Ian Thomas (speedway promoter)

Thomas was born in Ilkley, West Yorkshire and left school aged 15. After failing to become a professional speedway rider he took up various jobs before finding his way into the promotion of speedway.^[1]

Thomas and his business partner Jeff Brownhut founded Workington Comets after a successful application was made by for a licence to race at Derwent Park for the 1970 season. The move is credited in helping the Workington Town rugby league club avert financial troubles.^[2] The rugby pitch required moving 25 yards sideways to accommodate the speedway track.^[3]

Thomas started a company called Premier Sporting Promotions and in 1971 began to bring entertainment acts such as Ken Dodd to Derwent Park.^[1] In 1971, he also brought speedway back to Hull, when the Hull Vikings began to race at the Boulevard Stadium.^[4] It was at Hull that he formed a promoting partnership with Wally Mawdsley.

In 1974, Thomas bought the defunct Sunderland Gladiators licence and transferred it to re-form the Newcastle Diamonds, entering the team to race in the 1975 New National League season.^[5]

Thomas was named the manager of the England team in December 1979, to work alongside Eric Boocock, who was named coach and technical adviser.^[6] As England team manager he saw the international success, which included winning the 1980 Speedway World Team Cup and 1980 Speedway World Pairs Championship.^[7]

His career took a dive after he incurred financial losses of £40,000 with Newcastle during the 1984 season. He was forced to sell his house before launching a new promotion company.^[1] He returned to speedway organising ice speedway with co-promoter Graham Drury at Telford before working with Tony Mole in bringing back Workington Comets to race in the 1999 Premier League.^[8] Workington experienced a golden era, winning multiple trophies from 1999 to 2010.^[1]

Thomas died from cancer in 2011.^[1]