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A look back at 25 years of the Hammers
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Terry Russell and Ivan Henry started their fifth season in charge of the Hammers in 1995 - as the sport itself made major domestic changes for the first time since 1991's amalgamation.
British Speedway promoters had voted to merge Division One and Two to create one big professional league. It was to prove a flawed concept - but by the time the new season approached the sport was fuelled by optimism. So the Hammers now found themselves as part of a 21-strong league and would renew acquaintances with tracks from their second division era which ended in 1991.
A 40-point team building limit was set - and initially, a rule that each team could only track one rider with an average in excess of nine points a match. It suited the Hammers down to the ground - particularly as Kelvin Tatum had stated he had no wish to ride Speedway in Britain in 1995, preferring to concentrate on longtrack commitments.
Of the other non-returnees, Christer Rohlen quit to concentrate on his job in Sweden, Colin White was loaned to Wolverhampton and Troy Pratt moved to King's Lynn following a bitterly disappointing '94 campaign at Purfleet.
The club received a major boost when American Josh Larsen declared he was ready to return to British Speedway - and return to ride for the Hammers ! Larsen had found himself in the line-up for the inaugural World Championship Grand Prix series for which he qualified for in 1994 - and was happy to return to the Hammers on what was was a low average. Voted rider of the year by the supporters club during his last stint in 1993, he would surely be a trump card.
Another rider making his Arena-Essex return was Alan Mogridge, fresh off spells in the lower tier with Middlesbrough and Sheffield. The Hammers hoped that his vast Division Two experience would help them greatly on their travels. The same could be said of Mikael Teurnberg, who returned along with team manager Ronnie Russell. The remainder of the side was completed by Jan Pedersen - returning to the side following a curtailed 1994 - and assets Robert Ledwith and Paul Hurry.
It was a solid looking team - and the Hammers were the first side to declare their line-up for the new look league. However, that wasn't the only announcement coming from down Purfleet way - a BSPA pre-season conference announced the news that the Arena-Essex Raceway was to stage the 1995 British Speedway Grand Prix!
Russell and Henry had already commenced work on altering the track so that it conformed to FIM standards - the track now had longer straights than King's Lynn, although the tight corners were to remain. Little did all concerned know that it would spark a controversy that would last all year....
A combination of permanent and temporary seating would be installed at Purfleet in time for the big night, along with an extended pits area and new TV-standard lighting. The promotional duo announced that they, along with complex owner Chick Woodroffe, would spare no expense in their attempts to bring the very best to the Essex public - sadly a prophecy which would return to haunt supporters later in the year. Under FIM rules, the Hammers were obliged to hold an event prior to the big night - so the club were awarded the quarter-final of the World Junior Championship.
Back on the domestic front, the Hammers season kicked-off with a benefit night for injured hero Andy Galvin – a Hammers “dream team” taking to the track against a 'second-generation' side. The track proved interesting, as the mid-track dominated circuit of old had been replaced by one with a far more pronounced inside-line.
The serious stuff then started with Arena 'hammering' Reading on Good Friday 61-35 - with Adams and Larsen taking well-earned maximums. The good early season form continued, with an away win at new boys Hull and a narrow KO Cup win over holders Eastbourne. This small first leg victory appeared to have cost the Hammers any chance of progressing..... until they won the return at Arlington! It was the Hammers’ first top-flight win at Eastbourne and it was achieved in great style, thanks in main to an inspirational display from Ledwith.
April, though, was to end on a low, as Larsen sustained back injuries in a German race meeting - it was an injury that was to dog his GP career, and put paid to the Hammers’ chance of league title success. The gap was plugged with the rider replacement facility and Arena narrowly defeated Ipswich in a Purfleet thriller. Home spirits were kept high when Hurry defeated Jason Crump to win the World Junior Quarter Final - the first FIM meeting held at Arena-Essex.
Team numbers were restored to seven when Russell turned to 1994 man Christer Rohlen as it became evident Larsen would be out longer than first expected. He promptly inspired the Hammers to a sensational win at King's Lynn to maintain their league form, which was tainted somewhat by a disappointing KO Cup dimissal at the hands of Oxford.
June saw wins over Cradley Heath and Middlesbrough - but already the league campaign was beginning to pale into insignificance in comparison to off-track events. It was reported in Speedway Star magazine that Danish legend Hans Nielsen was outraged with the switch of the GP to Arena-Essex - he claimed the narrowness of the track would be dangerous at the highest level of competition.
Worse was to follow as rumours were abound that Russell and his fellow BSPA members were considering switch venues again. It was a story that was confirmed at the beginning of July as Hackney’s Waterden Road site - undergoing extensive renovation and now called the London Stadium - was officially named as GP venue, with Terry Russell having already forged links with the site.
Russell came under fire from Hammers fans, who assumed that he would move the team to Hackney full-time when the season finished. Russell countered with a claim that the Hammers were still very much an option - and that there was plenty more still to race for in 1995.
Arch-rivals Eastbourne ended the Hammers home record with another win at Purfleet - this time by 51 points to 45. But the bad news was doused somewhat when Larsen declared himself fit to return to the side at the beginning of August - a full strength Hammers seeing off Edinburgh. An injury to Ledwith would see former Hackney Kestrel Paul Whittaker taking to Hammers colours mid-season, although he was to struggle. The same could not be said of skipper Adams, though, who was rock solid with dependable performances which included three 20-point hauls on the road.
The team were to eventually finish in ninth place in the Premier League - a good achievement given the injuries suffered. They would claim a further win on the road at Middlesbrough, but would lose further home points when Wolverhampton triumphed at the Arena Raceway.
The club would also make it through to the finals of the four team tournament, while Adams - so unlucky not to find himself in the '95 GP series - would win the inaugural GP Challenge in Lonigo to make the '96 series, cheered on by a coach load of Hammers fans.
The British GP was successfully staged at Hackney - and Hammers fans faced the fact that Russell, at the very least, would be moving down the A13 to take up the Waterden Road hotseat. As Christmas drew closer, however, it was clear that something was far from right at Purfleet. It was obvious that a Hackney side was to be reborn - but would the Hammers be facing them in competition?
The answer was a firm 'no' when it was announced that Russell and Henry were quitting Arena-Essex - Hammers fans were in a state of shock. Just days later the duo announced they were moving lock, stock and barrel to Hackney to form the 'London Lions' - while the BSPA declaration of intent to run in 1996 passed with no-one forthcoming to take over the running of the Hammers at Arena-Essex.
Adams, Petersen, Karger, Larsen, Tatum..... the list was almost endless in five short years as Russell and Henry had spared no expense in bringing the very best to Purfleet.
But this era was now over and the Arena-Essex Hammers - for the time being at least - looked lost to the sport........
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