William George Henry Pitcher (born 5 February 1910 in Coventry, England[1] - died 24 October 1995) was an international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the first ever World Championship final in 1936.[2] He earned 7 international caps for the England national speedway team.[3]

Bill Pitcher
Born(1910-02-05)5 February 1910
Coventry, England
Died24 October 1995(1995-10-24) (aged 85)
Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1930-1931Leicester Stadium
1931Crystal Palace Glaziers
1932-1933Coventry
1934Birmingham Bulldogs
1935-1939Harringay Tigers
1946-1948Belle Vue Aces
1949Wimbledon Dons
Team honours
1946, 1947National Trophy winner
1935London Cup winner
1946A.C.U. Cup winner

Career

edit

From 1930 to 1933, Pitcher rode for Leicester Stadium, Crystal Palace Glaziers and Coventry. In 1934, he rode one season for Birmingham Bulldogs and continued to copmete in individual meetings.[4]

His career blossomed after he joined Harringay Tigers in 1935 and rode for them for five years before World War II interrupted his career.[5] He a member of the team that won the London Cup in 1935[6] and in 1936 he rode in the first ever Speedway World Championship.

After the end of the war he joined the Belle Vue Aces. Pitcher was also a member of the England team that toured Australia in 1946–47. He made his England international debut in 1939.[1] His final season was in 1949 with the Wimbledon Dons.[7]

World Final appearances

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited
  2. ^ a b Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
  3. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Stan Greatrex and Bill Pitcher in form". Coventry Herald. 17 August 1934. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Hackney Speedsters". Weekly Dispatch (London). 9 August 1936. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Harringay take Speedway Cup". Daily Herald. 2 October 1935. Retrieved 16 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ Jacobs, Norman (2001). Speedway in London. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2221-9