Today's post is going to be my personal tribute to a legend of British sport, someone who inspired during my childhood. It will come as no surprise to you to discover that the sport is speedway. So, here is my tribute to Nigel Boocock.
Nigel Boocock was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on 17th September, 1937. He made his debut for Bradford in 1955, and by the following year, had already qualified for his first Individual World Final, albeit as a non-riding reserve. After spells with Birmingham and Ipswich, Booey joined Coventry in 1959, and it was there that he would become one of the sport's superstars.
In 1963, Boocock made the first of eight World Final appearances (finishing 7th with 8 points). A gritty and uncompromising Yorkshireman, Boocock had already begun to stand out, for a somewhat surprising reason. Whereas nearly every other rider was donning plain black leathers, he was always seen sporting bright blue leathers, often with white boots! Hence the nickname, "Little Boy Blue"...
With the formation of the British League in 1965, Boocock crowned a successful year by topping the league averages. 1968 was undoubtedly his most successful year, with victories in the Will's Internationale at Wimbledon, the Brandonapolis, and the Midland Riders' Championship. In addition, he led the Coventry 'Bees' to the league title, and picked up an FIM Gold Medal as a member of the victorious British World Team Cup squad.
1969 saw Boocock's best World Final performance, with a fourth place finish at Wembley, and on a more dismal note, he ended the season with a fractured skull. This wasn't to keep him down, though, and he spent several more seasons at Brandon, before departing for Bristol in 1977. Spells at Canterbury, Exeter, and Swindon followed, before retiring from the sport in 1980.
One of the sport's greatest - and most loyal - team men, Boocock was capped 158 times for England and/or Great Britain, including many appearances as captain.
Nigel Boocock died at his home in Australia on April 3, 2015.
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