Thomas John Bateman (30 December 1908 – 4 February 1993) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]
| Born | 30 December 1908 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 4 February 1993 (aged 84) Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1937 | Nottingham |
| 1938 | Hackney Wick Wolves |
| 1939 | Middlesborugh |
| 1939 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1946–1949 | Sheffield Tigers |
| 1950 | Newcastle Diamonds |
| Team honours | |
| 1937 | Provincial League winner |
| 1938 | National League Div 2 winner |
| 1947 | British Speedway Cup winner |
Biography
editBateman, born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was a well known grasstrack rider before moving into conventional speedway.[2] He began his British leagues career riding for Nottingham during the 1937 Provincial Speedway League[3] and helped the team win the league title.[4] Later that season he travelled to Australia to race.
He was coveted after an impressive first season by various clubs, including Wimbledon, Norwich and Belle Vue.[5] He eventually signed for Hackney Wick Wolves,[6] which turned out to be fortunate because he won the league title again.[7]
Bateman started riding for Middlesbrough in the top division during 1939 before they withdrew from the league after just eight matches. He found consolation with the Belle Vue reserve team but the season was cut short by World War II.
After the war, Bateman joined the Sheffield Tigers recording a solid 8.00 season average[8] and helping Sheffield into second place. The team won the British Speedway Cup in 1947, with Bateman improving his average to 9.11.[8][9]
Bateman's last season was the 1950 Speedway National League Division Two, when he moved to ride for the Newcastle Diamonds[10] averaging an impressive 9.67.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Ultimate Rider Index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Speedway Moves". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 1 May 1937. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1937 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
- ^ "Nottingham Ace earning money for marriage". Nottingham Journal. 15 June 1937. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Nottingham Speedway Rider Transferred". Nottingham Journal. 23 April 1938. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Speedway Teams UK 1935-1939". Cyber Motorcycle. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Speedway Gossip". Star Green 'un. 31 May 1947. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Heathens expect best ever season". Evening Despatch. 27 March 1950. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.