Dream Team : Gerald Clark

I was a Cradley Heathens fan from late 1976 through to the early 90's. I lived for Saturday nights, we first started going to Monmore Green & Cradley, but when the choice had to be made (financially), there was no contest. We were the Cinderella club made good. Lets hope we can come back, at any level, to wear the Green, Red & White again.

Penhall	Olsen

Bruce Penhall
This guy had it all. Riding ability in abundance, looks that brought male & female fans through the turnstiles and he was good infront of the media. He took speedway onto the next level, making way for todays stars. Mortified when he announced his retirement on the rostrum, just too big for speedway.

Erik Gundersen
The Black Country Dane, such a likeable bloke on and off the track. What a gater, but by god he was good from behind too. Oh so sad the way his career finished.

Hans Nielsen
It pains me to pick a non Cradley Rider, but credit where credit is due, Hans was a brilliant rider, someone you don't admit to liking, but secretly you wish he did ride for your team. What a career.

Ole Olsen
As above, a true pro. That style of his, he didn't particularly look fast, but with that bolt up style you could just see him catching and catching all the way. Not very often behind in the first instance though. And the brainchild of the current GP. In the 70's he had the vision for the World Series.

Jan O Pedersen
This diminutive fella didn't look big enough to control a bike, but he was so light he absolutely flew round. So exciting to watch. So pleased he eventually managed to bag the big one. Sad he retired injured too.

Phil Collins
This character was worth the admission fee on his own. That haunched tiger look on the bike, scraping the fence round the wood. Started watching Phil at Thornton Rd before he came to Cradley, we said then that he should have a brush on the back of his bike and white wash the fence on his way round. Quit too soon.

Alan Grahame/Bernie Persson
Can't decide between the two. Bernie performing week in week out in my early seasons or the fantastic partnership with PC (above) and both such loyal servants.

This article was first published on 22nd May 2008

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