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Untitled Document
| POOLE SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAME |
 CHARLIE HAYDEN POOLE PIRATE 1948 - 1951
A Bournemouth born businessman, who played an important part in establishing speedway at Poole. An almost unbeatable star of the grass tracks, Charlie turned his attention to the cinders and speedway in 1947 and became a regular member of the Exeter side before linking up with the pioneering Pirates in 1948.
Transferred for a reported £ 600 fee, he was appointed the first Pirates team captain on his arrival at the club. Was unlucky to be involved in the triple crash in the first ever race at the Wimborne Road raceway which robbed him of his form but he eventually recovered to become a regular member of the Poole team for the next four seasons.
Took part in the club’s historic three match tour of Sweden at the end of the 1948 campaign and was a regular member of the Pirates side that won the Division Three league championship and the Festival of Britain Shield in 1951.
Made 161 League and National Trophy appearances, scoring 796 points. |
 DENNIS 'Ticker' JAMES POOLE PIRATE 1948 - 1950 Local lad who had second half outings at Southampton and other local tracks before making his debut at Poole during September 1948 where his spectacular rodeo style of racing saw him become an immediate favourite with the Pirate’s fans.
Made his first team debut for the Pirates before the end of the 48 season, before rocketing to success the following year with a string of high scores that earned him a reputation as one of the top discoveries of the season. For a time he was almost unbeatable at Poole, racking up three successive home maximums before injury cut his season short.
He made an excellent start to the 1950 season, setting a new Poole track record along the way, and looked to be back to his best until a mid season injury sidelined him once again.
But the magic was missing when he returned to the Pirates side and he struggled to maintain his place in the side before being transferred to St Austell.
Made 69 League and National Trophy appearances, scoring 372 points. |
BILL HOLDEN POOLE PIRATE 1951 - 1958 A talented rider who started his career at Southampton, Bill joined the Pirates midway through the 1951 season following the Hampshire club’s decision to withdraw from league racing. On his arrival he immediately formed an outstanding reserve partnership with Brian Crutcher that was to prove decisive in the club’s bid for league honours, before moving up into the team proper before the end of the season. A fast and stylish racer, Bill even held the Poole track record for a time and was among the fastest of all time around the original Poole raceway. His best years undoubtedly came in 1954 and 1955 when he finished second only to Ken Middleditch in the club’s averages.
Bill’s attacking riding knew few boundaries and his match winning ride in the National Trophy tie versus 1st Division Birmingham, that put Poole into the semi – final’s won him the highest praise throughout the speedway world. Regrettably a loss of form in 1958 saw him struggling to stay competitive and after riding only six matches he retired fro racing.
Made 214 League and National Trophy appearances, scoring 1498 points. |
 TONY LEWIS POOLE PIRATE 1949 – 1968 One of the tallest riders to don the famous skull and bones racejacket, Tony racd on the local grass tracks before turning to speedway in 1949. He was offered a trial at the Poole club where he was coached by Pirates rider Frank Holcombe to become one of the great white line riders of his time.
The following year saw him teamed with Ken Middleditch and they quickly formed an on - track team riding partnership that was to become legendary during the next five years. Christened ‘Me and My Shadow’ by the Poole supporters, their almost telepathic understanding made them virtually unbeatable wherever they raced, and was the backbone of the Pirates side that won three league title between 1951 and 1955.
Tony sustained a fractured skull during Pirates 1955 tour of Sweden which almost cost him his life, and which was to keep him out of racing until 1960. when he made a surprise return to track action. Almost at once he was back to his best form, helping Poole to more league success in 1961 and 1962.
A true club man, and one of its most loyal servants, Tony retired in 1968, after which he continued to keep a close watch on events at Wimborne Road.. He took over the reins as Team Manager from 1973 to 1979 following the retirement of Ron Hart.
Made 339 League, National Trophy, and Knockout Cup appearances, scoring 2153 points.
