Mention West Ham to Speedway fans anywhere in the world and two names will always come up, Bluey Wilkinson and Jack Young.

Both of these Speedway riders, as well as representing their home country of Australia in the World Speedway Championship also represented West Ham.

Arthur George Wilkinson, know to all as `Bluey` because of his Ginger hair, came to West Ham in the late 1920’s as a young rider from his home in Australia.

He stayed with West Ham till the outbreak of World War Two, and in 1938 won the World Speedway Championship held at Wembley in London.

He was one of the favourites along with West Ham English Champion Arthur Atkingson, to win the 1939 Championship, but the outbreak of war saw the championship cancelled.

Although Bluey, like all speedway riders diced with death on the track, it was road accident in Australia in 1940, which saw the untimely death of Bluey.

In 1952, another Australian, Jack Young came to West Ham, but he was already a World Champion, when in 1951 he created History by becoming the first 2nd Division Rider to win the World Championship.

As a Hammer he created History again becoming the first ever rider to win the World Championship back-to back when he won the 1952 World Championship, which like Bluey, was won at Wembley.

Jack left West Ham after only a few seasons, but in 1972 after Speedway had closed at West Ham, he and Bluey were voted joint 1st by the West Ham fans in the list of all-time top twenty riders (1928-72).

Jack died at the age of 62 in August 1987.

These two riders are rememberd in the street names on the estate built on the site of the old Stadium.