Dream Team : Andy Baillie

Having just returned to the sport after an exile of 15 years, my appetite has been rekindled by memories of Coatbrige/Blantyre/Shawfield and this website.

Janke	Lawson

Merv Janke
The small pony tailed blonde Aussie with a style of riding totally suited to the deep shale at Coatbridge.

Mick McKeon
Another aussie with a never say die attitude. Very good point scorer at no 5, nearly always won the second halfs at Coatbridge.

Brian Collins
Pogo Collins always scored 12/15 points at every home match at Coatbridge. Held the team together points wise also held the silver helmet for a while before losing it to Joe Owen. Came second in the NLRC to Laurie Etheridge when his chain snapped whilst leading in the final run off.

Steve Lawson
What can you say about the Maryport Marvel? Always first out of the gate, couldn't pass water but didn't need to. Held the silver helmet for years and the track record at Blantyre. A joy to watch.

Graham 'Dandy' Dawson
Good number 3 at Coatbridge. Had all the gear and could gate. Tragically nearly died at Barrow when Ian Hindle's handle bars smashed under his helmet when both crashed. A loss to the sport.

Dave Gifford
Nutter! Always getting into trouble with the ref and always ending up with the Tigers fans in the crowd having a whip round to pay his fine, a battler.

Derek Richardson
Came through the ranks and ended up at no 4. Also rode for Belle-Vue and learned loads from Chris Morton/Peter Collins. Had the potential to do better.

A lot of names are missing the McKinnas/Nagy/Crabtree/and numerous other but these are the guys I remember watching when I was a wee laddie in the seventies/eighties.

This article was first published on 9th October 2004

Allan Wardrop:

"Enjoy reading your website. Can you check out the Dream Team comment on Brian Collins regarding the Silver Helmet. I don't think he ever held it and only challenged once for it against then holder Joe Owen in summer 76 when it was held as a monthly match race and lost 2-1 at home and 2-0 away. "

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