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Hammers career : 1984-1985
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ALAN SAGE - captain of the first ever Hammers side - had enjoyed a successful career at both British and National League level before moving across to Purfleet in the twilight of his career.
He made his debut for the 'other Hammers' - West Ham - in 1970 and was an ever-present during the club's last season in 1971.
He first linked up with promoter Peter Thorogood in 1975 at Crayford, when the Hammers boss was General Manager at the London Road outfit. He remained with the Kestrels until the end of the 1983 season, choosing to move to the new Arena-Essex outfit when Thorogood and the Hackney-bound Crayford side went their separate ways. Thorogood was installed as boss at Arena-Essex and immediately put the call into his former rider to bolster the Hammers' riding staff.
Alan lined up in the season-opening Essex Radio Championship, an individual event held on 5th April 1984 that signalled the start of a new era of speedway in Essex - and the first ever meeting held at the Arena-Essex Raceway.
On a damp, cold evening, Alan had looked the likely winner early on with three consecutive race wins. The newly-formed band of home supporters cheered Alan on to a top scoring fourteen points, leaving their skipper at the top of the scorechart alongside Rye House's Bob Garrad. Garrad flew from the gate in the run-off to leave Sage defeated but the meeting nonetheless signalled a positive start for the re-birth of speedway in Essex.
Alan led the Hammers out the following week in their first ever team meeting, lining up at number one for the club. Although they would struggle early season - especially against some of the National League's more established teams - the Hammers did slowly build up a home track advantage. This was particularly true against those visitors from larger home circuits, who would inevitably end up sliding past the small white 'boundary posts' on to the stock car track on a unique circuit that was minus a safety fence at the time.
Alan finished the 1984 season alongside the likes of Aussies David Cheshire and Bob Humphreys and young British riders like Martin Goodwin and the late David Smart. A final season average of just over seven was his reward for leading a team that ended up finishing fourteenth in a sixteen strong league.
Alan stayed with the Hammers in 1985 and received a testimonial as a culmination of his service to speedway. This was to be his final season in the sport and he headed into retirement, handing the captaincy over to Neil Middleditch as he hung up his leathers.
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1984 |
34 |
138 |
221 |
27 |
248 |
7.19 |
1 |
0 |
1985 |
40 |
157 |
183 |
38 |
221 |
5.63 |
1 |
1 |
TOTAL |
74 |
295 |
404 |
65 |
469 |
6.36 |
2 |
1 |
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