Dream Team : Midge Taylor

I've been a Hammers fan since 1986 (I think), this is my dream team.

Leigh Adams
The rock around which our 1st division side was built. Looking back it seems strange to think that the Hammers were once one of the glamour sides - but we were and Leigh was a big part of that. Brilliant to watch and an absolute superstar - both then and now !.

Bo Petersen
Bo came to club in 1991 and was critically important to our league and cup double that season. He was a great rider and it took a good rider to beat him. He moved up with the team in 1992 and still recorded heatleader scores despite racing in a harder league.

Troy Pratt
Troy has been with us forever !. Quite possibly the club's best ever servant and a nicer man you couldn't hope to meet. His racing can be a bit up and down but he's always popular with the fans. Hopefully he'll stick around for a good few years to come - we'd all miss him if he left.

Brian Karger
Joined us in our double year in 1991 and his arrival was an important factor. He came into the side when Andy Galvin got injured and he more than replaced Andy. He was probably the highest averaging rider in the league and I honestly can't remember anyone ever beating him that year (although I know that a number of people must have). Like Bo he moved up the following year to Division 1 and he was still our number 1 !.

Martin Goodwin
A real club legend and he raced for us for years. He was usually our number 1 and didn't take any prisoners when he got into action. He later became our team manager and I'm disappointed that he never made the comeback that was rumoured.

Rob Tilbury
A real character who won over a sceptical public who had disliked him in his Canterbury days. The best years of his career were spent as a Hammer. He really saved us in 1990 when Martin was out injured and without him I dread to think how heavily we would have lost some of our matches that year. He missed out on the double year in 1991 as he moved onto Long Eaton (I think) and then seemed to disappear.

Andy Silver
My first speedway hero and I couldn't have a dream team without him in it. Brilliant to watch and he had a totally unique style. I still can't believe he never became world champion !. I saw him race last year and he's still as great as ever.

This article was first published on 15th May 2004