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A look back at 25 years of the Hammers
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Following their historic Division Two championship-winning 1991 term, the Hammers became the first club in Speedway history to win promotion as a automatic right. But perhaps surprisingly, the management team of Terry Russell and Ivan Henry were not in the market to sign any of the sport's big names that became available to bolster their side.
The duo reckoned that the 1991 squad could hold it's own against senior opposition - with a few 'minor' modifcations. The Hammers did sign Brian Karger outright from Swindon and he was undoutedly heat leader material in the top flight - he'd started the previous year as a top man with the Robins.
Also staying was veteran Dane Bo Petersen - but it was debatable in speedway circles whether he could still cut any ice in amongst the big boys. He'd shown immense class in Division Two racing - could he reproduce the goods at First Division level?
Instead of going for a top man, the Hammers went out and signed two new second strings - American Josh Larsen and Dane Allan Johansen. Larsen came highly recommended and was a young man with a big future - he'd start the season in the reserve berth. Johansen, meanwhile, was on the British comeback trail after breaking a leg riding for King's Lynn in 1990.
Moving up with the side were Alan Mogridge and Andy Galvin, while Troy Pratt stayed for his fourth year with the club. For popular skipper 'Moggo' it was another chance to give the First Division a try - for Galvin it was a case of showcasing his obvious immense talent, if he could stay injury free.
With the bulk of the 1991 team in place, Hammers would clearly have home advantage from the off. On press day, they signed Danish test star Peter Ravn, surplus to requirements at Coventry. He was unable to be fitted into the side at this stage, but would be waiting in the wings in case the team hit trouble.
Early signs were encouraging with a two point defeat at King's Lynn in the Gold Cup and some good early home victories - but the Hammers would lose their first league match to Cradley Heath in a Good Friday thriller at the Arena-Essex Raceway.
Pratt and Larsen were doing well and Petersen was a model of consistency, defying the critics with some vintage performances on his home circuit. One area of worry, though, was the away from of Allan Johansen. He'd developed a pattern whereby he was very good at home - but his on the road contributions were poor.
Hammers’ final placing of fourth in their Gold Cup group was promising, but things began to slip when Swindon won at Purfleet in the league. Still, the team re-regrouped and managed to beat a full strength Wolverhampton by eight in a top-flight barnstormer.
By now, though, Pratt, Galvin and Mogridge were injured and it meant that two juniors had to be fielded in crucial matches. August began disastrously with home league defeats against Ipswich and Poole - and it was clear that the run of bad results had to be stopped quickly. The Poole defeat signalled the end of Johansen's Purfleet career - he decided to quit and returned to Denmark.
A home win over Oxford was followed by the appearance of Peter Ravn in the away match at Bradford and he was to provide a little backbone to the Hammers on their travels.
A big win over Eastbourne indicated improvement, although what the club didn't need was an injury to Larsen who had started to shine in a promising debut season.
The Hammers saved their own position in Division One with a surprisingly healthy 53-37 victory over Bradford at Purfleet - and then went to Eastbourne to race the final match of the season. The Eagles won a last race decider against the Hammers and for the second successive season Swindon were bottom - and this time they would be relegated.
Overall it was a season in which the club made steady progress. Karger did emerge as a genuine number one and capped off a fine year by qualifying for his first world Final. Petersen was again superb but sadly announced his retirement from British Speedway at the end of the season. He'd been a tremendous servant to the sport and would be sadly missed by all at Arena-Essex.
Pratt and Larsen progressed as the season went by. Larsen admitted to homesickness towards the end of the year - but he'd done enough to indicate that he had plenty of ability to make it in the big-time.
Off-track, the stadium facilities improved with the opening of a £1 million clubhouse complex on the first bend terracing. The Hammers had survived their debut senior league campaign and could now be considered a true First Division outfit. The club had learned a lot and it would hold them in good stead for 1993.
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