Dream Team : Rob Wickham

I have only followed speedway since 2001, my first meeting was Poole against Oxford. I have supported the Pirates ever since and have been privileged to see some true Poole legends as well as riders who started their British careers at Poole and achieved great things at other clubs. My dream team consists of my favoutite riders from the past five years.

Andersen	Zetterstrom

Hans Andersen
Hans may have only become the quality rider he is today after leaving the Pirates but during his time at Poole, his talent and potential was clear for all to see. He always gave his all in every race and never gave up. It was a great shame that Hans left Poole when he did as he could have become a legend at Wimborne Road.

Gary Havelock
At my first meeting I remember Havvy scoring a fantastic maximum, a classic display. Gary was, and probably still is, capable of beating anyone at Poole. He was not only a great rider but also an inspirational captain who always led by example.

Antonio Lindback
Anton is one of the most naturally talented riders that I have ever seen. He is an extremely entertaining rider who always gives his all. He has had some extremely memorable rides at Poole, like heat 14 of the league final in 2004, when he cut up the inside of both Wolves riders. I hope he stays at Poole for all of his career.

Bjarne Pedersen
Bjarne is fast becoming a Poole legend and is showing why the management were right to keep faith in him after he struggled in 2003. In the past few seasons Bjarne has shown his real class and is now almost unbeatable at Poole. Bjarne is not only a brilliant rider but also a genuinely nice guy who always takes time to talk to fans.

Tony Rickardsson
Poole could not have found a better replacement for Mark Loram in 2001 than Tony. He made a massive impact during his time at Poole and I think all Pirates fans shed a tear when he announced he was leaving in April 2004. Tony is certainly the best rider I have ever seen and probably the greatest speedway rider of all time.

Matej Ferjan
Although Matej's time at Poole was brief, the impact he had when he replaced Jason Lyons in 2004 was huge. I think his introduction was crucial in Poole clinching the league that year. Despite his inconsistency, Matej was always great at Wimborne Road and his partnership with Antonio Lindback in 2004 was brilliant, you could expect a 5-1 against any opposition.

Magnus Zetterstrom
Zorro is a Poole legend, after 9 years of solid service at Poole, no one deserved the 2004 league title more than Magnus. His emotion on that night showed how much Poole meant to him. He was a fantastic captain and always looked out for his team mates both on and off the track. I can't believe I only saw the famous dance twice!

This article was first published on 15th December 2006