Mike Broadbank Explained

Mike Broadbank
Birth Date:1934 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Hoddesdon, England
Nationality:British (English)
Years1:1955
Career1:Rye House Roosters
Years2:1956
Career2:Wembley Lions
Years3:1957–1972
Career3:Swindon Robins
Years4:1973–1974
Career4:Chesterton/Stoke Potters
Years5:1973, 1975
Career5:Hackney Hawks
Years6:1973
Career6:Reading Racers
Years7:1973
Career7:Poole Pirates
Years8:1973
Career8:Oxford Rebels
Years10:1976
Career10:Crayford Kestrels
Years11:1977
Career11:Newport Dragons
Indivyear1:1963
Indivhonour1:Australian Champion
Indivyear2:1964
Indivhonour2:London Riders' Champion
Indivyear3:1955
Indivhonour3:Southern Area League Riders' Championship
Teamyear1:1955
Teamhonour1:Southern Area League Champion
Teamyear2:1957
Teamhonour2:National League Champion
Teamyear3:1967
Teamhonour3:British League Champion
Teamyear4:1967, 1968
Teamhonour4:Midland Cup

Michael John Broadbank (also known as Broadbanks) (born 23 September 1934 in Hoddesdon) is an English former international motorcycle speedway rider who made 560 appearances for the Swindon Robins, scoring over 4,200 points.[1] [2]

Career

Broadbank was first discovered at the Rye House track after working there as a young boy. He won the Southern Area League Riders' Championship, held at Rye House Stadium on 25 September 1955.[3] After impressing at Rye House he managed to get a full-time ride with the Wembley Lions in 1956.

In 1960, the Rye House speedway track was rebuilt by Mike Broadbank, along with his father Alfred.[4] Broadbank ran the speedway team known as the Red Devils who raced in challenge matches from 1960 unil 1966.[5] The name Red Devils related to the red leathers worn by Broadbank, when almost all riders wore black.[5]

He then started his long association with Robins before moving on to the Hackney Hawks, Reading Racers and the Stoke Potters. Whilst with Robins he captained the side to the British League title in 1967. He reached the final of the Speedway World Championship on five occasions.

Broadbank was also a regular visitor to Australia and won the Australian Individual Speedway Championship at the Rockhampton Speedway in 1963, to date the last time a rider from England won the Australian title. Broadbank defeated Queensland rider Keith Gurtner, and a rising star from New Zealand named Ivan Mauger, to win the title.

At retirement he had earned 28 international caps for the England national speedway team and 8 caps for Great Britain.[2]

In 2006, Broadbank was awarded a belated testimonial for sixteen years of service with Swindon.[6]

World Final Appearances

Notes and References

  1. Book: Montague, Trevor. The A-Z of Sport. 2004. 515. Little, Brown. 0-316-72645-1.
  2. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 17 June 2023.
  3. News: Trophy ends the Speedway season . Eastbourne Gazette . 5 October 1955 . 10 June 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  4. News: Red Devils enter a new era . Hertford Mercury and Reformer . 26 August 1960 . 24 May 2024. British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  5. Book: Jacobs, Norman . 70 Years of Rye House Speedway . NPI Media Group . 2007 . 978-07524-4162-7.
  6. Web site: Eaton . Dave . Broady’s big night . Swindon Advertiser . 28 September 2006 . 2007-10-29. dead . https://archive.today/20070718231018/http://www.thisisswindon.co.uk/display.var.942292.0..php . 18 July 2007 . dmy-all.