Joe Francis (speedway rider)

Francis born in Kent during 1907, was a rider in the early pioneer days of speedway in Great Britain and raced in 1928, before crowds in excess of 20,000 and a year before the leagues were even introduced.^[2] He began league racing for the Crystal Palace Glaziers during the inaugural 1929 Speedway Southern League.^[3]

He spent five seasons with Crystal Palace, becoming a regular rider at the club^[4] and helped them win the 1931 London Cup.^[5] In 1931, he also won the prestigious London Riders' Championship at his home track.^[6]

In 1934, the Crystal Palace promotion and team relocated to New Cross and became the New Cross Lambs. Francis stayed with the team during the move and won a second London Cup.^[7] He would stay with New Cross (now called the Rangers) for another six years until the end of his career and won the 1938 Speedway National League title with New Cross.^[8]

He was effectively a one club man with the exception of a few rides for Lea Bridge Cubs in 1938. By trade he was a motorcycle dealer based at Eltham.^[9]