Bluey Scott

The likeable little Aussie passed away last month aged 93. Born "Eric" but known universally as "Bluey", a nickname Australians gave to red headed men. As a teenager he got a job with a company that also employed Frank Young, brother of Jack, but it was another brother Wally that sold Bluey his first speedway bike. He made his debut at Kilburn in 1949 and by the time the track closed in 1951 was riding off the 130 yard handicap. he sailed to the UK in February 1951  with the promise of a trial at Edinburgh, having been recommended by the Young brothers. While there was no team place available at Edinburgh, he was quickly snapped up by Motherwell in their debut season in NL2. 

He was a popular member of the Eagles team and recalls that the locals were less impressed as he improved and didn't crash as often! He married Ann, a Lanarkshire girl, to whom he was married for over 60 years.  He was averaging close to 6.00 when they returned to Australia in 1954 when his father died but came back to the UK for 1955 by which time Motherwell had closed, despite being a viable operation. He joined Southampton and later rode for Ipswich that year before again returning to Australia. With speedway in the doldrums in Britain, he remained in Australia and  rode in Sydney for a couple of seasons before retiring in 1958. 

He returned to the UK in 1963 to see his wife's parents and was persuaded by Reg Fearman to turn out for Long Eaton and moved to Fearman's other track Middlesbrough in 1964., whom he captained. Both were a considerable distance from his Lanarkshire base and it was no surprise when he joined Glasgow in 1965, having had nearly ten bookings at the Paisley Road West track the previous year. The move certainly suited him, having his best ever year, averaging over 9.00 at The White City and finishing second to Charlie Monk in the Tigers averages. 

It was more of the same the following year before a broken ankle in July put him out of action for a spell. There is probably no good time to be injured but this was particularly bad timing as it meant he missed the Tigers five meeting tour during the Glasgow Fair Fortnight which was to be his wife's summer holiday! Prior to this injury he had starred, riding for Scotland against England and Russia. He formed an impressive partnership with George Hunter and their team riding at Old Meadowbank is still remembered to this day.  Along with partner Charlie Monk, he took a last heat 4-2 which clinched Scotland's 57-51 win over Russia in Glasgow. Bluey certainly had a chequered international career, having turned out for Scotland and  New Zealand as well as Australasia and Overseas!

He came back from injury in September and signed off with 9 paid 10 against Wimbledon in Tigers 48-29 win over the Londoners.  

He returned to Australia at the end of the season but planned to be back for 1967. Indeed Tigers new promoter Danny Taylor, who had taken over from Trevor Redmond, had offered him the captaincy of the Tigers, expecting Maury Mattingley's retirement. 

However a back injury sustained at Sydney Showground scuppered these plans and he never rode in the BL again. However he did return to the UK and was track manager for a spell at Blantyre, when he was a particular help to fellow Aussie Merv Janke. His last on track blast in a veterans race at Willie Templeton's testimonial ended as his career had started - with a crash, sustaining a cut arm.

As a teenager at The White City, I remember him as affable, always ready to speak with supporters, in stark contrast to the brusque Charlie Monk, and give you his autograph - a real calligraphical work even when balancing your programme on his helmet. Ever obliging,a few years ago  he wrote the foreword for the "Where Eagles Dared" book which chronicled the history of the Lanarkshire team in the 1950s, modesty recalling how touched he was that supporters recalled him at a heritage event at Motherwell a couple of years ago.