Nigel Sparshott

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Nigel Sparshott
Nigel Sparshott (1).jpg
Born(1961-09-02)2 September 1961
Swanley, Kent, England
Died10 July 1998(1998-07-10) (aged 36)
Swanley, Kent, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1978 Crayford Kestrels
1979-1980, 1982, 1988 Milton Keynes Knights
1980-1981 Kings Lynn Stars
1982-1983 Birmingham Brummies
1983-1985, 1987 Oxford Cheetahs
1983 Eastbourne Eagles
1985 Exeter Falcons
1986 Wimbledon Dons
1987, 1992-1993 Long Eaton Invaders
1988-1989 Middlesbrough Bears
1990 Rye House Rockets
Team honours
1980Gauntlet Gold Cup

Nigel Sparshott (2 September 1961 - 10 July 1998) was an English speedway rider. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Speedway career

Sparshott began his career at Crayford in 1978 before joining Milton Keynes Knights in 1979. The following year he signed for King's Lynn Stars who rode in the top tier of British Speedway during the 1980 British League season. When the 1981 season started he was riding for Milton Keynes when he was recalled for parent side King's Lynn. [3] [5] Following a full season with Milton Keynes in 1982 he came to the attention of the Oxford Cheetahs who signed him for the 1983 season. [1] [6]

It was the 1984 season that saw the Oxford Cheetahs famously break the British transfer records as they started the season in the 1984 British League season, they bought Hans Nielsen for a record £30,000, Simon Wigg for £25,000, Marvyn Cox for £15,000 and Melvyn Taylor for £12,000. Sparshott retained his place in the team his place at number 7. The following year in 1985, he was rarely used during the 1985 season as he spent most of the season at Exeter Falcons on loan but he earned his place in history as Oxford won the league and cup double. [7]

In 1987 he signed as the number 1 rider for Long Eaton Invaders and would later spend two more seasons with the club from 1992 to 1993 until his retirement after the 1993 season. [8] [1]

Death

In 1998, he died after his van crashed into a barn. [2] [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Ex-Cheetah Nigel dies in car crash". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 253. ISBN   0-86215-017-5.
  4. ↑ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Nigel Sparshott" . The Scotsman. 2 July 1983. Retrieved 8 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ Bamford/Shailes, Robert/Glynn (2007). The Story of Oxford Speedway. Tempus Publishing Ltd. pp. 128–135. ISBN   978-0-7524-4161-0.
  8. ↑ "Sparshott a hot-shot" . Derby Daily Telegraph. 27 May 1987. Retrieved 8 October 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "FATAL PILE-UP LEAVES 12-MILE TAILBACK AT TUNNEL". News Shopper. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
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