Joseph Thomas Francis (7 February 1907 – July 1985) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned six international caps for the England national speedway team.[1]
| Born | 7 February 1907 Foots Cray, Kent, England |
|---|---|
| Died | July 1985 (aged 78) Reading, Berkshire |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1929–1933 | Crystal Palace Glaziers |
| 1934–1939 | New Cross Lambs/Rangers |
| 1938 | Lea Bridge Cubs |
| Individual honours | |
| 1931 | London Riders' Championship |
| Team honours | |
| 1938 | League champions |
| 1931, 1934, 1937 | London Cup |
Biography edit
Francis born in Kent during 1907, was a rider in the early pioneer days of speedway in Great Britain and raced in 1928, before crowds in excess of 20,000 and a year before the leagues were even introduced.[2] He began league racing for the Crystal Palace Glaziers during the inaugural 1929 Speedway Southern League.[3]
He spent five seasons with Crystal Palace, becoming a regular rider at the club[4] and helped them win the 1931 London Cup.[5] In 1931, he also won the prestigious London Riders' Championship at his home track.[6]
In 1934, the Crystal Palace promotion and team relocated to New Cross and became the New Cross Lambs. Francis stayed with the team during the move and won a second London Cup.[7] He would stay with New Cross (now called the Rangers) for another six years until the end of his career and won the 1938 Speedway National League title with New Cross.[8]
He was effectively a one club man with the exception of a few rides for Lea Bridge Cubs in 1938. By trade he was a motocycle dealer based at Eltham.[9]
References edit
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Nearly 43 M.P.H.". Norwood News. 27 July 1928. Retrieved 24 November 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1929 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Wembley lose London Cup". Bayswater Chronicle. 26 September 1931. Retrieved 24 November 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 66–67. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
- ^ "New Cross win London Cup". Daily Herald. 26 September 1934. Retrieved 24 November 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "New Cross". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 24 November 2023.