Wally Lloyd Explained

Wally Lloyd
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Date:6 February 1910
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Years1:1928–1929, 1934
Career1:Hall Green/Birmingham Bulldogs
Years2:1929–1930
Career2:Perry Barr
Years3:1930
Career3:Crystal Palace Glaziers
Years4:1931
Career4:Lea Bridge
Years5:1932
Career5:Southampton Saints
Years6:1932-1933
Career6:Clapton Saints
Years7:1935
Career7:Hackney Wick Wolves
Years8:1936–1937
Career8:Wembley Lions
Years9:1938
Career9:Wimbledon Dons
Years10:1946–1948
Career10:Belle Vue Aces
Teamyear1:1938, 1946, 1947
Teamhonour1:National Trophy Winner
Teamyear2:1938
Teamhonour2:London Cup Winner
Teamyear3:1946
Teamhonour3:A.C.U. Cup Winner

Walter Richard Lloyd known as Wally Lloyd (6 February 1910 – 11 February 1989) was a motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the earliest days of the sport in Britain. He earned eight international caps for the England national speedway team.[1]

Biography

Born in Birmingham, Lloyd began his speedway career in 1928 at the Hall Green track.[2] When the Hall Green track closed, in 1929 he moved to Perry Barr, captaining the team at the age of 17, and earning the nickname "Whirlwind" for his racing style. He started the 1930 season with Perry Barr in the Southern League, but after the team resigned from the league after four matches he moved on to Crystal Palace.[3] He went on to ride for Lea Bridge in 1931, Southampton/Clapton Saints in 1932, and Clapton in 1933. He returned to Hall Green in 1934 before moving to Hackney Wick in 1935. Two seasons followed with Wembley before he joined Wimbledon in 1938, where he stayed until league speedway's suspension due to World War II.

Lloyd represented England several times between 1937 and 1939, and also rode and promoted the sport in South Africa.

In 1946, with league speedway resuming, Lloyd joined Belle Vue and rode in the British Riders' Championship as well as riding again for England in the Test series against Australia in 1947 and 1948. He retired after the 1948 season and in 1949 took on the role of manager for the re-opened Walthamstow Wolves team.

Lloyd's younger brother Jeff Lloyd was also a professional speedway rider.

Players cigarette cards

Lloyd is listed as number 29 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 21 December 2023.
  2. Chaplin, John (1983) "John Chaplin's 'Fireside Stories'", Speedway Star, 3 December 1983, p. 27
  3. Bamford, Robert (2003) Speedway: The Pre-War Years, Tempus,, p. 206-7
  4. Web site: Speedway Riders . Speedway Museum Online . 29 July 2023.