1980 Speedway, Cradley Heathens v Coventry Bees

ATV Sport's full coverage of the British League match, Cradley vs Coventry

[@paulsowney771]

Thank you martyn. What we do without you !!!! The crowds amazing

[@philipholland3532]

Loved going to cradley speedway as kid and holding up your program as they come round the bend and all the shale flying at you

[@jessebelanger9753]

Great racing with some of the all-time greats. Gunderson V Olsen...doesn't get any better than that.

[@DavidHalfordsLane]

Followed the Heathens all over the UK but strangely was also a massive Ole Olsen fan. I’m quite confident I’ll be in the crowd somewhere!

[@jonreed5510]

Miss that track. Great races and great Saturday nights!

[@Fastade80]

Used to love going to cradley heath following Coventry As an 80s kid,just wish I could have rode there before it closed down,..... always good racing there

[@paulsowney771]

Great match. The crowds them days and the 70s. Seemed so much variety individual meetings / world qualifications rounds at every track. Bit like the fa cup everyone had a chance !!! Happy days. And hackney Friday at 8.00 very much missed. Thanks martyn

[@jacksonirving4594]

1980s great decade. Great speedway.

[@robertmarsh3588]

Excellent match. Just wish that there were some Swindon videos from this era, however shouldn't complain as I'm lucky enough to still be able to watch my home team in the top league whilst these two once great clubs have been rendered homeless. Saw Cradley NL side at Buxton this year though and the support was great to see.

[@kevinjuden1239]

Great to see and hear the old weslakes again.

[@nervo6321]

I drive through the Midlands on a regular basis, was only thinking the other day what a hotbed of speedway that area was, now next to nothing.... pretty sad.

[@robertwilletts4122]

It was owned by Dudley council Dudley wood stadium, the lease run out or something, they wanted to build houses on it, that meant the end for Cradley Heathen for the next 10 years or so, they should build a new stadium near Dudley wood or the surrounding area they the fans deserve it, i used to love going there.

[@ianholmes3761]

Remember going to cradley one Saturday night travelled down from Manchester cradley v belle vue and it was rained off.

[@malcolmpreston2632]

its a right pain in the backside, I went once to Newcastle from Manchester & it was rained off, think it was a cup match between newcastle & belle Vue

[@peterchappe828]

Speedway at it's best.

[@rudikrajnc5269]

Ssuper posnetki.Cestitam.

[@paulscaife7677]

Was Ole still on the 2 Valve Jawa or had they moved to the 4 Valve by then?

[@jacksonirving4594]

4 valve.

[@morrisbrookes2301]

Remember my dad taking me there in the early sixties .when he had no money we stood on scots man hill . Thank you for the days .

[@jacksonirving4594]

I actually had a ride round that track.. 1982. A think they wanted a replacement for Bruce. But a was shite.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

There was better racing in that one meeting than what the 'top teams' can now produce in a season; what with ultra-slick tracks and a top tier league pretty much full of no-marks' (compared to yesteryear). Moreover, despite the TV cameras being there, the crowd size; and the buzz they were creating, makes today's televised league meetings seem like a wake. The sheer incompetence of the BSPA and SCB has absolutely killed British Speedway.

[@morrisbrookes2301]

Mm

[@MeBallerman]

Ahh, the good old days where the team with the best Danes would win. Funny how the commentator manages to pronounce all three Danish riders names utterly wrong. Must be a "limited feeling" to be an English monoglot lol.

[@RichardBrookAcupuncture]

Have to disagree on the pronunciation! Was a Cradley fan in the 80’s and 90’s and he’s pronouncing the names just the same as virtually all the other commentators at various tracks did at the same time!