Coventry Bees Speedway - Brandon Stadium

From today's Coventry Telegraph 'Speedway will stay at Brandon' despite Coventry City stadium deal 26 Jul 2013 07:45 Coventry Bees owner Mick Horton welcomes statement from owners of Brandon stadium that speedway is safe. The owners of Brandon stadium insist speedway will continue there for at least a decade. They were responding to the Telegraph's report yesterday that Coventry City had secured a sale of the site subject to contract. Andrew Moss, of property agent GVA, said a heads of terms agreement was being finalised on the site. The statement was issued on the Coventry Bees website, and was later welcomed by Coventry Bees owner Mick Horton who had previously stated the speedway had a four-year lease. The owners' statement read: "Further to our previous announcement regarding the sale of the freehold for the Coventry Stadium site and continued press speculation we would like to make the following statement. "The freehold remains available for sale and, whilst we have had several parties show interest in securing the freehold for the site, only one has continued to show interest given the existing leases for speedway, greyhounds and stock cars. "The confidential nature of negotiations needs to be maintained. As such, we will not confirm or release the details of the potential buyer. "However, to stop further speculation from fans of the various sports which take place in the stadium these will all continue to operate at the Brandon site until 2023 and hopefully well beyond that date. "When we have further news regarding the land deal to release we will do so. "Until then, we hope the above statement will reassure the public of our intentions to see the anchor tenants at the stadium continue for years to come." Mr Horton told the Telegraph: "It is encouraging to hear that from the owner. We have a four-year agreement, but we would like to be there for the ten years. "The statement is a big plus for speedway fans." He said he would have "no objections at all" to sharing the speedway stadium with football, and said it would be possible at Brandon. But he re-iterated doubts, also reported yesterday, that the 26-acre site in Rugby Road, Brandon, had enough road infrastructure around it to support a football stadium. The Sky Blues have said they would model and new stadium on Rotherham's, potentially starting with a 12,000-capacity but with another space to add more seats if there is promotion. Previous planning applications for small enhancements to the Brandon stadium have been refused, and there would be objections from residents living in the quiet residential area. Rugby Borough Council has issued a statement in response to the Sky Blues move for Brandon, which is within the borough of Rugby: "Rugby Borough Council is aware of speculation linking Coventry City Football Club with Brandon Stadium. "The council can confirm that there have not been any discussions with Coventry City Football Club, or any agent or associated companies, regarding the club's potential occupation of Brandon Stadium or the planning implications that may result." Many fans have questioned whether the club has any genuine intention of building a new stadium, accusing them of playing hard-ball to obtain control of the part-council-owned Ricoh Arena. Those allegations are denied by the club. The football club has also entered exclusive negotiations as the preferred buyer for another mystery site - as another option for building a new stadium. The club's owners Sisu/Otium has agreed to last-ditch talks with Arena Coventry Limited over staying at the Ricoh Arena, rather than playing 'home' matches at Northampton Town until the new stadium is built.

Older Bees fans will be saddened to hear of the death of John Ivor (Nick) Nicholls, who rode for the Brandon team between 1954 and 1961 - he was 76

Was a friend of my dad's. Used to live just off Windmill Road in Longford. Later formed a canvas company and I worked a few odd days for him during the summer holidays. A very cheerful guy, though apparently he suffered with depression, so that shows how much I know. Sad.

Now there's some memories. Les Hewitt was a mate of my dad's and his wife Pat was a friend of my mum's. Every 2 years Les and Pat would come over from Australia and visit their friends in England. They'd usually stay a couple of months with us. One time they brought their boys over, Stephen, John, and a youngster who was called Chewy, though I'm sure that wasn't his real name. When my dad died, mum went on a visit to Australia and stayed with Les and Pat. The three of them took a drive up the Coast from Les's home in Woolagong, on a month long road trip. My dad was also a rider, though he never rode for the Bees, but when a load of them got together, they were wild. Not an ounce of fear between them, or malice.

Seeing that photo of Rick France reminds me of a story of some customers I gave a lift to a couple of years ago.(I run a taxi business in North Cornwall) They came from the Midlands and the conversation got round to Coventry Speedway. It transpired that one chap knew the owner (Rick France's son) of the garage that Rick and Ron Mountford used to run in the 60's/70's. Based in Bloxwich I believe. He knew of Rick France but was insistent that his name wasn't Rick. It was obvious that it was Rick France that he was referring to as he confirmed the facts that I gave him about Rick's career. We settled the argument by ringing Rick's son up to ask him his fathers name!! His full name is Derrick!!!!! We decided that honours were even as strictly speaking we were both correct!!

Yes, it was in Bloxwich! When the new British League was created in 1965 out of the embers of the National and Provincial Leagues, the very first meeting was Bees v Cradley Heath at Brandon, and Rick top scored in that inaugural match

A learned forumite informs me that Rick's full name is Derek. My mistake for not asking his son to spell it on the telephone!

Back : Ron Mountford, Roger Hill, Mick Blackburn, Les Owen, Jan Simensen, Pete Bailey Front : John Harrhy, Nigel Boocock, Tony Lomas Edited by Midland Red, 22nd Feb 2014 3:59 pm (Names added for reference)

I was fortunate enough to purchase the very number 7 Bees race jacket that John Harrhy is wearing in the above photograph. It has pride of place amongst my Coventry Speedway memorabilia.

News filtering through that Brandon Stadium has been sold, seemingly not to SISU. Fingers crossed for the future of the Bees.

Those pictures of Rick France bring back memories. I started going to Brandon in 1967 and we used to watch from a little enclosure in the old wooden stand by the pits. Rick would always come and chat to the kids between races and he was a smashing guy. Always made sure kids got his goggles afterwards too. He was my favourite rider so I was delighted when he reached his first and only World Final that year. I badgered my father and he eventually agreed to take me to Wembley. Rick didn't do too well, as he'd dislocated his shoulder a few weeks before and rode in some pain. But he was there! I did know his name was Derek although I can't remember where I heard it. Rick spoke with a very broad 'yammie' accent, so it would have been 'Reeck' or 'Dirreek'.

I remember those days of 1967 too MrD-Di. I also remember Rick France being your favourite rider. You're right, Rick really was a genuine 'nice guy' who would always make time for an autograph. I was a big Nigel Boocock fan at the time and therefore very disappointed when he didn't quite make it to the 1967 World Final. I know it's a case of 'showing my age' but I much preferred speedway during those heady days of the late 60's and early 70's.

I've just read the Telegraph article on the sale of the site and I'm not convinced the Bees are safe. The greyhounds are pulling out after this weekend, and the site appears to be going to a property developer. So I think there is cause for concern.