A PHOTOGRAPH published in Memories of staff and riders from the former Wombwell Speedway track has been of special interest to our readers.

When it was publshed several weeks ago, 90 -years- old Jim Wake told us that the photograph brought back happy memories as he recalled going along to watch the speedway riders racing around the track when he was a young boy.

Jim, who lived close to the track in Edward Street, said the stadium was built for greyhound racing, but it was later turned into the speedway track.

We also heard from Robert Hudson who recognised his father Bob Hudson and his uncle Bill Hudson. Bob is third from the right on the back row and his brother is fourth from the right.

Robert said his dad used to tell him that himself and uncle Bill were "pushers off." What happened was when the bikes were being raced and they stalled, the brothers had to push them until they got going again.

Irene Tindle recognised her late brother, Arnold Ward who is far right (standing). He was 18 when the photograph was taken. The rider on the right is Harry Welch. We have now received a letter from John Marshall of Higham who told us that Harry Welch was a member of the Woimbwell Colliers' speedway team.

"He is looking very smart in his clean black and white quartered Wombwell Colliers' riding kit. In view of his clean appearance, he had probably won his first race. The other two riders are members of the Plymouth Devils team and have taken plenty of dirt."

Mr Marshall said Wombwell Warriors rode in two National Speedway League Division Three home matches against Plymouth in 1948 (when the photograph was taken). They won both, 46-36 on July 30 and 52-31 on September 17 that year.

Mr Marshall said he believed the photograph was taken at the July match. "There are no records available in speedway archives for this match, but in the September match Harry Welch scored nine points."

League speedway, said Mr Marshall, finished at Wombwell at the end of 1948. The Colliers finished bottom of the 12-team league, winning only 10 of their 44 matches. "Unfortunately, that was the end of the Colliers."

The photograph was submitted to Memories by Geoff Thompson of Wombwell.