Discovering Edinburgh...
By Bob McCulloch ©
Ian Hart gained permission to stage a speedway With the search on for a new home and none
Speedway and the
meeting in aid of the Edinburgh University available in Edinburgh Ian Hoskins extended
Edinburgh Monarchs
Students’ charity appeal and he repeated the K L V V H D U F K I X U W K H U D ¿ H O G ¿ Q D O O \ G H F L G L Q J R Q
meeting the following year. Ian Hoskins, son of Albion Rovers football ground at Cliftonhill in
S
peedway in Britain was imported from
the legendary Johnny decided to reintroduce
Coatbridge, but this was not long term and in
Australia in 1928, where it was very popular
the Monarchs and so in 1960 the Monarchs
the close season it was announced that the
and was introduced at Marine Gardens a
returned to Old Meadowbank in the provincial
Monarchs licence had been sold to Wembley,
pleasure complex in Portobello and now a bus
league and crowds of 5 to10, 000 came along
W K H ¿ Q D O P H H W L Q J D W & R D W E U L G J H W R R N S O D F H R Q
garage. It ran until 1931 pulling in big crowds
on a regular basis, indeed it was a popular
11
th
October1970. In 1976 the Greyhound Racing
sometimes as many as 20,000. Racing was
Saturday night out. Hoskins discovered two Fife
Association sought permission to hold speedway
resumed in 1938 but only for two seasons, as
farmers, brothers Doug and Willie Templeton
in 1940 all speedway in Britain was banned
meetings at Powderhall Stadium after noise
who were riding on grass tracks at fairs and
because of the war. At this time the riders wore
tests had been conducted and numerous council
farmers’ shows, and signed them over the phone.
a thistle on their breastplate, amongst some of
meetings permission was granted and work
George Hunter a talented but temperamental
the riders was Papa Forsythe who was known
started on construction of the track. With new
rider was also in the team as was the veteran
as a great character, a world class American
promoter Mike Parker in charge the new season
Dick Campbell. The Monarchs had their ups
“Sprouts” Elder, Norrie Isbester, Drew McQueen
started on 15
th
April 1977 with a challenge
and downs during this period and when Scottish
and George McKenzie who is also credited with
match against Berwick Bandits. However,
Television decided to broadcast meetings
introducing roller skating to Marine Gardens
¿ Q D Q F L D O S U R E O H P V Z L W K L Q W K H F O X E F D P H W R D
the Monarchs could not have anticipated the
after seeing it in Manchester. Marine Gardens
head in January 1991 and a meeting was held
outcome. Ross Campbell, four-year-old son of
was not available after the war so promoter
D W 3 R Z G H U K D O O W R G L V F X V V W K H G L I ¿ F X O W L H V I D F L Q J
Dick Campbell and team mascot was seen by
Johnny Hoskins, who was known as the father
the club and the response from the gathered
police chiefs riding his miniature bike and leading
R I 6 S H H G Z D \ F K D U W H U H G D O L J K W S O D Q H D Q G À H Z
the team in the introductory parade and was duly
supporters was a pledge of £16,000 so racing
over the city to identify possible venues. The
ordered to stop for “safety reasons”.
was guaranteed for the 1991 season. The hero
one chosen was Leith Athletic Football Club
of the hour was Mike Hunter who organised
ground at Old Meadowbank (now the site of the
In 1963 Monarchs put their unbeaten run on
W K H P H H W L Q J D Q G I R U P H G D ¿ J K W L Q J I X Q G ³ 7 K H
Meadowbank Stadium at London Road) and
the line with a visit from Belle Vue on Friday
Friends of Edinburgh Speedway” which still
Speedway, as we know it today was born.
20
th
September. In the Belle Vue team was two
exists today. When the G.R.A. sold out to local
times World Champion “The Wizard of Balance”
nightclub owner Eddie Ramsey on the promise
7 K H W H D P Z D V Q D P H G W K H 0 R Q D U F K V D Q G W K H ¿ U V W
Peter Craven. Monarchs held a four point lead
that speedway and greyhound racing would
captain was an Australian named Bill Maddern,
going into heat ten which would see George
continue at the track, but Ramsey had other
fellow Aussie Clem Mitchell was also in the team
Hunter who was their best rider that year meet
ideas and 1995 would be the last year for both at
as was New Zealander Dick Campbell a former
3 H W H U & U D Y H Q I R U W K H ¿ U V W W L P H + X Q W H U O H G D O O W K H
this friendly little stadium as Ramsey sold out to
wall of death rider. Finishing bottom of division
way only to be pipped by Craven for a shared
developers and the area is now a housing estate.
