certainly "carved up" the opposition at Brough and the other northern tracks.

Middlesbrough's influence in the North East was immense in 1929. Tees side based riders Walter and Fred Creasor and Phil Blake were in Newcastle's first team.

Picture courtesy of Ernie Crust (of Middlesbrough Motor Club)
Walter Creasor 1931

So many of these old riders have died without their memories being recorded. Many people must have knowledge of their exploits? Their relatives, friends and fans so why not send me details and I will record them here for all to see. I am not making any profit out of this site and it is being developed out of my love for the sport and to publicise Newcastle Speedway for free so come on if you have anything get in touch and I will show it to the world! John

Another shot from Brough Park during June 1929, this is an unknown Newcastle rider who had actually over slid and ended up going the wrong way! A good chance to look at the right hand side of an early bike though. Notice the hand operated gear lever just in front of the riders knee. Changing gear in the middle of a broadslide must have been a bit dodgy!
Jim Henry says: The Douglas did have a gearbox but it wasn't used during racing. The riders used second gear or, more usually, stripped out the gearbox of superfluous cogs so it was a set gear.

Same period but this time the track is Gosforth Park where Asda's store on Gosforth High Street is now! This was a heat from The Evening Chronicle Junior Speedway Trophy. The winner of the trophy was R. Dirkin. It is a pity that the picture didn't show the bends as the Gosforth track had very high banking on the bends. This picture is the only one on the site that shows a push start.

This is Gosforth's top rider Charles "Tiger" Sanderson. Tiger came from Fencehouses in Co Durham and was the star of the short-lived Whitley Bay venture before the promotion closed the seaside towns track to concentrate on the Newcastle Gosforth venue. I like the right hand picture which shows Tigers waxed moustache! very cool man!

My friend Colin Greenwell from 'Boro is very good at unearthing old pics and facts. Keep it up Col. Your contributions to the auld enemies (Newcastle history website) 35 miles up the A19 is greatly appreciated. I wish you well and hope Teesside gets back into Speedway soon!

Update! Teeside is to have a speedway again. 2006 will be graced by Redcar Speedway and that is great news for us in the North East of England!

Gosforth and Brough rider Harry Huntly aboard a Douglas DT with engine protection guards fitted. Also interesting to note the Newcastle United shirts from 1929. This picture was taken at Gosforth Super Speedway. All of the photo's and other items featuring Harry are from "The Vast Collection/Ian Huntly"

Newcastle Gosforth's 1929 team Harry Huntly, Jim Holden, Tom (Yank) Harrison and Arnie Cattell on the bike.The picture was taken at Manchester's White City when Gosforth were the visitors.

Items from a Gosforth programme from 1930 Showing Chester-le-Streets Harry Huntley and a number of other local riders. The programme notes inform us that Harry had just invested in a new machine, a Rudge so he would have had to adapt to riding foot forward unlike his Douglas which required a leg trailing technique on the corners. Harry was 6ft 6inches tall so his leg would have trailed more than most! Switching to Rudge was the way forward as the Douglas had had its day so Harry must have had his finger on the pulse of the sport.

At 6ft 8 inches Harry may well be the tallest rider ever built still? Here is an account of his meeting with Wal Lloyd who wasn't very tall!

This is Harry at Gosforth. Gosforth was famous for it's high banking on the bends and in this shot you can get an impression of the banking.

1929 was a great year for Harry, here he is with some of his trophies, at home in Chester-le-Street

Here's an offer of a contract for Harry's service at £4.00 appearance money. Anyone care to convert that to the modern equivalent? Harry decided to stay northern based as he was working for his uncle and could get the summer off to concentrate on speedway.

Here's Harry in 1995 celebrating his birthday by sitting once again on a speedway machine, courtesy of Reading Speedway. Sadly Harry passed away later in the year.

Leeds rider Eric Langton was a frequent visitor to Tyneside's 3 speedways in 1929, he really put the North East's riders to the test. Local stars Walter Creasor (Brough), Tiger Sanderson (Gosforth) and Bud Thompson (Whitley Bay) must have been used to the sight of Eric's back wheel. Riders received many novel trophies in the early days, gold and silver helmets, gauntlets etc. Here Eric is wearing a trophy on his head or maybe he just liked to look different.

Tyneside went quiet on the speedway front at the end of the 1930 season. Whitley Bay closed, Gosforth closed and Brough Park closed until 1938.

Update Col Greenwell says: ...been looking through your updates.......you have Will Lowther down as 1931 but he didn't begin riding until 1934.I don't know when or where that pic was taken but the cars look 1950 ish....maybe someone out there will know. Will was riding for Middlesbrough Bears in 1939 (the first year of the Bears nickname) and left for Glasgow when Middlesbrough closed after only a few months. After the war He rode for Glasgow White City 1946-47-48-49 and Newcastle 1950....Motherwell 1951-52....and after that..?

Want to continue with the History of Newcastle Speedway? then click here Pre War Part 2