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 TERRY SMALL 1949-1959Had his first taste of racing while serving in the Army before trying his hand in second half races at Wimborne Road during 1949, where his stylish riding was rewarded with a contract to join the Poole club.
Made his first team debut during July of that year and quickly became a regular member of an all conquering Pirates side that remained unbeaten in league racing at Poole for almost six and a half years. During that time he helped the club to three league championship titles and was a member of the side that was promoted to the First Division in 1956.
A consummate team man, his full throttle technique and experience helped his ability to score well at home and away. He also took part in the Club’s overseas tours of Sweden and Denmark in 1953 and 1955, and the ground breaking trip to Poland in 1959, before hanging up his leathers for the last time.
Made 296 League and National Trophy appearances scoring 1901 points. |
BRIAN CRUTCHER POOLE PIRATE 1951 – 1953
A truly gifted, and naturally brilliant rider, who burst onto the speedway scene at the Matchams Park training track in December 1950. He was so good that a host of First Division clubs joined in the race for his signature. Harringay looked to be favourites but after seeking advice Brian opted to join his hometown club, making his debut at Poole on 24 April 1951. And what a debut, with a three ride, three win maximum to his credit, and a race time within 0.6 seconds of the existing Poole track record. Nicknamed the ‘Nipper’ by Norman Young, one of the club’s mechanics, Brian was soon on the road to super stardom and being tipped by many as a potential world beater.
During the next three months he established himself in the promotion seeking Poole side, with his efforts rewarded with international caps for the test matches against Sweden and the United States.
The 1952 season saw his continued rise to fame, and with it, the Poole team, who won the Second Division championship at the first attempt. Along the way Brian also fought his way through several qualifying rounds to become the first Poole rider ever to reach a World Championship final. In doing so he had risen from raw novice to superstar in just 16 months. But with the Control Board blocking Poole’s promotion to Division One in 1953, the lure of the big time proved a little too much and Brian left for pastures new, joining the famous Wembley Lions for a club record fee.
Made 100 League and National Trophy appearances, scoring 822 points |
 KEN MIDDLEDITCH POOLE PIRATE 1950 - 1962 A product of the Eastbourne training schools, Ken was a regular with the Hastings Saxons until their closure at the end of 1949. Poole manage to win the scramble for his signature in time for the start of the 1950 campaign, paying the princely sim of £ 800 to bring him to Wimborne Road.
He quickly started to repay this by capturing the Poole track record and becoming the club’s leading scorer by the end of his first season. It was at this time that his legendary team riding partnership with Tony Lewis, considered by many to be the best ever, started to make people sit up and take notice.
The 1951 campaign saw him take over the club captaincy, and lead the Pirates to the success in the Festival of Britain Trophy competition, before adding the Third Division title to the club’s honours board.
Success followed success in 1952, with Ken inspired his Pirate crew into winning the Second Division championship at their first attempt. He continued to take on the responsibility as the club’s number one scorer in
1953 and again in 1954, when he also won the Second Division Riders Championship crown with a great display at the old Belle Vue circuit, before leading the Pirates to the Second Division title once again in 1955.
1956 saw the Pirates promoted to the top tier of racing which Ken took in his stride, finishing second in the club’s scoring stakes, but petrol rationing and falling attendance saw the club fail to come to the tapes in time for the 1957 league season.
He returned to the Pirates colours in 1958 but his opening ride ended in disaster when he ran into a dog that had strayed on to the raceway.
Fortunately Ken escaped without injury while the dog made off none the worse for wear. With the sport seemingly in decline, Ken decided to retire to spend more time pursuing his successful business interests.
He returned to the fold once more in 1960, helping the Pirates to win the Provincial League championship in 1961 and 62 before once again hanging up his leathers, this time for good. He did make another comeback in 1966, acting as team manager during the year that Ron Hart was serving as Mayor of Poole
Made 303 League, National Trophy and Knockout Cup appearances, scoring 3006.5 points
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