Thomas Robert Croombs (13 December 1906 – 15 October 1980) was a speedway rider who finished third in the Star Riders' Championship in 1931, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship.[1][2][3]
 | |
| Born | 13 December 1906 New Malden, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 15 October 1980 (aged 73) Bournemouth, England |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1929 | Lea Bridge |
| 1930–1939, 1947–1948 | West Ham Hammers |
| Individual honours | |
| 1938 | Northern Riders' Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1937 | National League Champion |
| 1938 | A.C.U. Cup Winner |
Career
editCroombs was born in New Malden, Surrey, England.
He rode for Lea Bridge in 1929 and moved onto the West Ham Hammers in 1930. He stayed with the Hammers until the end of the 1939 season when he retired. In 1947, he made a comeback, riding for West Ham, starting as reserve and then back as a full team member within six weeks.
At retirement he had earned 30 international caps for the England national speedway team.[2]
When West Ham's track, West Ham Stadium was demolished, a road on the new development was named after Croombs.[4]
World final appearances
edit- 1937 –
London, Wembley Stadium – 16th – 8pts - 1938 – London, Wembley Stadium – 14th – 8pts[5]
Players cigarette cards
editCroombs is listed as number 10 of 50 in the 1930s' Player's cigarette card collection.[6]
References
edit- ^ Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited.
- ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Brilliant riding by Tommy Croombs at West Ham". Daily News (London). 4 August 1931. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Belton, Brian (2003). Hammerin' Round. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2438-6.
- ^ Bamford, R.; Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5.
- ^ "Speedway Riders". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 14 October 2021.