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Hammers career : 1991-1992, 1995
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ALAN MOGRIDGE joined the Hammers in 1991 after his long time sponsor Terry Russell took over the promoter's reins at the Arena-Essex raceway.
Already an experienced racer, the rider universally known as 'Moggo' had started his career with Wimbledon before joining the Crayford Kestrels, staying with the Kent side when they moved across the River Thames to Hackney's Waterden Road stadium.
Moggo helped take the 1988 Hackney side to the National League and Cup double before switching with their promoting team to Ipswich. He enjoyed two highly successful seasons as skipper of the Witches in 1989 and 1990 before travelling down the A12 to join the Hammers when the Foxhall Heath side moved into the First Division.
He assumed the mantle of Hammers captain following a mid-season injury to Andy Galvin and achieved instant success, leading the Club to a never to be forgotten treble of the league championship, knockout cup and four team trophies. Moggo was without doubt an iconic figure at Purfleet that season, earning countless points from the back and achieving one of his highest averages in league speedway.
In 1992 the Hammers moved up to the top flight and Moggo stayed with them- but a series of injuries and bike problems knocked both his confidence and scoring and it was no surprise when he dropped a league the following season.
'Moggo' moved back to the lower league in 1993 to ride for Peterborough, where he was again captain, before short spells at both Middlesbrough and Sheffield. The formation of the all-encompassing Premier League in 1995 saw Moggo return home to the Hammers where he formed a unique and equally exciting partnership with Leigh Adams.
Moggo was again on the move in 1996 when he rode for the ill-fated London Lions promotion at Hackney but he failed to find his feet on the reshaped track, a mid-season transfer switch seeing him move to Eastbourne.
One of the sports truly great characters, who enjoyed a testimonial at Arena-Essex in 1993, he retired from the sport at the end of 1997 but was tempted back into the saddle mid-way through 1999 by Berwick.
Moggo switched to Swindon in the winter of 2000 and further spells at Stoke and Workington followed before hanging up his leathers at the end of last season at the age of 42. In true Moggo fashion, he insisted on going out on a high - in his final ever ride in speedway, he claimed the race win that saw Workington take the four team crown and retired on the rostrum amidst the celebrations!
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1991 |
31 |
137 |
286 |
17 |
303 |
8.85 |
2 |
2 |
1992 |
21 |
76 |
46 |
13 |
59 |
3.11 |
0 |
0 |
1995 |
44 |
251 |
311.5 |
54 |
365.5 |
5.82 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
96 |
464 |
643.5 |
84 |
727.5 |
6.27 |
2 |
2 |
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