L Q W K H L U ¿ U V W V H D V R Q W K H W U D F N Z D V D O W H U H G
race. They met again in heat twelve and once
making the corners narrower to make the racing
again Hunter took the lead but tragedy struck
Monarchs made an application in 1996 to hold
better, legend has it that the football club did not
meetings at Armadale 20 miles to the west
want the track altered but the speedway people
L Q W K H V H F R Q G O D S Z K H Q + X Q W H U I H O O R Q W K H ¿ U V W
of the Capital but permission was refused.
sneaked in at night and altered it anyway.
bend, Craven following close behind attempting
to avoid the fallen Hunter clipped his wheel
With Glasgow Tigers in trouble and unable to
U D L V H D W H D P D Q G R Z Q L Q J 6 K D Z ¿ H O G 6 W D G L X P
In 1949 Clem Mitchell told of a young man
and crashed into the safety fence, taken to
and Monarchs with a team but no track an
from Adelaide who was doing well in Australia
hospital with serious head injuries he died on
amalgamation seemed the logical step giving
named Jack Young and he was duly signed - a
Tuesday 24
th
September. This was the worst
both sets of supporters the chance to watch
signing that would transform the sport. In his
single blow the world of speedway had suffered
racing, but the amalgamation was a disaster.
¿ U V W P H H W L Q J K H Z R Q D O O I R X U R I K L V U D F H V D Q G
and although no blame was attached to him the
What was not taken into account was the
three days later was taken into hospital to
tragedy would haunt Hunter for the rest of his
inherent rivalry between the two cities with only
have his appendix removed and so missed the
life. In an ill advised attempt to make the sport
next few meetings but still had a successful
more exciting it was decided to hold meetings
250 to 300 supporters travelling from Edinburgh
V H D V R Q , Q K H U H D F K H G W K H ¿ Q D O R I W K H
X V L Q J P R G L ¿ H G E L N H V L Q 0 X U U D \ ¿ H O G L F H U L Q N
and the Tigers faithful refusing to watch what was
World Championship and won it in 1951 while
but ice racing never caught the imagination of
E D V L F D O O \ D Q ( G L Q E X U J K W H D P F U R Z G ¿ J X U H V Z H U H
still riding in the second division. This was to
the true speedway supporter so the idea was
below break even. An appeal against the refusal
become the golden age of the Monarchs with
quickly discarded.
to their application to hold meetings at Armadale
crowds of 20 to 25,000 regularly turning out to
went in Monarchs favour and at last the team had
watch and wonder at his skill. He also made
A new era for speedway began in 1965 when a permanent home. In 1997 two leagues were
celebrity appearances in the city promoting the
the warring Provincial League and the National formed the Elite League and the Premier League;
sport. It was inevitable that top class teams
League settled their differences and became Monarchs entered the Premier League.
would try to sign him and in 1952 he was
the British League. This meant that all the top
transferred to West Ham for a world record fee
teams and riders would visit Old Meadowbank. Over the years Monarchs have won many
of £3,750, he could not be replaced and the
In 1967 when Edinburgh was awarded the honours, twice becoming Premier League
team suffered after his departure. The coming
Commonwealth Games for 1970 a new stadium champions in 2003 and 2008. Premier Trophy
of television coupled with the introduction of
was required and Old Meadowbank was chosen. winners 2008, Scottish Cup winners 21 times
entertainment tax at 60% of gate receipts saw
Monarchs were evicted and were not promised a including an impressive 8 consecutive from
the sport go into a decline and in July 1954
home in the new stadium as the government of 1999-2007 and a World Champion in Jack Young
W K H 0 R Q D U F K V ¿ Q L V K H G $ V D P D W W H U R I I D F W
the day would not put money into a stadium that in 1951. The track at Armadale has been sold
their farewell meeting was attended by a 7,000 would hold professional sports, ironical when you to Sainsbury’s the supermarket giant, and at
strong crowd. It was indeed a sad day for the think that athletic stars are paid a lot of money, present the search is on for a new home for the
fans many of who attended as a family. some astronomical amounts helping them Monarchs and let’s hope that they are successful
D F K L H Y H P L O O L R Q D L U H V W D W X V D Q G V R W K H ¿ Q D O O H D J X H
as the club and their supporters deserve it.
Stock car racing was introduced but could not P H H W L Q J W R R N S O D F H D J D L Q V W 6 K H I ¿ H O G R Q W K H
th
capture the fans imagination and did not last September 1967 and with it the end came for one Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and
long. In 1959 a young American student named of the best tracks in the country. prosperous New Year. Bob McCulloch 2009.
26
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