Multi-talented swap shop

Looking back at what’s ahead …

Over the years swapping Berwick for Edinburgh – and vice versa – has proved to be a pretty good career move.

By the time Berwick speedway was born in 1968 the roar of JAPs and Jawas had already been silenced in the Scottish capital courtesy of Edinburgh’s eviction from Meadowbank to allow the stadium’s redevelopment for the 1970 Commonwealth Games.

It was to be a decade before Edinburgh welcomed back speedway and Bandits were the party poopers on that Powderhall opening night in 1977, winning in front of what was reported to be a crowd of around 10,000. I can confirm that programmes were in short supply, toilet paper even more so, by the time heat 13 was finally run on a night when the new track took time to settle.

It was so deep that turning the corners was difficult even for renowned rough track riders such as the legendary Jack Millen and Charlie Monk. Bandits’ Dave Gifford went through the card and his efforts were greeted with typical good grace from the Monarchs’ promoter, Mike Parker telling the following week’s Speedway Star: “Everyone knows that normally Bert Harkins and Charlie Monk would walk all over Dave Gifford. He wouldn’t have lived with them tonight if the Monarchs had got in enough match practice.”

One name spanned that ten-year hiatus in Edinburgh. Willie Templeton raced as a Monarch in Meadowbank’s 1967 farewell, the Scottish Open Pairs and then partnered Mike Hiftle in Bandits’ colours, winning the opening heat of the challenge at Powderhall, albeit his “swap” had a healthy dose as a Glasgow Tiger in between.

Oor Wullie’s “pair” in 1967 was George Hunter – another to represent both teams – while brother Dougie also spent the twilight years of an illustrious career at Shielfield Park.

There was also a Scottish Junior Championship at Meadowbank’s farewell – two heats and a final – which featured Ken Omand, Brian Black, Mark Hall, Lex Molloy and Alistair Brady – all of whom would go on to wear black and gold with distinction.

Junior winner that night was Brian “Pogo” Collins – surely the only rider with a legitimate claim for election to the halls of fame at Edinburgh, Berwick, Coatbridge and Glasgow, and an outside shout at Wembley.

In 1977 Dave Trownson swapped Shielfield for Powderhall and went on to enjoy the best years of his career north of the border, a path also followed by Brett Saunders, an Aussie who had come to Berwick via First Division Sheffield but blossomed on the tight Powderhall turns.

But standing head and shoulder above all these deals was the piece of business which brought Steve McDermott into our ranks.

A solid second string at first Stoke and then Edinburgh, Stevie Mac became a superstar following his transfer in 1979, his ten-year reign including the National League Riders’ Championship in 1983 and the awesome sight of Hans Nielson in full flow at Berrington Lough at his testimonial.

Doug Wyer, a multitude of McKinnas, a smattering of Courtneys, Colin Caffrey, all too briefly Jack Millen and Matty Wethers are other double club heroes who spring to mind.

Powerhall was always one of my favourite tracks, easy to get to by public transport, top class facilities and a decent racing track – not that Bandits had a great record there. Maybe Mr Parker had a point!

After a couple of years exiled in the Midlands, a trip home saw me jump a train north to watch Crayford at Powderhall in the mid-80s.

I headed for my usual terrace spot only to find that they had switched the starting gate onto the back straight. A quirk they were to repeat at the rather less salubrious West Lothian base a few years later.

Even that shock paled into insignificance as the dulcet tones of Dick Barrie wafted out of the public address system in what was probably the least anticipated switch of allegiance since Kim Philby.

It has not always been friendly rivalry as it was Edinburgh’s opposition to our riding “home” meetings at Glasgow in 1981 which introduced us to the words “league record expunged”.

They did graciously allow us to continue in the Knockout Cup only to rub it in by beating us in the final – Saunders’ swansong before moving up the A1.

Hunter came the opposite way and was in Bandits’ colours when the sides next met – that never to be forgotten April launch night at Berrington Lough when more cars passed through Ancroft in an hour than the preceding 20 years.

On Saturday, the Bandits will field a trio of ex-Monarchs: club legend Rory Schlein, the one that got away, Bastian Borke, and Jye Etheridge – who for some reason lost in the mists of time seems to have something to prove to the Scottish promotion, and regularly does.

On the other side of the pits is Connor Coles who enjoyed his best season at this level with the Bandits and swept our end-of-season awards. History suggests that’s a halt to your Berwick career and so it proved once again over the winter with CC following in the tyre tracks of father Michael, one of the most popular Monarchs of all time.

We wrap up the home portion of our BSN Series when the Monarchs visit Shielfield on Saturday night.

Tickets are on sale now from berwickspeedway.com/tickets priced £18, including booking fee. After midnight on Friday online tickets cost £20. Cash turnstiles will be open at £20 adults, £18 concessions and students. Accompanied under-16s admitted free. No card or debit payments accepted on the night.

Pictures: Doug Booth (John Somerville Collection), Taz McDougall, Jack Cupido