Cradley hero pleads for club's return

'Big Al' spent 13 seasons with the Heathens, won two league titles and was back in the saddle earlier this season for a veterans' clash with Wolves at Monmore Green.

But it was the turn of junior riders to fly the Cradley flag at Birmingham, in a mini-challenge following the Brummies' 45-45 Premier Trophy draw with Stoke.

Although the strict Perry Barr curfew curtailed the action to just four heats instead of six, Grahame watched avidly and was delighted to see Cradley win 15-9.

He wants the club to return as a major force in speedway, who last rode competitively in 1996.

He said: "It's good to see the lads out there giving it their best shot and they won the meeting as well.

"It's good to see the body colours going round. Hopefully Cradley will never die and one day they might be back.

"I think eventually it will return. It's just finding the right venue and people have got to accept that speedway goes on.

"People paint speedway black, as noisy and smelly. But it's two-and-a-half hours a week, 7.30-10pm."

Heathens team manager Will Pottinger, grandson of former Cradley co-promoter Les Pottinger, was also delighted to see the club in action once more.

He said: "I am very, very pleased. It was over really quickly and it was a shame we couldn't go all the way through. But we did really well."

Two wins by Stuart Swales, now out of retirement, guided Cradley to victory in the inaugural Hammer and Barr Trophy contest.

The Heathens were roared on by a phalanx of green-clad supporters amid Birmingham's red and yellow clad fans.

Race facts: 1. Swales (63.2), Hargreaves, Sedgmen, Dallaway (fell) 2-4. 2. Franklin (awarded, no time), Morris (tapes, 15m), McPhail, Whittington (fell) 4-8. 3. Hargreaves (64.6), Franklin, Dallaway, McPhail (fell, rem) 8-10. 4. Swales (63.7), Sedgmen, Morris, Whittington (ret) 9-15.

Birmingham: Jack Hargreaves 5, Ashley Morris 3, Lewis Dallaway 1, Scott Whittington 0.

Cradley: Stuart Swales 6, Richard Franklin 5, Ryan Sedgmen 3+1, John McPhail 1.