Edinburgh would prove to be a staging post for returning Scots with Bert Harkins and Charlie Monk dropping down into the National League with the Monarchs for their first year back in the city when Powderhall opened in 1977. It was a year of mixed fortunes for both these riders and Monk departed to Barrow for his swansong in 1978. Glasgow fans choose to gloss over his year as a Monarch and still remember his last appearance at Blantyre when he top scored for the Flyers with an 11 point score. Bert retained a heat leader slot during his three years as a Monarch but the travelling up from his Home Counties home was taking its toll and he settled on Milton Keynes for his final year in 1980. His slot in the Monarchs line up was taken by another star from the Old Meadowbank era, with George Hunter donning the famed blue and gold again. Along with the rising Neil Collins, he led the charge to win the KO Cup in 1981, the first time that Edinburgh had annexed the trophy. Surprisingly, he headed off for Berwick for 1982, their first season at Berrington Lough, but was back for his testimonial in what proved to be his finale the following year. Bobby Beaton was the most loyal of riders. He went to Hull when Coatbridge’s First Division licence was sold in 1974 and stayed at the Boulevard until it closed, moving to the promotion’s sister track at Newcastle, despite the travelling involved from his Lanarkshire home. However when the Diamonds decided to return to the top league, he felt it wasn’t for him at that stage in his career, opting to join Edinburgh. After two years as a Monarch he returned to the west, probably as the result of some parental pressure to rejoin the Tigers – a move that probably saved the Craighead Park crew from the wooden spoon.

Another returning Tiger was Charlie McKinna, who left Glasgow for Coventry in 1982, with his transfer fee no doubt going towards the building of the track at Blantyre's second home at Craighead Park. He had a pretty tough time at Coventry and was loaned out to Milton Keynes. He later joined Berwick and it was only when the Tigers were established at Shawfield that he finally came home, linking up again with brothers Kenny and Martin in 1989.

A peppy pair of prodigal Peterborough Panthers

Richard Greer made his league debut in 1970 being one of the first Panthers in the newly opened Peterborough set up. He quickly established himself as one of their top riders and by 1973 was boasting a ten plus average. He went First Division with Oxford the following year and after two promising years at Cowley was part of the migration to the White City.  Despite good scores at Wood Lane, he only stayed for one season before transferring to Birmingham, where he had two seasons before going home to the East of England Showground. He was joined by Nigel Flatman his final years as a Panther. Flatmate was an Ipswich asset who farmed out to gain experience in the National League. After riding in the 1980 World Under 21 Final, he went full time with the Witches in 1981 but not before a memorable altercation with a number of the Beaton clan and camp followers after taking young Jim off at Blantyre -quite a night that one. He gave similar all action performances during his time at Foxhall Heath in his four years there before returning to Peterborough.

Devils to Rockets

Clive Hitch started his career riding for Rye House in the Southern Area League, an almost amateur competition run mainly on Sunday afternoons. With the advent of the Provincial League he had no difficulty finding a team place at Raleigh becoming one of the first Rockets in that era. He subsequently joined Reg Fearman's Middlesbrough and, despite the travelling, seemed well settled at Cleveland Park until the track closed at the end of the 1964 season. Along with most of the Bears team he moved over to Halifax but never really settled at the Shay and joined Fearman's sister track at Long Eaton. Thereupon Rider Control took over sending him to Swindon in 1966 and Coventry in 1967 before returning again to Swindon. This time he was allowed to stay and he enjoyed the best form of his career through to the early 1970s. By the time of his fortieth birthday he was looking to drop into the second division.  What better place than his old stomping ground at Hoddesdon? and what better team to rejoin that the Rockets, now no longer of Rayleigh. Their stadium at the Weir had been sold to developers and the team had moved end bloc to Rye House. Clive had gone full circle for his final year in the sport in 1974

Hi ho Silver away..  but come back

Andrew Silver made his track debut shortly after his sixteenth birthday, riding for Rye House and after a couple of seasons with the Rockets moved on to Arena Essex where he managed ten plus averages in consecutive seasons in 1985 and 1986 during which time he also captured the National League Riders Championship. After five seasons in the first division with Swindon, during which he proved to be a valuable scorer and aa regular British Finalist but without really going up a level, he tried his luck at Eastbourne but things weren't better there and he gave up the sport.  But the remarkable part of his story was that he made a comeback SIXTEEN years later, going back to Rye House and not just for a handful of meetings either. He rode in all their meetings, averaging over six and scoring a paid maximum in the process... but after that it was the end... and for keep.!

Two attempts

Doug Templeton first signed for Glasgow in 1954 but the track folded before May was out. He had only sporadic rides during the fifties and it wasn't till the Provincial League was formed that he saw regular league action, riding for Edinburgh. During this time he won the Scottish Open championship twice and there were rumours of his retirement to concentrate on his farm, or alternatively, emigrating to New Zealand. Despite this he was still a vital member of the Monarchs squad when they moved to Coatbridge following their Old Meadowbank base being transformed into the Commonwealth Games Stadium. When Wembley bought the Coatbridge licence at the start of 1970, he was snapped up by Glasgow, finally riding in a league meeting for "the Stripes". The Prodigal had returned.  By the end of 1971, it looked like the end of the First Division road for both Doug and brother Willie. Indeed they both left Hampden, dropping down a division with Berwick, whom Doug captained for three years before injury led to him hanging up his leathers, or so it seemed. However he answered Coatbridge Tigers "mayday" call when the Lanarkshire outfit ran into big time injury problems. The Prodigal had returned for the second and final time.

