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My Top Ten Berwick Bandits

In preface, I believe that, had their Berwick careers not been cut so cruelly short, three outstanding personalities, would be included below. They are JACK MILLEN (for whom the word "personality" could have been coined), the young JIM BEATON (when he returned to the saddle, riding with virtually one arm, five years after his terrifying 1972 crash, we saw only glimpses of the graceful 16-year-old prodigy) and MIKAEL BLIXT (whose career was ended on the night we won the Division 1 Gold Cup at Oxford, but raced in a World Final while a Bandit).

However, to be included in a true Top Ten, there has to be a longer period of service, so I elect (after great thought):

1. ROB GRANT Without doubt the greatest crowd-puller of my two decades with the club, as well as being one of the surprisingly few riders to have graduated through the Berwick ranks. His influence on the teams he rode for is evidenced by his captaincy of both our (Division II) Cup-winning sides, as well as his appearance in the Division 1 squad which clinched that league's Gold Cup in 1991. Both son to, and father of, a speedway rider, "Grantie" was the first name down on my list. He should be first on everyone's!

2. GRAHAM JONES So graceful in full flight, and a gifted mechanic who outpaced so many better-equipped rivals on his old JAP-engined machine. He became, during the '70's, an adopted borderer, and a valued club captain.

3. STEVE McDERMOTT The gritty Mancunian with his head screwed on! All through a glittering career (remember his NLRC victory) "Maccie" kept on working at his day job, allowing semi-retirement at a comparitively young age. In his pomp, perhaps the club's most-reliable points machine, churning out maximum after maximum, year after year.

4. WAYNE BROWN After a lengthy apprenticeship, during which the little Kiwi appeared destined to join the also-rans, Wayne suddenly and dramatically made a quantum leap from reserve to super-star in the late 'seventies. Another NLRC winner, his early death as the result of an industrial accident at home in Wellington was sad news for so many fans who had marvelled at the tiny atom's prowess around Shielfield Park.

5. JIMMY NILSEN His was the signing which made us realise that Berwick had joined the elite in 1991. A regular World Finalist before and since that unforgettable season, "Jimmy-Jimmy" was the star of an all-star squad, and is of course one of three Bandits to race at Gothenburg in that year's World Final. Off-track, a bubbly personality and a pleasure to deal with, while on it, one of the hardest and (certainly) fastest riders who ever wore black-and-gold.

6. DAVID BLACKBURN Every team should have one! While his on-track contributions were excellent, "Blackie" is included as much for the spirit he could engender at dressing-room level, as well as in the after-match clubroom sessions! Very much my own talisman (he raced for me at every track I promoted, every year I promoted) David also displayed massive courage by making a successful return from his terrible 1990 crash at Peterborough. One of the very few (I can think only of Kevin Little as another) who raced as a Bandit in all three divisions of the British League during his career.

7. WILLIE TEMPLETON Over-shadowed by big brother Doug for much of his carrer, Willie T raced a full 25 years, culminating his seventh season as a Bandit (at the age of either 48 or 50, depending on the source of your statistics!) with a league maximum in his final match. What a way to go out, not least at that age!

8. MARK COURTNEY Simply the best on-track talent of them all, throughout his career Mark failed to parlay his amazing abilities into out-and-out speedway success. Joining the Bandits after appearing to be on a downward spiral at the two tracks due south of Berwick, Mark bounced back to prove the doubters wrong in the late '80's, headlining the high league positions and KO Cup success.

9. KELVIN TATUM British Champion and England's international skipper as he confounded the sport by joining unfashionable Berwick in '91, Kelvin did all anyone could expect as he led the Bandits to so many glorious victories that unforgettable summer. An articulate student of the sport (as evidenced by his current work for SkySports) he raced as a Bandit in the 1991 World Final.

10. DAVID WALSH So determined. So professional. A rider who never, ever, gave of anything but his best as a Bandit over several seasons, "Walshie's" win at the season-ending Bonanza of 1990 epitomised the way this tyke went about his work. A rider it is always better to see on your side of the pits than the other team's!

Not easy, picking out only ten! If it gives any consolations to champions of their cause, a "mention in dispatches" must also be given to the likes of MAURY ROBINSON, DAVE GIFFORD, MIKE FULLERTON, NIG CLOSE, BRUCE CRIBB, RICHARD KNIGHT and CHARLIE McKINNA. They came awfully close to getting in……….

DICK BARRIE - 3.12.99