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Video: West Ham 1971

West Ham fanatic Robert J. Rogers has submitted this fascinating footage from Custom House (West Ham) in 1971.

Robert explains:

"It was originally a cine film which I copied to a video which I then copied to a DVD and then copied to a computer, so the quality has been slightly lost in the various transfers!"

"The match was on Bank Holiday Monday 30th August 1971 and it was between Hammers and Wimbledon Dons. The film shows the team coming in from the parade lap and then the riders in the first heat going out and being pushed-off. The riders in the first heat were Olle Nygren and Preben Rosenkilde for the Hammers and Ronnie Moore and John Dews for the Dons."

"The rest of the West Ham team was: Christer Lofqvist; Alan Belham; Reg Luckhurst; Barry Duke and Alan Sage. Howdy Byford was the team manager."

"You also get a nice view of the stadium as you do not realise how big the Custom House Stadium was, you can even see some Blue Star Line ships in the docks in the distance. If you could see the same view today it would show Aeroplanes coming in to land at London City Airport."

 


 

  • Geoff Langley:

    "The video clip of West Ham was absolutely brilliant! It really took me back to what it was like. Best stadium ever. As Robert Rogers says, it looked so big when you were inside but I went back recently and had a look round the housing estate that is now there and what was the old stadium area now seems so small. The Ships funnels also brings back memories. It was absolutley wonderful on warm summer evening, as daylight was fading, to look across to the docks and to see all the ships funnels lit up. It added so much to the atmosphere in a way that no other stadium could match. Incidently the old Nottingham Arms pub at the top of Bingley Road, next to to old stadium, where Ken Mckinlay often stopped for apint on his way home has recently been knocked down. Its as if speedway never existed there. Sad, Sad, Sad."

  • Ray Bysouth:

    "Fantastic footage!! Imagine what the view would have been with the old pits bend stand and back straight stand it is said the stadium could hold in excess of 100,000 people what a sad loss. Watching speedway on the 415yards circuit was awsome. "

  • Tony Pearce:

    "I remember going to this meeting as a child and then on to Wimbledon in the evening. This really is a great film clip of my favourite track, a historic speedway venue that I still miss today."

  • Bob Rowe:

    "It was great to see the footage of West Ham Stadium. I worked in the greyhound racing office there from 1964 until 1970 and acted as timekeeper for speedway every Tuesday evening. The years I was there were very happy for me and I'll always remember all the people I worked with and the grand old stadium itself with great affection."

  • Dave E:

    "The good old days. I always sat on the wall at the first bend with my sister. She used to fancy Tony Clarke. I remember the crash that took half the B team and the manager Phil Bishop. "

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