Hackney “old boys”

Barry Thomas, who joined Hackney midway through the 1970 season, having started his career with Canterbury in Division Two, virtually rode for them for the next twenty years.  A spectacular rider, who always entertained, and none more so than at Waterden Road, he never quite achieved the success his talents deserved. He had a couple of seasons doubling up with both Hackney and Crayford and after a season at Rye House in 1987, returned to Waterden Road for a last hurrah, earning a 20 testimonial.

Malcolm Simmons started his illustrious career with Hackney in 1963 but, with the PL/NL split in 1964, felt he had to stay “legal” to retain his ACU licence in ordIer to ride in grass track events. He joined the newly opened West Ham and would stay there for three years developing into heat leader standard despite having Ken McKinlay, Norman Hunter and Sverre Harrfeldt to contend with. When the strong Hammers spearhead was eventually broken up, he was allocated to Kings Lynn where he blossomed further but he always seemed to be in Terry Betts shadow. It was only when he went to Poole in 1975 that he gained the full acclamation that he deserved. “Super Simmo” was at the peak of his career, taking the World number two in the 1976 World Final. He subsequently moved to Wimbledon and then Swindon, where he controversially managed his average to a figure that would allow him to rejoin Hackney, now in the National League. Simmo truly had come home!

Eastbourne alumni

Pete Jarman started his career riding for the Eagles in the old Southern Area League. Amongst his early exploits at Arlington was lending his bike to a fledgling, and indeed struggling, Ivan Mauger. This was something that struck a chord with Mauger who repaid the favour close to 20 years later at Paisley's hugely attended TV meeting. For Jarman, the Provincial League came along at exactly the right time, and he was one of the leading riders by the time the PL merged with the National League to form the British League. His best season was in 1967 when he formed a redoubtable partnership with Hasse Holmquist. A somewhat enigmatic character, with a deep dislike of wet tracks, he had a number of run ins with promoter Bill Bridgett and it was perhaps no surprise when he moved to Oxford, which was his home for a couple of years before returning to the Midlands with Cradley. With his scores slowing at Dudley Wood and with his fortieth birthday approaching he returned to his roots, dropping down a division to join Eastbourne, where he enjoyed three successful seasons, being a father figure to the many young guns in the Eagles side of that era. Indeed their development was no doubt enhanced by his guidance and encouragement. He was also a role model in showing the way back home as your career ran down. Colin Richardson, Dave and Gordon Kennett and Paul Woods being among his "disciples".

The first back was Dave Kennett who, after five seasons at Hackney decided to return to Arlington. It seemed that he possibly stepped up too soon and perhaps should have taken a season or two more in the Second Division before moving up. He did, however, retain a first division slot by doubling up with the White City and was a valued part of their league winning side. With Eastbourne subsequently taking the Rebels place, he finished his career at Arlington in the top division.

Gordon Kennett was an early Eastbourne “find” and possibly their best. He was extremely loyal to the Dugard promotion, going to their Oxford and White City tracks before they returned to Arlington in 1979. His final year at The White City saw him qualify for his first and indeed only World Final and he came close to winning it, finishing runner up to Ole Olsen in a meeting long remembered for his controversial pass of Ivan Mauger. When the Eagles dropped down to the NL, he stayed with them, and was their top scorer over the next on half dozen seasons. Once again, he remained loyal when Eastbourne rejoined the top flight but only for a season and, rather sadly, subsequently saw his career out at Wolverhampton where he completed his 25th season in the sport.

Colin Richardson had three years at Arlington, culminating with him topping their averages with a ten plus figure and annexing the Division Two Riders Championship in 1977. Thereafter he was off to the "big boys" with both Wimbledon and Kings Lynn. He rejoined the Eagles in 1984 and, like Gordon Kennett, opted to remain with them as they dropped down to the NL in 1985. Unlike Kennett, he only rode one more season.                                                    Paul Woods first rode for Eastbourne in 1976 and remained with the Eagles when they took over the White City First Division licence in 1979. However he joined Kings Lynn 1985 and moved to Ipswich the following year. Neither tracks really suited him and after a three year spell at Rye House, he once again donned the winged Eagle in1990 as his career wound down.

The most poignant return of all

 Nigel Boocock was undoubtedly "Mister Coventry" and perhaps it was disappointing that he wasn't to finish his career at Brandon. He moved on to Bristol for their two storied years at the sandy Eastville track before dropping down to Division Two with both Exeter and Canterbury, prior to emigrating to Australia. However his return to Coventry was the most poignant of all, with his ashes being scattered at the Brandon starting gate in a highly nostalgic and emotional day in January 2016.