George Greenwood (1911–1988) was an international speedway rider from England.

Speedway career

In 1929, Greenwood was the

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

track champion at the age of 17, and soon became a major star around the Northern tracks. His form soon attracted the attention of

Wembley Lions The Wembley Lions were an English ice hockey team. History The team were founded in 1934 but showed a continuity with the London Lions team which had played at various venues since 1924. The Wembley team were based at the newly built Empire ...

, who signed him in 1929, for the 1930 season. He was one of the first riders recognised as developing team riding (where both riders attempt to hold the front of the race together), forming a successful partnership with

Harry Whitfield Harry Whitfield (born c.1909) was a British motorcycle speedway rider who went on to manage Middlesbrough Bears. Originally from Middlesbrough, Whitfield was one of the top British riders of the early 1930s, riding for Wembley Lions and also ...

. In 1930, he was selected for Great British team to tour New Zealand. It was the first team to leave the shores and consisted of Greenwood, Whitfield, Jim Kempster,

Roger Frogley Roger Frogley (1908 in Ware, Hertfordshire - 1974) was a pioneering British motorcycle speedway rider. His crowning triumph was beating the Australian star, Ben Unwin, at the International Match Race in front of a 40,000 strong crowd. Frogley r ...

Frank Bond Frank Bond (February 13, 1863 – October 21, 1945) was a Canadian businessman and entrepreneur, known for his economic investments and business enterprises in New Mexico. Early years As a young man Bond left Canada in hopes of finding work in ...

and Squib Burton. He was later the captain of the

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...

team and became the 1936 Provincial League Riders' champion and topped the averages during the

1936 Provincial Speedway League The 1936 Provincial Speedway League was the first season of the Provincial League, introduced as a second tier to the National League Six speedway teams started the season. Cardiff withdrew after 9 matches and their record was expunged, with most ...

Personal life

He married Ivy Elliston in 1937 and after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, he managed a motor export shop (owned by Wembley speedway manager Alec Jackson) in

Harrow Road The Harrow Road is an ancient route in North West London which runs from Paddington in a northwesterly direction towards Harrow. It is also the name given to the immediate surrounding area of Queens Park and Kensal Green, straddling the NW10 ...

Kensal Green Kensal Green is an area in north-west London. It lies mainly in the London Borough of Brent, with a small part to the south within Kensington and Chelsea. Kensal Green is located on the Harrow Road, about miles from Charing Cross. To the w ...

, London and was also part of the Wembley Lions management team.

Players cigarette cards

Greenwood is listed as number 16 of 50 in the 1930s Player's

cigarette card Cigarette cards are trading cards issued by tobacco industry, tobacco manufacturers to stiffen cigarette packaging and nicotine marketing, advertise cigarette brands. Between 1875 and the 1940s, cigarette companies often included collectible ca ...

collection.

References

1911 births 1988 deaths British speedway riders Hackney Wick Wolves riders Wembley Lions riders Middlesbrough Bears riders {{Speedway-stub